The perception of luxury and those elements that convey wealth will invariably evolve with changing cultural trends and aesthetic preferences. Much of what we perceive today as stuffy or kitsch was once considered luxurious and elegant. The contemporary aesthetic promotes sleek lines, minimalist interiors, and extensive glass fenestration… all elements that in 20 years could be entirely out of style. What contemporary design has succeeded in however is attention paid to materiality. An in-depth knowledge of woods, stones and metals paired with innovations in increasing the plasticity of these materials has led to interiors that will hopefully stand the test of time.

Freed Developments is largely responsible for revamping the aesthetic of the neighbourhood surrounding King and Portland. Larger-scale projects such as 75 Portland stand out for their unique form and massing, while a project such as the smaller Core Architects-designed 500 Wellington West draws attention through its material choice.

Exterior of 500 Wellington West, image courtesy of Freed Developments

Toronto’s luxury market is set to boom with a number of high-end buildings under construction and nearing completion. While luxury units in downtown skyscrapers often boast expansive sky-high views and sizeable footprints, they often neglect material coordination, resulting in relatively bland and uninspiring canvases beyond dramatic sitelines. The full floor 6,200 square foot penthouse at 500 Wellington, finished by interior designer Burdifilek, stands out from the crowd in the selection and combination of quality materials.

The open concept living space features a wood-burning fireplace with Statuario marble surround. This type of marble is known for having a warm tone and being slightly translucent, historically reserved for statues by the likes of Michelangelo. The contrast of the warmer marble with the wide-plank European oak floors draws attention to the extensive veining found in both materials.

Marble Fireplace surround, image courtesy of Freed Developments

The marble comes to the fore in the dramatic master bathroom. Similar to how it was contrasted with oak in the living space, Burdifilek chose to offset the marble with a warmer wood here; the window behind the soaker tub looks out to a private garden enclosed with Ipe wood, widely considered to be the best outdoor wood available and admired for its rich tone, fine grain and durability.

Marble master bathroom, image courtesy of Freed Developments

The suite features one of the most gawked-at private pools in the downtown core, found on the 2000 square foot south facing terrace. The glass-enclosed infinity pool and hot tub features Ipe wood stairs and custom stone surround – although with this view it’s hard to pay attention to the choice materials.

Infinity pool and terrace, image courtesy of Freed Developments

As we continue to see a variety of luxury units enter the market we hope to see a similar approach to materiality as taken at 500 Wellington. While aesthetic choices and stylistic elements of luxury interiors will invariably change over time, quality materials and tasteful coordination have a proven track record of carrying their value.

For more information on 500 Wellington West you can check out our dataBase listing below – if you’d like specific information on this unit contact Arif Manji of Private Service Realty at 416-360-0688.