Overlooking Toronto's Rosedale Valley, a boutique luxury development has been proposed on Dale Avenue, with the project first introduced in September. Designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects, the 4-storey, 26-unit project will bring modest density to one of the city's wealthiest neighbourhoods, introducing a contextually sensitive addition to the area.

The Dale, image courtesy of Platinum Vista

Featuring twenty three-bedroom units, the bulk of Platinum Vista's development is given over to large, family-friendly homes, which average at approximately 3,400 ft² in size. Meanwhile, with the remaining six units configured as two-bedroom suites—averaging some 2,300 ft²—the project's homes are geared exclusively toward the high-end market.

A view of the drive court, image courtesy of Platinum Vista

While the stylized watercolour renderings seen above accompanied the project's introduction, more photorealistic new graphics provides a closer look at the development now marketed as The Dale. Along Dale Avenue, the project's conjoined structures—which read as a single building from the street—rise to a height of three storeys, while a four-storey frontage overlooks the Rosedale Valley.

A new rendering of the project, image courtesy of Platinum Vista

At 3 and 4 storeys, the development offers a relatively measured contribution to the low-rise street, which is dotted by more visually imposing mid-century typologies. Nonetheless, Hariri Pontarini's design takes additional steps to minimize the apparent bulk of the structures. Framing both structures, angled, brick-clad features subtly pull the buildings away from the street, giving the three-storey forms a sloping quality. Fronting Dale Avenue, the Janet Rosenberg + Studio landscaping program also integrates the development into its surroundings. 

A new rendering highlights the landscaping program, image courtesy of Platinum Vista

Meanwhile, the use of brick dividing walls—which reference the scale and materiality of neighbouring Edwardian houses—serves to visually break up the structures, creating an architectural language that speaks to the area's older homes. Finally, the project's east volume is also pulled back from the street, preserving the views from nearby properties while facilitating vehicle access to the 58-car garage. 

The landscaping plan, image courtesy of Platinum Vista

The project would replace three mid-century bungalows, all of which were built between 1945 and 1954. While all three homes are pulled back significantly from the street—and fronted by fencing and landscaping—the inconspicuous structures hold some notable associations. The Bungalow at 5 Dale was a home to former Toronto Mayor John C. Day, while the neighbouring house at 7 Dale was designed and occupied by architect and Adamson Associates founder Gordon Sinclair Adamson.

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We will keep you updated as more information about the development becomes available. In the meantime, you can learn more by checking out our dataBase file, as well as our introductory story from September. Want to share your thoughts? Leave a comment in the space below, or join the conversation in our Forum.