Bursting at the seams in their existing 1950s tract home in uptown Toronto, a busy family of five needed more space for entertaining, day-to-day life and for the stuff that comes along with having three kids (hello bulk shopping and sports equipment!). While the design considers functionality a top priority, space has been carved out to bring light into the centre of the home with a two-storey atrium bisecting the living room and the kitchen-dining area. It’s often difficult to forego potential ‘usable’ square footage in favour of something less directly quantifiable, but we think this decisive architectural feature is what makes the home special. 

The atrium has become the heart of the home. It connects the upstairs and downstairs with parents calling up to kids to come down for dinner.