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Getting a chance to step inside and examine your neighbour's home isn't a common occurrence, but with events like Doors Open Toronto and The Modern Home Tour we are more often getting a chance to see inside some of our city's usually privately occupied architectural gems. The Modern Home Tour is an organization based in Austin, Texas which has set out to introduce people to modern living and architecture. The focus of each tour — which features privately-owned residences in the city — is to display excellent examples of refined modern architecture and materials, as well as offering new solutions to common household hassles. The Modern Home Tour says as part of its overall ethos is that "Modern is not just what you live in, but how you live."
The upcoming tour date in Toronto is June 8, and so far three homes are announced to be included on a schedule which will eventually include between six and 10. The first of the three is the Albany Avenue Residence designed by PLANT Architecture Inc. This two bedroom (two apartment) home was originally built in the early 1900s and was redeveloped in 2004. The tour of this building will focus on the renovation project that created an all season dining room from a former deck space. The tour will also include a walk-through of the home's garden designed by Marjorie Harris who, in the words of The Modern Home Tour, is Canada's Premier Garden Guru.
The second home on the tour is a 2009-built 1800-square-foot home located at 38 Hugo Street. Designed by Wiess Architecture & Urbanism Ltd., it was constructed on the site of a Victorian row house that burned down in 2008. This tour will focus on what was accomplished with limited funds from the insurance company. 'The variance of space and light are prominent design features of the new build.'
The third home is a former 1890s single family home on Walmer Road redeveloped in 2009 by PLANT Architecture. Here, the historic three-storey residence has been transformed into two, two-storey separated units. 'The worn facade of the building has been restored and transformed into a mosaic of additions'. It is made up of large areas of glass, balconies of translucent polycarbonate panelling, and wood panelling. There is also a large framed glass addition that opens the rear of the house up to the garden and the Japanese Maple.
More homes will be announced. Advance tickets for the June 8th tour are $30, while day-of tickets are $40. Five dollars from every ticket for The Modern Home Tour benefits The Red Door Family Shelter. If you already live in a "modern home" and want to show it off you can submit an application to do so. For more info check out the Modern Home Tour site here.
