Nestled in Kleinburg, a suburb outside of Toronto, is the aptly named Artistview. This home offers sublime sightlines and access to the surrounding nature, such as the Humber River escarpment. It is also a stone’s throw from the McMichael Canadian Art Gallery, an actively acquiring institution. The home’s location aligns perfectly with the homeowner, an art dealer with a sizeable collection of Canadian art. FrankFranco Architects designed Artistview to combine the owner’s love for art and the Canadian landscape with intentional architectural choices, showcasing the ability of art and architecture to tell a story when successfully integrated.
From conception to completion, FrankFranco prioritized incorporating the owner’s lifestyle and profession into the home’s features. The home coordinates with the neighbourhood but stands apart due to its distinctive, u-shaped entrance and stunning Eramosa limestone cladding. At the front door, a sculptural brass handle depicting three dragons – representing the owner’s children and grandchildren – welcomes visitors and signals the seamless blend of art and architecture from the threshold.
Inside, the 3500 square-foot home is a treasure trove of art. The collection prominently features several artworks by Abraham Anghik Ruben, an Inuvialuit sculptor and painter from the Northwest Territories. Ruben’s ability to envision a sculpture within a stone slab inspired FrankFranco principal Frank DiSarra to transform an empty lot into a livable vessel. DiSarra ensured the art had space to breathe, with appropriate lighting and complementary finishes.
The foyer showcases the owner’s numerous sculptures by crafting a space for them to take centre stage. A large screen acts as a display wall, allowing guests to enjoy art pieces by various Canadian Indigenous artists and offering a peek into the adjacent living room. Hardwood floors create a warm, inviting ambiance to the space, while the natural stone adds character and uniqueness. The light from floor-to-ceiling windows in the foyer extends throughout the structure, blurring the lines between indoor and outdoor. “We designed Artistview,” says DiSarra, “to have views of the exterior from every room. By allowing the house to look in and reflect upon itself, its inhabitants can experience the home through a different language.” The open concept provides cohesion and a living space free of conformity for the family’s daily life.
Moving past the living room into the kitchen, walls of northwest-facing windows reveal the home’s flanked rear, mirroring the u-shape of the street-facing facade. At its centre, a veranda leads to the open-air terrace and raised pool. The shimmering reflections of the pool create a serene ambiance on the terrace and in the primary bedroom, which has direct access. Here, a minimalist aesthetic is maintained with all closet storage built along a hallway leading from the bedroom, past the ensuite, and toward the home’s front-facing staircase. Above this, on the upper level, two bedrooms, each with their own ensuite dressed in Italian stone, share a long hallway. The simplistic features of the home allow those living within to bring life to it.
The lower level, lined with glistening silver white marble tiles and filled with dozens of pieces by Canadian artists, acts as the family’s personal art gallery and reception space for visitors and clients. A fully equipped elevator for transporting sculptures and art pieces between the home’s levels links the upper and lower floors. By connecting with the client’s passions and inspirations from start to finish, FrankFranco’s Artistview is a clear example of how a homeowner’s love for art can inspire architects to develop spaces that allow that love to grow.
