1 Hotel Toronto, Canada

Hotel Hotel, a new boutique accommodation offering in Canberra's New Acton precinct, is the result of an extensive collaboration involving over fifty designers, architects, and artists. Located within Nishi, a mixed-use building, the hotel aims to transcend the sum of its individual design elements by engaging with complex urban systems, emphasizing diversity, sustainability, urbanism, arts patronage, and community development. The dramatic entry experience features a staircase designed by March Studio, constructed from more than 2,150 pieces of recycled timber. This intricate design element provides a striking contrast of rustic and baroque, high-tech and low-tech, and represents the project's multifaceted approach. The developer, Molonglo Group, intentionally fostered a pluralistic design process, believing that multiple voices and creative input, even if initially messy, lead to a richer and more challenging outcome. The hotel lobby, described as vaguely subterranean, showcases custom-developed furniture and objects by Broached Commissions and designers like Lucy McRae, Adam Goodrum, and Charles Wilson, alongside curated mid-century pieces by room designer Don Cameron. While Fender Katsalidis Architects and Japan’s Suppose Design Office designed the Nishi building, and March Studio was responsible for the lobby, the various design strands successfully integrate into a cohesive guest experience. Molonglo Group and Don Cameron collaborated to establish a sensibility for the hotel, drawing inspiration from the romantic ideal of the Australian shack. This concept translates into a focus on authenticity and sustainability through the use of enduring, quality materials and vintage furnishings. The aim was to create hotel rooms that feel like a home – inviting, tactile, and designed to age gracefully, similar to a cherished leather jacket or pair of shoes. The lobby features expressed materials like lightly finished timber and raw concrete, while the rooms offer textured surfaces, autumnal colors, and carefully tempered lighting to evoke a sense of being transported. Beyond its interior aesthetics, Hotel Hotel's genius lies in its holistic understanding of urban ecology. Situated above 220 private apartments, the hotel's lobby functions as a semi-public arcade with a cafe-bar and retail tenancies, supporting the amenity for both hotel guests and permanent residents. The Nishi building also houses a cinema and a 6-Star Greenstar office, providing recycled water and other services to its neighbors, further integrating the hotel within a broader sustainable and community-focused environment. The Molonglo Group emphasizes breaking down traditional boundaries of development to create truly great places that benefit the entire neighborhood. Through the work of numerous skilled individuals, Hotel Hotel is characterized by meticulous design and subtle details. However, it is the Molonglo Group’s deep appreciation for the intricate systems that define successful urban environments that truly elevates the project, allowing it to surpass the individual excellence of its components and contribute significantly to Canberra’s burgeoning New Acton precinct. #HotelDesign #Hospitality #InteriorDesign #SustainableDesign #UrbanDevelopment #ArchitecturalCollaboration #CanberraArchitecture #RecycledMaterials #BoutiqueHotel

A distinctive live/work property situated in Toronto's East End, adjacent to the St. John's Norway Cemetery and Crematorium, is currently listed for 2.5 million CAD. Located at 208 Kingston Road in the Woodbine Corridor community of the Upper Beaches, the building presents a single-storey facade that conceals a substantial 3,932 sq ft footprint extending significantly back from the street. The exterior is characterized by redbrick, while the interior features hard-loft aesthetics, including raftered timber ceilings, concrete and tiled floors, and hewn timber pillars. This design forms the basis of a flexible space, which is currently utilized as a workshop. Triple arches on the exterior provide a hint of the property's unique character. The listing agent for this commercial property is ElliottAdam Medoff of Jones Lang Lasalle Real Estate Services. The property is being marketed for its potential for adaptive reuse, with suggestions including its transformation into a showroom, a combination of office and residential accommodation, or an art gallery. While the front portion of the building boasts exposed brick, rafters, and Victorian-style ceramic tiles, forming a kitchen and dining area, the rear section, featuring warehouse-style sheet roofing, would benefit from the addition of skylights to enhance natural light flow throughout this deeper part of the structure. Despite the need for additional natural light in the rear, the property has undergone significant modernizations. These improvements include a refurbishment of its brick facade and upgrades to essential building systems, such as heating and cooling, ensuring modern functionality within its historic shell. The unique location next to a large cemetery adds to its distinctiveness, offering a quiet and contemplative environment. The expansive footprint and current workshop setup highlight the versatility of the space, making it suitable for a variety of commercial or mixed-use applications following appropriate renovations. #Toronto #LiveWorkSpace #CommercialProperty #AdaptiveReuse #RealEstateCanada #PropertyForSale

