In the heart of creativity, where art becomes a way of life, lies an extraordinary residence that is itself a work of art. On a street aptly named Artist View Boulevard, nestled amidst the headwaters of the Humber River and with views of the distant escarpment, the home was designed for an art dealer, his family, and a sizable art collection.
At street view, the Artist View project corresponds with its surrounding community but distinguishes itself with a flanked entrance, encapsulating guests as they approach the front door. It’s here where the extraordinary details of the home begin to present themselves.
“We designed the Artist View project to have views of the exterior from every room. By allowing the house to look in and reflect upon itself, its inhabitants are enabled to experience the home through a different language,” – Francesco DiSarra, Principal Architect, FrankFranco Architects.
Moving past the living room and 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 result is a concept that rethinks the traditional 60-foot lot, feels innately connected and blurs the lines between indoors and outdoors.
While fortified in the front, the exact opposite is true at the rear. Here south-facing, structure wrapping glass walls allow the home to open completely to the nature of the site, with views as far as the horizon will allow. Access to the outdoors is optimized – all over-sized interior spaces lead towards the open concept rear where such amenities as a cabana, pool, deck, and backyard may be enjoyed. Beyond its carefully crafted structural design, the Artist View project reflects a unique relationship between environment and design by blurring the bounds of indoor and outdoor living to create a feeling of cottage life in the suburbs.
