Riverview sits on a one-acre site in the heart of Toronto’s Hoggs Hollow neighbourhood, and it did not come without its challenges. The main issue was how to access this immense property. The frontage of the lot is just 23 feet and considering 50% of this would be taken over by the driveway, where was FrankFranco to put the garage? If the studio was to put the garage, as most people do, at the front of the home, it would dramatically compromise both curb appeal and the streetscape.
Studying this issue forced the studio to go back in time and understand how other homes in this area were constructed, some of which were authored by significant designers. This study led FrankFranco to put the driveway on the north side, closer to the property line and then position the garage at the rear, underneath the home. By doing so, the rear yard was not disrupted nor was the forested area of this parcel land.
The roof of the parking garage became the terrace to the oculus-shaped pool. Featuring an over-sized fireplace, this outdoor room is a focal point for the two-storey interior living space. Here, the south elevation has two-storey glass walls, and the roof has full solar capability. The proximity to the forest provides near full shade in the summer, and when naked, the trees permit the sun to penetrate the home in the winter, limiting heating and cooling requirements year-round.
FrankFranco sculpted the profile of the plan in reaction to the influences of the irregularly shaped lot and the municipality-imposed setbacks that came with it. Beginning with these design-drivers, the studio opted to introduce some seductive curves into the building, inside and out. The result is a plan that translates to interesting geometry and the design gives the building its unique identity while complementing the styles of nearby homes. FrankFranco is proud to be in the company of the many great architects that formed this streetscape.
