A VISIT TO THE PAST
Driving along portions of Mississauga Road can feel like a scenic trip into the countryside. Over the years, Mississauga Road has developed from estate-sized properties with "dream homes” sprinkled along its southern length, to become a consistent row of millionaire McMansions. I was on the road to visit a new client and a house that I designed as a principal of Stark Temporale Architects 50 years ago.
To see the inside of the home again brought exciting expectations. I immediately thought back to the construction phase and I could picture vividly the contractor and his partner high up on top of the roof rafters, using tape measures and string lines to get the pitches and heights correct. The ground was four storeys below.
In those days, the contractors who built the houses that we designed were skilled carpenters as well. Rather than just managing the subtrades, they were often directly involved in the construction. Given their direct involvement, I believe there was more than economics involved in the construction contract. The contractors had a sincere interest in the outcome and took pride in the houses they built.
The house on Mississauga Road reflects that pride and quality of construction. Its all-brick facade, steep wood-shingled roof and large exposed overhangs are a reflection of the organic architecture of the west coast in the 1970s and of the work of practitioners like Ron Thom. The design is both tactile and modern. The house and its separate coach house wrap around an exterior courtyard. The exterior brick walls wrap around corners and extend into the house. Glass fills the voids between the brick returns and helps to further dissolve the separation between the interior and exterior realms. Entry to the house is through the courtyard, under a covered walkway. Nestled in a large, wooded lot, the house embraces the landscape.
My original clients have passed away, but their son and his wife have become the new owners, keeping the house within the family. Knowing that I had designed it, they had contacted me to make interior updates and exterior repairs in sympathy with the original design. I quickly learned from them that they view the house as special, and I was honored that they had entrusted me with the assignment.
It was a pleasure to tour the house and site after so many years, and then to be left to wander and take pictures. Over time nature had taken its course, and the vegetation had become wild and overgrown. But, other than the rear wood deck, which overlooks the woods and stream, the interior and exterior materials have generally withstood the test of time. I could not help but smile that the galvanized gutters and downspouts were as good as new, except for the flecking paint. None of the windows had lost their seal and only a small number needed repair or replacement. They all needed painting.
Fashions change over time, especially related to small things. A much broader range of finishes is available now. Plastic Laminate countertops, no matter how well designed, just don’t “cut it” now, architecturally. I think we made only one clearly bad design decision by trying to predict the future and be progressive. We chose square, push-button electrical switches in lieu of the toggle switches that were standard at the time. It was the wrong choice, since rocker-style switches are the current standard.
The owners and I are working our way through design. I look forward to each meeting. The project is very much a personal challenge—a labour of love, and I treat it with the care that I would give if it were my own house. It must honor the original design.
To a young practice, this house had been an important early project. A referral from my parents, who have also long passed, created the initial high expectations for me. It was also only the second residence the firm had designed. Our first house had received a national housing award and set the standard to be met or exceeded.
For the new owners, there are similar high expectations to sustain the legacy of the house, especially for the son of the original owners, since It was designed for the his parents, and he had grown up in it, developing strong, lasting memories.
Homes are more than bricks and mortar. They are more than an investment. They contain memories and layers of history and emotions. For this home there will be continued meaning for the owners and the architect, as its life extends into the future for at least another 25 years.