Location: Riverdale, Toronto
Project size: 1,835 square feet

Program: Nestled in the North Riverdale neighborhood in the east end of Toronto, Riverdale House represents a careful integration of modern design sensibilities into the framework of a traditional Edwardian residence. Designed as the primary home for a growing family, the renovation modernizes the house to support contemporary patterns of daily living, prioritizing natural light, spatial efficiency, and flexibility within a compact urban footprint.

Design Solution: The project prioritizes adaptability and multigenerational use, supporting a sustainable approach rooted in renovation rather than replacement. The clients chose to remain within the footprint of the existing house rather than expanding, a decision that guided the design strategies and shaped how light, circulation, and program needs were addressed throughout the home.

The narrowness of the lot presented challenges related to natural light and spatial organization. These constraints informed a strategy that opens up the ground floor to optimize daylight and allow it to permeate into the depth of the home. Custom millwork provides not only much-needed storage but also defines distinct zones, creating subtle yet dramatic thresholds between functions. Curved corners and softened edges encourage movement through the compact spaces, a motif carried outward to the street facade with the reimagining of a dormer defined by a radiused corner that subtly reinterprets the home’s traditional silhouette.

The third floor was transformed into a private sanctuary for the owners, featuring a light-filled ensuite bathroom, a walk-in closet, and an expansive roof deck. At every level, the design emphasizes connections to the outdoors, with decks and walkouts that extend the living spaces and bring light and greenery into the home.

Structure and Materials: The existing structure of the home is composed of wood framing, which was preserved and reinforced as required. The brick on the front facade was preserved to maintain the original character of the house and its relationship to the streetscape. The rebuilt dormer at the third floor is clad in black corrugated steel, a material that is continued to the rear elevation, where it is paired with fiber-cement siding. The interiors consist of a palette of white oak and soft neutrals.

Additional Information
Completion date: November, 2025
Site size: 0.06 acres
Total construction cost: Withheld
Client/Owner: Mark McAdam & Vincz Lee