Garage and House Renovation in East York - Part III

As this project nears completion, one can see the results of a couple of years of planning, design and construction.  The owners were kind enough to let me spend a few hours on site with my camera; waiting for the sun to emerge from the clouds, then waiting for dusk.

 

Above is an image of the entry to the garage from the back yard.  Wood cladding was applied to this facade and the adjacent fences.  As the yard space is relatively constrained, it helps give a consistent quality to the enclosure. 

 

Within the garage, plywood was used throughout as a finished surface.  A clerestory window allows for daylight to enter, with fixed cabinetry located above the garage door level to provide for storage.

 

Steps were required to navigate the grade difference between the back yard and the lower rear laneway.

 

From the laneway, the car entry of the garage faces the back of commercial properties.  As one can see, the area is not immune to graffiti. 

 

At the rear of the house, a one storey addition was built to contain a study, as well as provide access to and from the back yard. 

  

 

The cantilevered canopy provides shelter over the entry steps and landing.  The column support is located at the corner, between the two windows (structural engineer: Blackwell).  

 

Within the study, custom cabinetry was created to provide a study area.  An upholstered bench is located at the corner window. 

The success of a project like this is partially determined by the attention to details. From past experience, it can be tempting for home owners to accept cost cutting measures during construction, or various means of simplifying the contractor's tasks.  While this is understandable, it may compromise the final results of the details.  During the course of this project, the owners were committed to seeing things through.  

Garage and House Renovation in East York - Part II

The construction of this garage in East York has progressed over the winter months.  The interior is underway, with the plywood panelling being installed.  The material was specified for its durability and aesthetic appeal.  As the panels are exposed, they are free of the usual knots, patches, painted text, and holes normally seen on sheathing-grade plywood. 

 

The rolling garage steel door has a fairly compact housing. This avoids the suspended structure and motor seen with 4-panel systems.  The long horizontal window above allows daylight to enter the space - enough that artificial lighting may not be needed during the day.

  

As the grading of the site drops down towards the laneway, a run of steps within the garage was required.  The storage closet and guard for the steps were also clad in plywood, for consistency.

  

While this little building is primarily for cars, it is anticipated that the owners will be making use of the space for miscellaneous activities (ie. repairs or seasonal storage).  A window to the backyard is useful to allow for a visual connection during those times.

While garages in Toronto are mostly prosaic in nature, it is satisfying to elevate a structure to be a bit more; through the layout, selection of materials, equipment, fixtures and the extent of glazing. 

Addition and Renovation - Details, Details

As construction for this addition and renovation to a home in Bloor West Village progresses, some of the details are taking shape.  

The sliding exterior pocket doors, exterior swing doors, trim, and fill panels are visible in the photos.  The consolidation and coordination of these elements may seem straightforward, but a number of different products and manufacturers are arranged to create the homogenous 'charcoal' colour field.  

The metal profiles surrounding the doors and glazing required a certain amount of care and attention from the contractor.  A more traditional detail would involve a wider (and less elegant) edge profile - one that could potentially hide a hasty installation.

Similarly, installation of the interior door frames required the coordination of the wood profile and a surrounding metal reveal.  A small condition, but these things elevate the experience of a space in subtle ways. 

The custom cabinetry installation is underway, with an oak veneer selected.  The contractor asked, why not white oak?  I realize it is a very popular selection these days, but for this project, the warmth of red oak was appropriate.

A built-in bench and storage area tucks into the wall.  This will come in handy when getting changed for the swimming pool. 

Addition and Renovation in Bloor West Village

This project is an addition and renovation at the back of a home in the Bloor West Village neighbourhood in Toronto.  The main feature on the ground floor is a new living space that connects the existing kitchen to the back yard.  At this stage one can see the work taking shape, albeit with some distance to go.

Large sliding glazed doors allow for a direct relationship between spaces.  The 3 exterior sliding screens facing the back yard pocket entirely into the exterior wall.  This creates a generous clear opening for the warm seasons.

The addition comprises of two rectilinear volumes at the ground and 2nd floors, with two new dormers at the 3rd floor.  The facades are clad with a solid stain lapped wood profile - common in traditional applications.  The transitions between materials at corners and window frames are detailed in a contemporary manner.

At the third floor, a washroom was reconfigured, and old partitions removed.  The existing collar ties (beams), now painted the same colour as the rest of the ceiling, visually recede into the background.

The addition of the dormers and windows add a fair amount of natural light at the 3rd floor.  At the washroom, the sink was set back from the window slightly, anticipating space for a chair.

Garage and House Renovation in East York

The scope of work of this project - currently under construction - consists of a detached garage and a one storey study at the back of the existing house.  Located in a residential neighbourhood in Toronto's east side, the rear of the garage faces a commercial laneway.  Two cars can be accommodated, with a high clerestory window opening located above the future rolling garage door.

 

As there is a change in grade from the laneway to the rear yard, a concrete retaining wall and a run of steps are needed. An opening for a sidelight next to the swing door will allow for a visual connection between the garage, rear yard, and the study beyond.

From the vantage point of the rear yard, the height of the garage appears lower than from the laneway.  This will allow sunlight to penetrate most of the yard during the warmer seasons.  The trench at the bottom of the picture is being dug to install conduit for future electric vehicle charging.

 

The one storey study includes a cantilevered canopy, which will shelter the future wooden deck and the steps to grade. (Structural Engineer: Blackwell)

Two window openings face the rear yard, for a generous amount of daylight.  The column supporting the framing and cantilevered canopy is visible at the corner.