Located in the affluent neighbourhood of Forest Hill Village in Toronto, Ontario, the successful partnership of Mazenga Building Group and Architects Luc Bouliane created the Relmar Houses (Relmar 1 and Relmar 2), which offers an exhilarating infill addition to Toronto’s downtown housing stock. Originally an aged 4-unit dwelling situated next to a mid-rise residential building, the property was severed into two freehold townhouse lots.
The Relmar houses are built with solid weighty exteriors which contrast with the light airy interiors. Clad in grey Yankee hill brick, Eramosa limestone, and Thermory wood, these materials give the structures a durability that can withstand the harshest Canadian winters.
Bouliane’s design objective is to employ a clean design lines with space planning efficiency. By keeping a strong linear rhythm balanced between the kitchen and sunken seating area, the floor-to-ceiling cabinets harmonize the space while accommodating multiple functions. Utilizing the party wall (with noise-proofing measures—including four sheets of soundproofing drywall between it and its neighbour), the uniform cabinetry with open art niches and media equipment serves multiple uses without visually overwhelming the open volume of space. The chef’s kitchen has Wolf and Liebherr appliances, Quartz countertops, and an island peninsula for casual dining. The living area vaults two-levels with floor-to-ceiling fenestration which drenches the space in light, visually expands the living space, and frames the garden sight lines.
The floating stairs – set against the polished limestone walls and located under an atrium light well – create greater opportunities for light refraction. Each flight of stairs is oriented further from the walls to allow the light from the atrium to illuminate the entire house. “Bright and friendly as possible” were Bouliane’s words when interviewed about the space.
The entertainment spaces are located on the main level. On the second level, one of the three bedrooms is located along with a home office space (pictured below) which is cantilevered on the second floor with a glass balcony railing that overlooks the seating area below. Two additional bedrooms, including the master suite, are situated on the third floor. The lower level is fitted with all the amenities for well-being, including a gym, health spa, and even a steam room.
What I notice most about the Relmar House is the attention to intricacy and detail. Credit goes to the owner’s son Erik Bornstein, who worked in concert with Mazenga and Bouliane on the project.
For those concerned about the number of levels in this dwelling, the property has a hydraulic elevator that connects all the four levels.
The master suite is located on the third floor – fitted with custom wardrobes. The spa ensuite is spacious, sun-drenched, and indulgently fitted with bespoke custom built-ins and luxury materials. There is a third bedroom down the hall from the master bedroom with a small private patio. Massive skylights flood the house with light.
The home has multiple eco-features including a green roof, an energy-efficient heating and cooling system and plenty of insulation throughout. It also has heating coils in the driveway and terrace eliminate the tedious process of snow removal during winter, and a generator on the roof.
Artfully composed as a series of articulated spaces, this modern pair of semi-detached residences make the most of their urban site. Drenched in natural light with ‘zones for living’ this exemplary property showcases how a narrow urban lot doesn’t mean compromise.
Visit Mazenga Building Group and Architects Luc Bouliane to check out their impressive portfolio.
Photos courtesy of Architects Luc Bouliane and photographed by Bob Gundu.
Researched and written by Priyasha Singh, Undergraduate student of Environmental Design, OCAD University
