Westminster Residence Transforms Attic Space Into Dramatic Volumes

Westminster Residence reinvents the traditional gabled form that populates Toronto’s High Park neighborhood by transforming it into something both respectful of context and boldly contemporary. Designed by Batay-Csorba Architects, the architects made a conscious decision to celebrate rather than conceal the underside of the roof. The steeply pitched terracotta roof hovers above a dark brick volume, creating a presence both familiar and unsettling.

As described by the architects: “The simple project form is a composition of three dark monolithic figures, a low dark brick-clad volume, a heavy triangular stone-clad roof, and tall rectilinear dormers. The heavy roof hovers asymmetrically on top of the first floor, cantilevering the covered carport and side patio and producing an unsettling dynamic between the simple volumes. Similar in size and materiality, the dormers take on diametrically opposite stances in the project, with one grounding the west façade as it meets the ground, and the east dormer inexplicably cantilevered and hovering above the carport.”

Dark stained walnut and heavy unfilled travertine reinforce the weight of the space, while white oak floors and soft lime-washed walls offer counterbalancing lightness. This material tension mirrors the formal tension between the asymmetrically balanced volumes – a heavy triangular stone roof that appears to float above the brick base, and dormers that simultaneously ground and hover. The architects also carefully considered how these materials would age. The natural patina that will develop on the rough terracotta shingles, hand-pressed brick, and raw galvanized steel will gradually harmonize with the spreading landscape.

The side yard’s acid-etched concrete patio is detailed to appear as if hovering above the sloping landscape. The acid-etching process gives the concrete a subtle texture that catches light differently throughout the day. A thin metal line creates a precise boundary that manages water runoff while visually separating the patio from the building’s foundation.

For more information on Batay-Csorba Architects, visit batay-csorba.com.

Photography by Doublespace Photography.