Bortolotto Studio

The top floor of an old industrial building on College Street in Toronto’s Little Italy housed Bortolotto’s design studio from 2007 to 2018. Designed as both a workplace and a showcase of our practice, the space was created to foster collaboration and innovation. Natural light streamed in through large perimeter windows, illuminating a bright open studio where custom-designed L-shaped workstations supported teamwork and interaction. The rough, textured shell of the existing building provided a dramatic backdrop for the refined, minimalist interventions, balancing old and new in a way that expressed the firm’s design ethos.
 
Within the open environment, translucent floating partitions, sandblasted glass and film were used to subtly separate zones while maintaining visual connectivity A sequence of tall partitions, each integrated with vertical lighting fixtures and capped by custom black steel shelving fabricated by Prototype Design Lab, defines a narrow alleyway within the studio. Along this corridor, a continuous work surface provides space for a design library of architecture books and magazines, a technical resource area, and a casual lunch space. A restrained palette of white and charcoal, paired with simple detailing and a strong emphasis on ergonomics, underscored the firm’s identity while creating an efficient and comfortable workplace. The inviting entrance offered clients a striking first impression, setting the tone for a flexible, collaborative studio that exemplified our commitment to design excellence.