For many years Cruickshank’s, a flower bulb warehouse located on a busy Toronto thoroughfare, remained a beloved neighbourhood fixture.
Then, in 2001, the firm shuttered its doors and vacated the two buildings, which comprised a 3-storey home and warehouse. A new homeowner moved in and did substantial renovation work, resulting in a loss of much of the original building’s history.
Was that the end?
…Well, not exactly.
Photo courtesy of Andrew Snow / Roundabout Studio
In 2012, Roundabout Studio was commissioned to connect and convert the two abandoned buildings into an artist’s music and entertainment residence.
Photo courtesy of Andrew Snow / Roundabout Studio
After a comprehensive undertaking, in 2014 this midtown property was transformed into a contemporary 5,480 square foot domicile, which retained the soaring former warehouse ceilings while creating sweeping open spaces.
Photo courtesy of Andrew Snow / Roundabout Studio
An expansive bi-level interior ‘skylit courtyard’ serves as the centre axis from which the space plan radiates, creating open sightlines into the kitchen and living room.
Photo courtesy of Andrew Snow / Roundabout Studio
My favorite space is the double height performance area in the lower level – where the landing looks down at the “performance space”.
How amazing to have an environment specifically designed to host parties and concerts!
Photo courtesy of Andrew Snow / Roundabout Studio
Coming in at a close second for my favorite feature is the 16-foot-tall, backlit Corten steel wall. Beyond its fantastic aesthetic, it also serves as a kind of monument, paying homage to the industrial past of the site. The perforated screen provides privacy, yet offers a glimpse into the beautifully transformed warehouse-that-was.
Photo courtesy of Andrew Snow / Roundabout Studio
For over 50 years, this unassuming flower factory was a fixture of the Toronto streetscape.
Today, Roundabout Studio’s eye-catching metamorphosis ensures its presence for many years to come.
See more from this award winning studio at Roundabout Studio Inc.
Researched and Written by Charmaine Cheng, Architectural Technology, Centennial College
