In the heart of creativity, where art becomes a way of life, lies an extraordinary residence that is itself a work of art. On a street aptly named Artist View Boulevard, nestled amidst the headwaters of the Humber River and with views of the distant escarpment, the home was designed for an art dealer, his family, and a sizable art collection.
At street view, the Artist View project corresponds with its surrounding community but distinguishes itself with a flanked entrance, encapsulating guests as they approach the front door. It’s here where the extraordinary details of the home begin to present themselves. A sculptural brass handle commissioned by the homeowner depicts three dragons on each side, representing his three children and grandchildren. This, like much of the home, is a testament to the relationship between art and architecture, in both telling a story and creating an environment where new ones can emerge.
Upon entry, floor-to-ceiling windows light up the foyer where statements of warm oak come to life. Here, a large screen wall is lined with sculptures and lets onlookers peek into the adjacent living room. Recurring such vistas throughout the home configure a natural flow between spaces, allowing each to interact with one another and provide viewpoints designed to provoke conversation and reflection.
Moving past the living room and into the kitchen, walls of northwest-facing windows reveal the home’s flanked rear—mirroring the u-shape of the street-facing facade. At its centre, a veranda leads to the open-air terrace and raised pool. The result is a concept that rethinks the traditional 60-foot lot, feels innately connected and blurs the lines between indoors and outdoors.
“We designed the Artist View project to have views of the exterior from every room. By allowing the house to look in and reflect upon itself, its inhabitants are enabled to experience the home through a different language,” – Francesco DiSarra, Principal Architect, FrankFranco Architects.
As the sun sets in the distance, shimmering reflections of the pool create a serene ambiance on the terrace as well as the principal bedroom to which it has direct access. Here, a minimalist aesthetic is maintained with all closet storage built along a hallway leading from the bedroom, past the principal ensuite and toward the home’s front-facing staircase.
Two bedrooms on the second floor, each with their own ensuite dressed in Italian stone, share a long hallway. Opposite the bedroom doors, the first floor entryway’s large windows extend up sharing an unobstructed view of the home’s front yard. At the end of the hallway, a fully-equipped elevator was installed so that the homeowner can haul heavy sculptures and art pieces between the home’s first, second and lower level—housing an expansive gallery space.
Beyond its carefully crafted structural design, the Artist View project reflects a unique relationship between environment and design by blurring the bounds of indoor and outdoor living to create a feeling of cottage life in the suburbs.