"I'd like living here," David Hirsh tells us. "That's something I aim for with every project," the Brandy Lane CEO explains, "but it's particularly true for this one." We're on Avenue Road, just north of Davenport, in the onsite sales for The Davies, Brandy Lane's luxury 9-storey condominium, a 40-unit building designed to combine the comforts of single-family homes with the amenities of an urban condominium.

A rendering of The Davies, looking northwest, image courtesy of Brandy Lane Homes

Designed by SMV Architects, Hirsh presents The Davies as a project "that's most geared to people like me. For people in their 50s who are thinking about downsizing from a large single-family home to a condo, we wanted to offer urban homes that allow people to maintain the lifestyles they've grown accustomed to. At the same time, we wanted to create layouts that also appeal to young families," Hirsh adds, identifying a shortage of family-friendly units in Toronto's condo market. 

Brandy Lane's David Hirsh tours us through the sales centre, image by Stefan Novakovic

"For a lot of people, especially those who love to entertain, the idea of 'downsizing' to a condo often seems daunting," Hirsh tells us, "but it doesn't have to be." As Hirsh explains, suites at The Davies—which range in size from 940 ft² to custom units of over 3,000 ft²—are designed to accomodate "at least an 8-person dining table."

Rendering of a living/dining space, image courtesy of Brandy Lane Homes

Outside, each suite's private terrace is equipped with a gas BBQ connection, "to let people keep enjoying the outdoors. Outdoor space isn't really a priority for most condos," Hirsh goes on, "but it's something I really believe in." With a large rooftop terrace topping the building, residents will also have a communal space to enjoy the outdoors. "In this case, the programming on the terrace isn't just geared towards parties or special events. There are also quieter spaces, where people can go read a book or relax, and enjoy the terrace on a more regular, informal basis." 

Part of the rooftop terrace, image courtesy of Brandy Lane Homes

Located on a site that overlooks Robertson Davies Park to the south, The Davies will join an urban environment "that's close to the heart of the city, but still has a quiet ambiance." While Avenue Road is one of Toronto's prominent north-south arteries, and the Bloor-Yonge area is within walking distance, the surrounding area is also characterized by rows of historic single-family homes, making for "a relaxed urban environment." 

The private outdoor terraces include ample seating space and BBQ connections, image courtesy of Brandy Lane Homes

During the pre-construction phase, Hirsh notes that suite configurations are highly customizable. "We've had buyers who have told us they want a certain square footage, or a particular number of bedrooms, and we've been able to accomodate that." In this regard, Hirsh explains that Brandy Lane's fine-grained approach to custom luxury spaces provides "a pretty scarce commodity in Toronto's market." 

The luxurious elevators will open directly into suites, image courtesy of Brandy Lane Homes

The Davies is set to feature interiors appointed by Lukas Design, alongside landscaping by NAK Design Group. Accented by wood tones, suite interiors will feature full-size Bosch appliances and high-end finishes, with each unit emerging onto the large terraces that wrap around the building. In terms of communal amenities, meanwhile, the project will feature a 24-hour concierge, a ground-level party room with flexible programming options (and a fully stocked catering kitchen), as well as a pet wash station. 

A look at the scale model, image by Stefan Novakovic

The Davies will feature 82 parking spots, which will come equipped with 220V power outlets for electric and hybrid vehicles. "It's an urban and transit-friendly environment," Hirsh explains, "but that doesn't mean that people necessarily have to give up their cars. We want people to be able to have both."

The onsite sales centre on a snowy April afternoon, image by Stefan Novakovic

We will keep you updated as the project—now approximately 30% sold—continues to take shape, and the start of construction approaches. In the meantime, more information including additional renderings is available in our dedicated dataBase file, while our previous editorial features a closer look at the architectural expression. Want to share your thoughts on the project? Leave a comment in the space provided on this page, or join in the ongoing discussion in our associated Forum thread.