115 Larchmount

Discipline : Architecture

Categories : Residential Building / Apartment & Condo of 5 to 9 storeys : Gold certification

Located east of Toronto’s downtown core, 115 Larchmount is a new mixed-use purpose-built rental building that occupies the site of a former 7-Eleven store. The six-storey multi-unit uses a geothermal heating and cooling system and contributes context-appropriate density and diverse housing stock to a residential area largely defined by single-family homes. 

Sitting at the heart of Toronto’s Leslieville community, the six-storey building takes its design cues, inside and out, from the surrounding fabric and industrial history. Clad in different shades of brick to mesh with the immediate context while communicating a subtle playfulness, the massing respects the four-storey datum on Queen Street East, stepping back at the fifth and sixth storeys to minimize impact and create visual coherence. The interiors scheme, including the lobby, corridors, amenity spaces, and units, was inspired by the area’s manufacturing legacy, emphasizing details, colour, and craftsmanship. For example, our lobby design features custom terrazzo with distinctive metal accents and inlays as well as eclectic tile layouts consisting of different patterns and colours that honour the vibrancy of the neighbourhood. The mailboxes are enclosed in a finely detailed smoked oak cabinet that sits next to a custom leather bench. 

Opening out directly to the rooftop terrace with expansive views of Lake Ontario and the city’s skyline, the tenant lounge at 115 Larchmount was conceived as an intimate and uplifting gathering space. With a cozy area for socializing, reading, or watching a movie, the lounge features bespoke touches, including a tailor-made media unit and custom wall paneling, as well as a kitchen and dining room that accommodate larger get-togethers. Every intervention across the communal components of the building was deeply considered in an effort to bring tenants both ease and comfort and to enliven their encounters with their everyday surroundings.

With 47 units and a mix of suite sizes that feature studios as well as one, two, and three bedrooms, 115 Larchmount offers choice to a wide variety of potential tenants. For the model suite — a 722-sf one-bedroom apartment with a layout that is ideal for a professional couple — we developed a colour palette and chose furnishings that are decidedly urban but also foster a sense of serenity and reprieve from the bustle of city life. With this target demographic in mind, the plan includes a work-from-home nook off the kitchen and a double vanity in the bathroom. We prioritized items that have personality and wider appeal, with special consideration for furniture, materials, colours, and textures that honour Leslieville’s dynamic character. Natural patinas, pops of saturated colour, and a selection of furniture that includes local vintage items to infuse the décor with distinction and a touch of whimsy, ensuring cohesion between the unit and overall building design.

The project in images