The Alverton Hotel in Truro, Cornwall, a Grade II listed building constructed in 1830 by the architect responsible for Truro Cathedral, has a rich history, having served as a convent before its transformation into a hotel. The property features a bell tower, curved archways, and arched mullion windows, showcasing its distinctive architectural heritage. Situated on a hill, the hotel offers an impressive approach through a tree-lined driveway. The hotel is equipped with five event spaces, 50 recently refurbished bedrooms and suites, a spacious private terrace set within gardens, and a bar and brasserie, making it suitable for weddings, business visits, and leisure stays. The atmosphere is noted as relaxed, with friendly staff contributing to a welcoming environment. The review details a stay in one of the new coach house rooms, completed in June 2016 as part of The Courtyard complex, which comprises 15 individually designed rooms and suites. The specific room was luxuriously and stylishly appointed, primarily in blue, accented with tan leather and metallics. The large, comfortable bed featured an aged floral fabric on the headboard, matching the tan armchairs and cushions. Teal walls complemented a brassy light frame and soft browns in the seating and light wood-effect furniture. The bathroom was designed with different shades of small brown/grey tiles behind the bath and shower, while other walls were painted a pale army/olive green, and the bath panel and toilet surround were a soft dark blue. The room was well-equipped with amenities such as fluffy white towels, robes, a wide range of toiletries, a powerful shower, slippers, a safe, iron, TV, umbrella, fan, small fridge, and diverse lighting options. The hotel's bar and brasserie hold two AA Rosettes. The bar area, characterized by white walls, high ceilings, numerous windows, and leather seating, offers a selection of beverages, including limited-edition elderflower gin. An outdoor terrace provides views of the grounds. The restaurant menu features a variety of options, including seafood, steaks, burgers, and vegetarian/vegan dishes, with starters, main courses, and desserts priced accordingly. The meal experience included crab bon bons and confit pork belly for one diner, noted for good portion sizes and distinct flavors, and king scallops followed by an 8oz beef fillet for the other, with the beef praised for its quality and size. Breakfast service was found to be less impressive than the dinner. The restaurant's interior is large, segmented into rooms with blue, purple, or white walls and stone-grey soft seating. High ceilings, chunky pillars, and large windows create an airy space. Decorative elements include large metal-framed light shades and a glass cabinet showcasing Champagne, wine, and gin. Beyond the hotel, the review highlights Chantek, a local Thai and Southeast Asian restaurant in Truro. Chantek offers a diverse menu from various Asian cuisines, served in both casual upstairs and more formal downstairs dining areas. The reviewer enjoyed tamarind duck, and their companion had a massaman lamb curry, both dishes receiving positive feedback for flavor and quality. The meal concluded with a novel deep-fried ice cream dessert. Truro, the small capital of Cornwall, is described as a good base for exploring the western part of Cornwall, being approximately half an hour from popular locations like Newquay, Falmouth, St. Austell, and Redruth. The Alverton Hotel is presented as a versatile establishment that caters to various needs, whether for business, celebratory events, or a quiet retreat, embodying Cornwall's relaxed and welcoming character. #HotelReview #LuxuryAccommodation #CornwallTravel #Truro #HistoricHotel #FineDining #SoutheastAsianCuisine #InteriorDesign

This article highlights some of the leading window and door suppliers in Toronto, catering to various project needs from renovations to new constructions. Each featured company offers a distinct range of products, emphasizing quality, style, and energy efficiency. The selection process for windows and doors involves considering both aesthetic appeal and practical functionality, with expert advice available to guide customers through their choices. The goal is to provide solutions that blend seamlessly with the home's design while offering durability and performance. Torp is presented as a premier destination for modern Danish windows and doors, known for their impeccable craftsmanship and high energy efficiency. Their showroom on Davenport showcases products from brands like UD Vinduer, Kastrup, UPB, and Lacuna, offering a variety of sophisticated options. Bauhaus, a Toronto-based company, has been designing and manufacturing contemporary windows and doors since 1990. Their products are celebrated for detailed craftsmanship, exemplified by their smooth-gliding lift-and-slide doors, making them a highly sought-after supplier in the city. Chateau Windows & Doors provides a comprehensive selection that accommodates diverse architectural styles, from sleek modern homes to traditional and historical properties. Their Castlefield showroom offers on-site consultants to assist clients in finding the ideal solutions for their projects. Marvin, a company with over a century of experience, has established a strong reputation for the quality and variety of its window and door offerings. They provide an extensive range of made-to-order wood and wood-clad options, available in numerous shapes and styles across their various locations, ensuring solutions for almost any glazing requirement. BigFoot specializes in European-engineered and Canadian-manufactured large and supersized glazing systems. Their catalog includes products with advanced technological features, appealing to smart home enthusiasts seeking innovative solutions. 1925 WorkBench is a workshop and studio based in Etobicoke, known for its handcrafted wooden and glass doors. Their unique offerings include patented single-track bypass barn-door hardware, manufactured in Canada, as well as walnut slab doors with distinctive transom-like cut-outs and tall rolling or hook ladders. Alumilex, a Montreal-based manufacturer, provides high-end contemporary custom windows and doors. Their product line includes oversized lift-and-slide patio doors and tilt-and-turn windows. They collaborate with multiple local partners in the Greater Toronto Area to deliver comprehensive project support. Pella Windows & Doors encourages visits to their Bayview Avenue showroom for those building or remodeling homes. They offer a wide array of beautiful and functional options for both new constructions and renovation projects. Dundas Specialty Windows & Doors, located in Roncesvalles, has been manufacturing and installing custom quality products since 1985. Their West End showroom features top-tier brands such as Ostaco and Anderson Windows & Doors, providing a wide selection for discerning customers. Tiltco, established in 1988, is a Canadian manufacturer renowned for its robust, made-to-order European glazing systems. With decades of experience and expertise, Tiltco provides reliable and high-quality solutions for homeowners. Door Studio collaborates with builders, homeowners, and architects to enhance residences with various manual- and power-operated glazing solutions. Their offerings include front doors, garage doors, and height-adjustable terrace windscreens, providing versatile options for modern living spaces. #WindowsAndDoors #TorontoDesign #HomeRenovation #ModernDesign #EnergyEfficiency #CustomSolutions #InteriorDesign #ProductDesign #Shopping