 |
Mar. 14 - Mar. 21, 2004 |
Calm Space In Busy Annex
Local architect Tania Bortolotto designs interiors with modern sensibility
By Mark Curtis
Originally Published: 2004-02-15
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.
Page 1/...Page 2
|
| Home / Back to Top |
|
|
 |
|
|
</ td>
