Home Architecture

Modern House Brings The Countryside Charm Into The City

By Simona Ganea | Published on

The Skygarden House was born from a desire to bring the charm and coziness associated with countryside houses into the city, to mimic the experience of living in a weekend retreat but in an urban environment with all the advantages that it entails. It was designed and built on a narrow lot in Toronto, Canada by studio DUBBELDAM Architecture + Design. It utilizes the footprint of a century-old house but only two exterior walls of the original building have been preserved, everything else being new.

The residence occupies a narrow lot between existing buildings, where an old house used to beView in gallery
The residence occupies a narrow lot between existing buildings, where an old house used to be

The design of the new residence is simple, with graphical lines and a strong connection to the outdoors. The clients wanted to feel close to nature and to have easy access to outdoor spaces so the architects included in their design a wooden deck for the backyard and a porch at the front of the house.

The rear of the house opens up towards the backyard, welcoming the outdoors inView in gallery
The rear of the house opens up towards the backyard, welcoming the outdoors in
the main social areas are clustered on the ground floor and share an open floor planView in gallery
the main social areas are clustered on the ground floor and share an open floor plan
The entryway is separated from the rest of the ground floor functions by a sliding wallView in gallery
The entryway is separated from the rest of the ground floor functions by a sliding wall
The kitchen is L-shaped, with windows on both sides and a practical island with built-in appliancesView in gallery
The kitchen is L-shaped, with windows on both sides and a practical island with built-in appliances

The interior spaces are organized on multiple levels, topped with a modern and graphical interpretation of the traditional pitched roof. All areas benefit from abundant sunlight and well-framed views of the surroundings thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows being a major part of the design and also the well-planned relationship between the house and its immediate surroundings. In addition to the front porch and the backyard deck, there’s also an exposed roof deck on the top floor which acts as an extension of the master bedroom. Such an open, fresh and vibrant living experience is quite uncommon for the urban environment, making this residence very special.

A bar-like unit visually separates the kitchen and dining area from the sitting roomView in gallery
A bar-like unit visually separates the kitchen and dining area from the sitting room
The dining room has light wooden flooring, white custom cabinetry and a bright red pendant lamp for contrastView in gallery
The dining room has light wooden flooring, white custom cabinetry and a bright red pendant lamp for contrast
A sliding glass door connects the dining area to the front patio which serves as an extension for the indoor spacesView in gallery
A sliding glass door connects the dining area to the front patio which serves as an extension for the indoor spaces
The master bedroom occupies the top floor and has its own open roof deck which bring it closer to natureView in gallery
The master bedroom occupies the top floor and has its own open roof deck which bring it closer to nature
The extension is part of the main floor plan and unnoticeable from the outsideView in gallery
The extension is part of the main floor plan and unnoticeable from the outside
Although quite small, this area is wonderful in every way and makes total sense in the context of this urban homeView in gallery
Although quite small, this area is wonderful in every way and makes total sense in the context of this urban home
The master bedroom and the deck are separated by full-height glass panels which ensure a seamless connectionView in gallery
The master bedroom and the deck are separated by full-height glass panels which ensure a seamless connection
The bathroom is filled with natural light too and features large windows and glass partitions which take advantage of thisView in gallery
The bathroom is filled with natural light too and features large windows and glass partitions which take advantage of this
The house makes the most of the narrow plot, offering both plenty of indoor space and a variety of outdoor functionsView in gallery
The house makes the most of the narrow plot, offering both plenty of indoor space and a variety of outdoor functions