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Roxborough House

gh3

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Bronze
Dining area - Nicholas Callies & Raymond Chow, gh3
Rear living room - Nicholas Callies & Raymond Chow, gh3
Original window niches - Nicholas Callies & Raymond Chow, gh3
Dining area - Nicholas Callies & Raymond Chow, gh3

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Comments
Innovation
Functionality
Creativity
Eco-Social Impact
Total
JURY VOTES
House
6.27
7.51
7.23
6.12
6.78
Richard Parr
Richard Parr Founder at Richard Parr Associates
2
6
3
2
3.25
William Barrington-Binns
William Barrington-Binns Director of Photography at WBB & Co.
7
7
7
6
6.75
Corien Pompe
Corien Pompe Chairman and Founder at Donna e Mobile
6
7
7
5
6.25
Anastasia Karandinou
Anastasia Karandinou Architect, Senior Lecturer at University of East London
4
7
5
7
5.75
Jasper Blüm
Jasper Blüm Senior Designer at Colliers
6
7
8
7
7
Bret Recor
Bret Recor Founder & Creative Director at Box Clever
6
6
6
5
5.75
Chen Xiaohu
Chen Xiaohu Cofounder and Brand Director at BloomDesign
6
7
6
7
6.5
Li Baolong
Li Baolong Cofounder and Creative Director at BloomDesign
7
7
7
7
7
Jason Traves
Jason Traves Chief Creative Officer at Lucky Fox
4
6
5
5
5
Johnny Chiu
Johnny Chiu Founder at J.C. Architecture
for a shop this tiny, I'm impressed...
7
7
8
6
7
Joanna van der Linden
Joanna van der Linden Global Retail Identity & Design Manager at Nestlé Nespresso
4
7
5
1
4.25
Stefano Giussani
Stefano Giussani CEO at Lissoni New York
4
5
4
4
4.25
Designer
Floor area
287 ㎡
Completion
2022
Social Media
Instagram Facebook Linkedin
Finishes
Windows
Lighting

Situated in South Rosedale, one of Toronto’s dedicated heritage conservation districts, Roxborough House dates originally from the 1920’s. Subject to stringent preservation restrictions, the renovation of this Edwardian style home posed the challenge of balancing deference for heritage character with the client’s desire for modernization through a minimalist aesthetic. 

The design brief called for maintaining the original number of bedrooms and living spaces while enhancing spatial flow. This was achieved by the subtle expansion of hallways and central stair, incorporation of strategic voids in the staircase, and the use of full-height, flush doors. The result is a home of material continuity, attuned proportions and calibrated light.

An emphasis on simple and essential prevails - the soapstone kitchen island, the arched ante-room pantry, the deep vaulted hallway leading to the principal bedroom - all elemental forms and geometries that unify between space, program and use.

Overall, this project reflects a reverence for Toronto’s historic residential architecture. The interpretation of historic elements, including the freeing of some from their original intended use, amplifies essential qualities of space, while maintaining a strong connection between house, garage and garden. Roxborough House synthesizes gh3's evolving preoccupation with the abstraction and distillation of program and space, both inside and out, consistent with the studio's integrated practice of architecture and landscape.