Nestled in Toronto’s west end, this slender Victorian is home to a couple who both work in the arts. When they first purchased the property, it was in a state of disrepair, chopped into multiple small rooms and units that had not been inhabited for a long time. Since both members of the couple work from home, a serene and minimalist environment was what they had in mind.

In this substantial renovation, AXIA transformed the ground floor into a completely open space, whose clean, elongated lines are accentuated by an extensive addition at the rear. Here, a dramatic double-height space extends the view of the living room into the back garden, thanks to large windows and glass doors. Different parts of the existing load bearing brick wall are preserved, juxtaposed with pure white modernist lines. Throughout the house, significant swathes of exposed brick walls add warmth to what could otherwise be a too austere habitat.