Urban Toronto sat down recently with Anna Simone, founding partner and principal of Cecconi Simone, to discuss the striking and all-encompassing interior design for the 30,000 square-foot spa and amenities areas at One Bloor by Great Gulf Homes.

The Lobby enveloped in billowing surface planes for a memorable introduction to One Bloor - Image courtesy of Great Gulf Homes

Ms. Simone described the fluid, “morphic” interior design as an extension of the landmark building’s exterior architecture by Hariri Pontarini Architects but with its own unique and unforgettable vocabulary. The totality of design engages every surface in continuous movement, with planes and spaces overflowing into each other, collapsing interior and exterior and embracing nature. Elements of fire, water, and earth are present throughout, weaving together the spa and lifestyle experience at One Bloor in line with its maxim “This is your fantasy.”

The Look-out Fireplace Lounge with cascading sinews and biomorphic 'legs' extending from an undulating ceiling – 6th floor

Lounge area with rippling walls and swelling ceiling (not depicted effectively in this rendering) – 6th floor

The 30,000 sq ft spa at One Bloor – 12,000 sq ft of interior space and 18,000 sq ft of exterior space – encompasses aroma tepidarium steam baths, laconiums, ice fountains, experience showers, and treatment rooms, in addition to a Kinesis / Pilates Room, a Yoga / Spinning Room, a weights area, and two cardio fitness areas. Extensive glazing and natural foliage blur interior and exterior. Rolling, folding surface planes link interior design and exterior architecture.

The cocoon-like aqua spa area with jet message, hot plunge, and cold plunge pools and fireplace – 6th floor

Hot tub (foreground) and indoor-outdoor swimming pool and fireplace – 7th floor

The 18,000 sq ft outdoor terrace with year-round swimming pool, fireplace, and reflective canopies is designed by Janet Rosenberg + Associates in close collaboration with Cecconi Simone:

One Bloor East's 18,000 sq ft Terrace - Image courtesy of Great Gulf Homes

6th floor Floorplan: Look-out Fireplace Lounge – lower left; Lounge area – lower centre; Aqua spa upper centre

7th floor Floorplan: Hot tub and indoor-outdoor swimming pool – middle centre; Outdoor terrace - lower right

Cecconi Simone currently is in discussion with various trades to formulate strategies for achieving this high-concept interior design as rendered. There are numerous ways of doing so and both Cecconi Simone and Great Gulf Homes are determined to realise this vision for One Bloor without compromise. Urban Toronto looks forward to experiencing these dramatic spaces first hand in a few years’ time.

What do you think of Cecconi Simone's urban/natural fantasy design at One Bloor? Leave a comment here, or visit our forums to join in the discussion in UrbanToronto's thread for this project. You can also keep up-to-date with One Bloor East's dataBase listing.

Full Rendering of Great Gulf Homes' One Bloor East - Image courtesy of Great Gulf Homes