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Art Shoppe Lofts + Condos
By : Cecconi Simone Inc.
GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN – 16th edition
Discipline : Interior Design
Categories : Residence / Residential Tower & Condominium Project - Common Space : Bronze Certification
The project is a condominium located in Toronto, Canada. The square footage of the lobbies/amenities designed are 30,000 sf.
The site was where a venerated furnishings store called the Art Shoppe had been for many decades, hence the name and the project’s link to art, culture, and design.
In celebrating the project’s roots, the designers created gallery like spaces into which artwork, accessories and residents’ lives are layered.
For the amenities, the spaces are sculpted to create permeable vistas from one area to the next. Light coloured millwork acts as screens and room dividers, offering a peek into the activities in each room. The corridors occur at the glazing so that all guests can enjoy views and daylight; it is an egalitarian approach to space utilization.
There is an extensive collection of amenities ranging from a wine room, social lounges, gym, indoor/outdoor yoga, and chefs’ kitchen. They offer a wide variety of open expansive spaces combined with smaller more intimate spaces for private gatherings.
The designers had the honour to work with Karl Lagerfeld on the two lobbies. KL was invited to collaborate because of his intense love of all things design: art, fashion, furniture, interiors, architecture, etc.
His lobbies are iconic KL. They are sparsely designed with minimal, classic materials: marble, glass, and natural stone. The ‘jewellery’ touches find their way through a custom designed mosaic area carpet, and beautiful light fixtures reminiscent of a lacy metal necklace.
The rooftop amenity on the podium of the building had many challenges with respect to the change of level to accommodate a raised pool and the incorporation of the functional programming. Interior Design took the lead on these efforts as the program developed very much mirrored the interiors. For example, indoor cooking corresponded with outdoor cooking, as did lounges and dining. To celebrate the level change, a feature sculpture/water feature is located at the transition and creates a sense of arrival to the pool deck. The pool is dramatic, long, and narrow, and frames the city views to the south. Lounges, bars, and chaises are located along the pool side to accommodate various activities. The design creates a social, interactive, and engaging outdoor amenity.
While the interior amenities on the lower floors benefit from two-story ceiling heights, they are in the crux of the building and are east facing. This limited access to daylight through orientation and shadow from the adjacent wings. Our strategy was to keep access to the windows an essential part of the circulation, thereby never blocking any daylight. We also created permeable walls – with open millwork and drywall openings – between the corridors and amenities to ensure borrowed light transmits and maintains direct access to the amenities. They are shared, communal and participatory, ensuring residents have access to all.
The project site housed a high-end retail store called the Art Shoppe. The branding strategy was to pay homage to this venerated establishment and integrate art in a thoughtful and purposeful manner. The art placement was considered from the onset of the project, ensuring there are large expanses of walls that are perfect for oversized canvasses, photography, and three-dimensional pieces. Lighting was designed to enhance the pieces to ensure complete integration. The gallery-like setting – white walls and soaring ceilings – elevates the interiors and inspires residents.
Collaboration
