Calm Space In Busy Annex

Local architect Tania Bortolotto designs interiors with modern sensibility

A Toronto architect's latest work proves you can't judge a book by its cover.
An unassuming Victorian row house from the outside, architect Tania Bortolotto recently transformed the interior of a south Annex home at the request of a couple who wanted something a lot less dowdy. "They wanted to convert it into a very minimalist, simple, peaceful modern space," Bortolotto says of her client's wishes for a new look.
The Toronto couple chose the right architect in Bortolotto, who has been quietly building a portfolio of modern interiors projects since she established a solo practice in 1999. A University of Toronto graduate, Bortolotto interned with three leading Toronto modernist architectural firms - Diamond and Schmitt, Stephen Teeple and Kohn Shnier - so it's not surprising she specializes in a design approach that emphasizes form, natural light and ease of movement within a space.
The most striking change designed by Bortolotto for the south Annex home is a pair of aligned staircases which provide a vertical view through to a third floor skylight. The staircase from the first to second floors is made of maple while the upper staircase, with a glass floor, is made of a less formal steel. The allowance of natural light continues in the second floor bedroom, where an almost floor to ceiling mahogany-framed window offers a view of backyard trees, making the house seem as if it's situated on a ravine, rather than the more densely populated reality of a street in The Annex. Adjacent to the main floor kitchen, a set of mahogany-framed doors open completely to achieve a similar back to nature effect.
Visual lightness in the 2,000-square-foot open-planned space is also accomplished with the use of translucent materials. An acrylic screen on a sliding track can be used to separate the kitchen from the dining room and, upstairs, a freestanding bedroom closet is fronted with sandblasted glass. Bortolotto Design custom-designed the home's kitchen and bathroom, as well as the millwork.
In the bathroom, a stone sink with a glass front is complemented by Italian stone and glass mosaic tile. Exposed steel beams and recessed halogen lighting in the main living room emphasize the space's new architectural qualities. Achieving unique spatial quality without a reliance on finishes is a constant goal in the interiors work of Bortolotto, an admirer of acclaimed London-based architect Zaha Hadid.
Bortolotto's studio has kept busy with work for the City of Toronto and the architect is now branching out into restaurant design. Two separate projects are set to open in the spring. The Quesada Mexican Grill, a high-quality take-out style restaurant at King and Wellington streets, will feature a prominent arch over the kitchen, an exposed concrete floor, walnut tables and chairs and a colour scheme inspired by Mexican architect Luis Barragan. Bortolotto is introducing a modern material palette into a brick-walled interior at No Regrets, a new two-storey restaurant and lounge in the King and Dufferin area. The architect has designed a main entry steel staircase oriented towards an exposed kitchen which will serve up an international menu.
Bortolotto and her husband are expecting their second child next month, but she hopes to return to work soon after. With new technologies promising new possibilities for modern design, she's realizing a dual responsibility to embrace.

Publication Date: 2004-02-15
Story Location: http://tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=3636