When North Toronto was annexed in 1912, it was developing at an impressive rate. The population was up over a thousand residents from the previous year and farmland was quickly becoming subdivisions; what was once a sleepy ‘bedroom community’, was transitioning into a bustling urban centre.
Today, we are left with large swaths of preserved conservative single-family dwellings that (pre-renovation) tend to be made up of small, dark, separated rooms; in days gone by, smaller rooms meant you could close off certain spaces to conserve heat (and money!) Furthermore, the rear of these houses were often not open to the yards and gardens that served them.
Photo courtesy of dwell.com
When an academic researcher and his wife hired Paul Raff Studio to design a unique, modern home that would be built from scratch, they already knew it was going to stand out amongst the old-world architecture of their neighbourhood!
In the words of the architects themselves, “the Vicenza flamed basalt exterior, and floor-to-ceiling windows, are a bold counterpoint to the house’s more traditional neighbours.” That’s how this daring dwell got it’s name: Counterpoint House.
Built for an active family of four on their North Toronto lot, the home had to be airy and inviting, while still offering delineated spaces to serve all the needs of hectic family life. The architects gave the Counterpoint House an open layout and large front and rear windows to make the most of natural light; in fact, the celebration of light in this home is undoubtedly its defining characteristic, and is what drew me to this project. For someone who hates dark and enclosed spaces, like I do, Counterpoint House is a breath of fresh air!
Moreover, I love when ‘contemporary’ is set up as a foil to ‘traditional’, in both architecture and design.
Photo courtesy of dwell.com
One way natural light was maximized in this home was to extend the main floor towards the road, and pull the second level back towards the rear, off the study and entrance hall. Paul Raff Studios’ Architects then carved out two horizontal windows – almost as wide as the house itself – allowing light to penetrate deep into the space from above, without resorting to skylights.
Photo courtesy of Paul Raff Studio
A custom solar reflector screen was created to blanket the second storey’s front face – perhaps the most eye-catching feature of the home.
Made of 250 horizontal aluminum “light shelves”, the screen serves the dual purpose of diffusing harsh glare, while at the same time, enhancing and reflecting the light throughout the interior of the home. In this way, sunlight becomes a dynamic design element, its changing quality animating the interior space from day to day, and season to season.
Photos courtesy of dwell.com
Customized elements include coexisting horizontal and vertical windows, glass walls, and even the transition between open spaces; these elements respond to the quality of light, which is unique to this home’s shape and southern exposure.
Photo courtesy of Paul Raff Studio
While the footprint of the home is not large, Paul Raff Studio architects made the most of the space by creating delineating shapes and dividers to define separate and multifunctional areas.
This offers an ‘open concept’ look, but with a twist!
Photo courtesy of Paul Raff Studio
The ceiling’s height in the entertainment space is 16 feet high for a very specific reason: Raff wanted to take the ceiling out of peripheral vision, creating the impression that the space has no lid! This is probably my favorite feature – I love when height is used dynamically.
In contrast to that intended feeling of expanse, the kitchen and dining zones are more intimate, yet still encourage flow.
Photo courtesy of Paul Raff Studio
Befitting of a contemporary structure slipping into a traditional neighbourhood, the home makes no fuss about itself. As the Globe and Mail so eloquently put it: “Counterpoint House is contemporary residential architecture in one of its most subtle registers. Mr. Raff’s play with solids and voids, with openings and shuttings, and his shifts of tone and atmosphere, are deft, assured, and never noisy. The dwelling works well on the quiet street in old North Toronto for which it was designed.”
Open, airy, and bright: Counterpoint House is a dream space for this light-loving author!
Want to learn more about this outstanding firm? Then click Paul Raff Studio for more information!
And take a look at our previous posts entitled:
Falling In Love With The Cascade House By Paul Raff Studio
Paul Raff Studio Transforms A 1960s Toronto Dwell
Researched and Written by David Condren, Bachelor of Arts Honours, Queen’s University
