The conversion of a former worm factory into a loft style single family studio house near Trinity Bellwoods Park on Queen Street West in Toronto. Creation of 160 m2 of open plan studio and living space with two bedrooms each with en-suite bathroom. The building is constructed on the lot line on three sides. The front third of the exsting building was demolished and double stacked to create a front courtyard. The structure comprises an in-situ cast concrete frame with brick infill. Exterior cladding is Cedar planking with a corten steel front facade. Spanish cedar window and door frames are custom designed and fabricated with low emissivity double glazing to reduce solar gain. The roofing is standing seam zinc coated steel. The internal concrete slab floor has hydronic underfloor heating which radiates heat upwards to warm the 5m high volume. This is supplemented by a wood burning stove. The masonry structure is cool in summer and the high volume is cooled via thermal updraft through a high level skylight. Interior finishes include floated concrete, slate, glazed mosaics, Carrara marble, etched glass and cast stone.

Design and Construction:

Stephanie Mills and Jonathan Crinion 2003-4