Victorian home in Canada offers beautiful urban views

In a heritage district in Toronto, Canada, two houses sit side by side to tell a story of Victorian design, modern construction and historical relevance. 

Dubbed the Robert Street Residences, the two homes were designed by Taylor Smyth Architects. However, their completion dates are ten years apart, with the first in 2011 and the second in 2021. 

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Thus, the homes in the area are overseen by Heritage Preservation Services. The original structures took the style of 1960s bungalows rather than the typically-mandated traditional style. Lead architect Michael Taylor and his client decided to give the buildings a launch into the 21st century. As a result, contemporary architecture mirrors the Victorian vernacular of the surrounding buildings, rather than replicating the original misguided architecture. 

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To this end, each house features a vertical gable and front porch. The second-story windows are framed in metal. Garages were designed to be disguised. The design called for cladding the lower level garage doors, walls, front doors and soffits of the porch with the same material. The engineered siding looks like wood, but offers a durable, maintenance-free lifespan. 

Furthermore, the client acted as general contractor and interior designer. With the first house wrapped up, the team used lessons learned to make the second home even more energy efficient. As a result, the second of the Robert Street Residences feature in-floor radiant heating. This provides significant energy savings during the winter months. A tight envelope and extensive insulation further complement these savings. 

Additionally, materials were minimized. This is seen with the just-big-enough driveway made from permeable pavers to maximize natural water absorption. For natural lighting, both houses are organized around a central skylight atrium. In order to maximize passive heat gains in the winter and provide shade in the summer, each features custom canopies above the terraces.

interior design features an open, flowing design. There is lightly-colored natural materials that align with the goals of creating a connection to the outdoors while highlighting craftsmanship through quality material selection. 

+ Taylor Smyth Architects

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