Edwardian Renovation

The major renovation of this original 1800s Toronto house, built by Equinox Developments, maintains the heritage quality of the exterior while updating the interior to a bright, contemporary home.

A technical challenge of this project is achieving an air-tight, well-insulated envelope without using spray foam. While spray foam can be seen as an energy efficient retrofit solution (3-in-1 air barrier, insulation and vapour barrier), some types have significant environmental impact from manufacturing and installation. Instead, this project uses a new, avant-garde alternative for the air barrier: a rubberized, liquid-applied, vapour-permeable membrane by Henry Bakor, applied to the interior face of the brick. This creates a continuous barrier that can be tested and modified before the house is finished, resulting in superior efficiency and interior comfort.

The house's eclectic mixture of traditional aspects, such as the formal living area in the front of the house and the third floor's retro bathroom, and contemporary aspects, like the first floor's Great Room and en suite bathrooms for every bedroom, this house is both unique and luxurious.