Kitchen appliance manufacturer Fisher & Paykel’s first Canadian flagship is located within the Boiler House of the former Toronto Carpet Manufacturing Company in the Liberty Village neighbourhood of Toronto. Designed by Omar Gandhi Architects in collaboration with the Fisher & Paykel Design Team and brand and experience consultancy Alt Group, the project acknowledges the building’s industrial heritage while accommodating a contemporary showroom and demonstration environment for the brand’s appliances.
Heritage context and architectural approach
To maintain the integrity of the existing structure, new architectural elements were intentionally set apart from the original walls, allowing the historic fabric to remain legible and uninterrupted. The selection of the Boiler House as the project site reflected a shared intention to adapt an existing building with historical significance rather than pursue new construction, with retention of the original industrial shell and structure forming the basis of the design approach. This establishes a clear relationship between the retained industrial fabric and newly introduced interior elements, with the existing building functioning as a backdrop for the contemporary interventions.
Spatial organisation
The triple-height interior volume enabled a range of spatial conditions to be developed within the open plan. Variations in scale, enclosure, and openness are articulated through changes in material, light, and acoustic treatment, as well as moments of spatial compression and expansion. Acoustic ceiling grids above the reception area and Minimal Kitchen space add an architectural expression while controlling reverberation and improving speech intelligibility. These strategies differentiate individual culinary zones while maintaining visual continuity across the interior.
Social Kitchen
The Social Kitchen forms the central gathering space of the Experience Centre and is used for workshops and events. A suspended wood shroud positioned above a stainless-steel island defines the space within the larger volume. The exterior of the shroud is clad in charred timber, while the interior is finished in white oak, framing views upward to the existing ceiling and emphasising the relationship between new insertions and the original structure. The installation integrates a kitchen exhaust hood along its lower edge. The showroom interior also includes references to Māori carving and wheat fronds, incorporated as part of the project’s detailing.
