Urban Ravine House

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Top image Urban Ravine House
Urban Ravine House


Located in Toronto’s Summerhill neighborhood, the original 1,600 square foot, darkly traditional, staid 2 1/2 storey house was designed without consideration of its breathtaking ravine site. Today, sits a 4,000 square foot, four storey home that is oriented at all four levels to the natural beauty of the ravine to the south, with views to the city’s towers during the winter months and with views of a natural forest in the summer months. The house now has two faces, the traditional one facing the street and a modern one open to the ravine. At the rear of the house which faces south, the inside is connected to the rear yard ravine through views to the spectacular landscape, the city and sky, where outdoor decks and steps lead down the sloped forested yard. Natural light is introduced to the centre of the house from the roof to the ground floor through a continuous vertical opening of a glass and wood central staircase via a skylight. With design emphasis on openness and brightness, the fluidity of the house is reinforced by opening it up to natural light with the use of translucent walls and surfaces, and a double height space that serves the main living area; the family room. Overhangs at the south side are introduced to keep direct sunlight from entering through the glazing during summer months.
 
And what Ms. Bortolotto heard was a desire not only for light, but for openness and barrier-free living ... Regardless, she came through with a design that allows rooms to connect to one another

- Dave LeBlanc, Architecture Columnist
The Globe and Mail

press + awards

Featured Houses
Architectural Record, October 23, 2012

A Toronto Home where the back takes the Lead
Dave LeBlanc, The Globe and Mail, June 14, 2012

Urban Ravine House by Bortolotto Design Architect
CONTEMPORIST, June 20, 2012

A Heritage Home That's Anything but Old
Alex Corey, urbantoronto.ca, June 20, 2012

Urban Ravine House's Contemporary Revival and Enlargement 
Freshome Design & Architecture, June 28, 2012

Light is the Magic Ingredient
Alex Newman, Toronto Star, Jule 23, 2012

Urban Ravine House
HomeDSGN, Sept 2012