The AVENUE ROAD furniture showroom – a three-level, 15,000 square-foot interior renovation of the former Consumers Gas Company building from 1907 – made its debut on June 1, 2010. The design-driven restoration was conceptualized by Yabu Pushelberg and is located in Toronto’s up-and-coming Leslieville neighborhood (currently benefiting from numerous major rejuvenation projects) where the gallery-like setting plays host to AVENUE ROAD’s carefully selected furniture designs culled from all over the world. The vast majority of the building’s historical qualities have been brought back to original form or strictly maintained in order to preserve the integrity of the space.
Over and above the restoration itself, the project speaks volumes about the continued desire for quality, inspired design, which is evidenced by AVENUE ROAD’s recent growth and successes (they physically grew out of their old space) despite the challenging economic times. The showroom is a destination in itself and is unique in its concept – being a hybrid between a showroom and a gallery, where one can actually sit on (and purchase) the art. The historical qualities and intrinsic beauty of the building are certainly other important distinctions, however having these elements fused with the imagination and creativity of Yabu Pushelberg’s design has spawned what is a very uplifting space.
