With this project, we were custodians of a unique piece of Architecture originally designed by Peter Kaffka from 1963, with subsequent renovations by Geoffrey Massey in 1986 and Russell Hollingsworth in 1997. The rocky, vertical cliff on which this home is precipitously sited pushed the house right up against the street, but allows for a flat entry and easy access. For this reason, a renovation was the only viable way to improve the home, although this still presented significant structural and technical challenges.
Our clients commissioned us to open the house up and give it a new comfortable utility. The hip roof was replaced by a rooftop terrace, and the fireplace- a large, looming presence on the main floor- was removed. Ceiling height was gained on all levels by using space age vacuum panels to reduce drops. Because of the openness of the home, a series of aluminum screens were introduced to supply privacy and mask more dated elements of the architectural expression, providing a straightness and clarity to the design.
Design: Cedric Burgers, Marieke Burgers, Ryan Brown, Joanna Sotomski
Build: CB Developments Structural: Luiz Leon & Associates LTD. Photography: Andrew Latreille