By Georgie Binks
Copyright thestar
When Toronto architect Prish Jain purchased a loft in the Tip Top condominium building on Lake Shore west he was already thinking about how to redesign it. “I have designed many spaces for my own use in the past. I’m very aware of my living needs, my lifestyle and my taste.”
Jain called his penthouse “Warm Modern at Tip Top Lofts.”
“The type of modernism I practice as an architect is a term I have coined as ‘Warm Modernism’, ” says Jain, of TACT Architecture Inc.
“Through the use of natural materials, such as woods and stones and planting, spaces can be made to feel more natural and comfortable, while retaining a modern identity.”
“Warm Modern” is located on the eighth and ninth floors at the southeast corner of the newer portion of the building above the original 1929 Tip Top warehouse building, and measures 1,500 square feet.
To create his new space, Jain removed and adjusted the location of partition walls and replaced and updated all the finishes. The main living areas — kitchen, living and dining — are on the lower level with a second bedroom and bathroom, while the den, main bedroom and ensuite are on the upper level.
Jain installed automated blinds throughout the suite to mitigate excessive heat gain. The blinds let in around a third of the light from the outside to create a warm space, while keeping it from heating excessively during the summer months.
The flooring is a rich, natural, oak hardwood, the walls and ceilings are applied with white-oak panelling, feature walls have been flattened and covered with large-format, porcelain tiles, and the ceiling has been painted dark.
“There is a continuity of materials throughout the suite, making it feel like one larger space, rather than a series of smaller spaces,” Jain says.
His favourite room comes as something of a surprise. “While the entire suite is a pleasure to come home to every day, the ensuite bathroom on the upper level is by far a highlight for me. People spend a lot of time in their bathrooms and the intent was to create a spa within the space. With the use of consistent materials on all the walls and floors, elaborate accent lighting, full-height smoked mirrors and glass, and the further removal of partition walls, the ensuite bathroom becomes a luxury and feels like going to a spa everyday.”
A beautiful spa in the sky.
