Set in a clearing on the edge of an east/west ridge of a heavily forested 34 acre site, this home is securely nestled and isolated from the not too distant Toronto commuter traffic. Designed for a professional artist and his wife, a fashion designer, this simple two storey rectangular volume provides an appropriate gallery setting for their combined collections and a living space suited to their needs. The design concept for this new residence involved the partial demolition and total renovation of an existing four bedroom builders house.

A continuous ribbon of clerestory windows wrap around the perimeter of the second floor level and step down along the two sides to form a complete window wall across the south elevation. This offers a panoramic view of the tree tops and ravine below, as well as a constant source of daylight. The interior space is defined by the careful placement of a wall, a cylinder and a cube. The wall acts to conceal the library, washroom, stair and storage area behind and, in doing so, preserves the clean lines and surfaces of the gallery.