PROJECT

Westminster Residence

CLIENT

private

ARCHITECT

Batay-Csorba Architects

CONTRACTOR

Whitaker Construction

FACING BRICK

linea7 7021

Photo's: © doublespace photography

The Westminster Residence, located in Toronto’s High Park neighbourhood, reinvents he traditional Edwardian gable home. The exterior showcases a composition of three dark monolithic figures: a low dark brick clad volume, a heavy triangular stone clad roof and tall rectilinear dormers. The interior offers a journey through contrasting materials and lots of space, where the steep terracotta roof creates cathedral-like interiors, blending modern design with historical context. This compact home is volumetrically and spatially powerful, built with the goal to provide an underlying sense of familiarity and continuity.

High ceilings and tall windows make a spacious home

This project is nestled underneath a steep terracotta roof. Its high ceilings give the house a sense of spatial richness. The oversized gable roof is countered by the modest footprint. Inside the residence, you will note that everything looks very spacious. Every millimetre of this house is used, giving it a voluminous look. The tall windows and wooden finishing make this serene appearance complete.

A blend of tension and tranquillity

The home blends two diverse aesthetics, composing a mysterious and serene look at the same time and serving as a metaphor for the homeowners' contrasting preferences, as indicated by Batay-Csorba architects. The building uses a mix of materials that create a strong and natural look. The roof is covered with dark grey-brown terracotta tiles with a rough texture. The walls are crafted from black bricks, which are carefully arranged in different patterns. An extra handcrafted feel is created by the vertical wooden boards, painted with visible brush strokes. The building also features concrete surfaces that combine both rough and smooth finishes, adding to its industrial and natural appearance.

Brick expressionism

The architect wanted a handmade brick characterized with tactile depth, natural colour variation and rough contouring. The unique colour of the linea7 7021 facing brick contrasts strongly with the spacious, luminous interior where soft lime wash walls, wide-plank knotted white oak floors, and gentle linen fabrics create an open, calm and cosy atmosphere. This sanded, thin moulded facing brick was used to form this residence’s rich and textural facades, where patina will from slowly over time and become one with the landscape. Not only does this brick have an elegant presence, but thanks to its slim appearance, the ECO-7-size format also leaves more room for insulation and living space. This durable brick is smaller than normal bricks, which helps reduce CO₂ emissions, uses less raw materials and consumes less energy during production.

“Project Westminster pays tribute to the existing context and the beauty of its craft and local artistry by making contextual relationships through massing and geometry along with texture and detail of paramount concern.  The Van De Moortel brick pays homage to the narrative of Brick Expressionism to create rich and textural facades.  The subtle change of shade from the different sides of the brick adds further texture and depth on the projected coursing details that were used at the top massing and building corners.” – Batay-Csorba Architects 

The combination of the terracotta roof and the dark facing bricks, contrasting with the light interior are the core of this home. The bricks add texture and depth to the Westminster Residence's facade, enhancing its visual appeal. Their rich, sanded texture complements the modern design and the context of the project, creating a unique harmonious blend. The steep roof is the finishing touch of the design.