Architecture and Design Obsession
These Twin Residences in Toronto Form One Barn-Like Shape
Combining barn aesthetics with loft-style living, Ancerl Studio transforms two dilapidated homes in Parkdale.
Combining barn aesthetics with loft-style living, Ancerl Studio transforms two dilapidated homes in Parkdale.
When designer Nicholas Ancerl came across a “For Sale” sign in Toronto’s artsy, multicultural neighborhood of Parkdale, he knew the property was an opportunity for Ancerl Studio. The lot held two semi-attached homes that “were in such disrepair that they needed a complete overhaul: just the type of project we love to take on,” says director Maxime Bocken.
In Toronto’s West End lies Sorauren 116, one half of a dual residential development that was completed over an arduous, three-year period by Ancerl Studio.
Gillian Jackson
The property was a serendipitous find by designer Nicholas Ancerl and a development partner, who were driving through the quaint streets of Parkland. The new facade features black house numbers from Gingers, loft-style windows from Kingshore Windows & Doors, and antique brick from King Masonry.
Gillian Jackson
The plan would be to mimic the peaks and rooflines of the existing homes but turn the two dilapidated structures into two detached, single-family homes, now known as Sorauren 116. It would be quite the challenge working within such a narrow lot.
At only 18 feet wide, the home relies on verticality to hold functional spaces. “We had to be resourceful and innovative in our space-planning,” says Bocken. “The tight lot also brought challenges when the home’s steel staircases were craned in and brick facades were assembled on-site.”
Oiled, wide-plank, white oak flooring from Stone Tile runs through the first floor.
Gillian Jackson
See the full story on Dwell.com: These Twin Residences in Toronto Form One Barn-Like Shape
