Drew Architects, (Pty) Ltd.

Cedarvale Ravine House

Cedarvale Ravine House
© Drew Mandel Architects

CEDARVALE RAVINE HOUSE

Drew Mandel Architects

LOCATION
Toronto, Canada

CATEGORY
Houses

AREA
3250 ft²

YEAR
2011

The Cedarvale Ravine House is a 3350 square feet home for a family of four that is located at the edge of the Toronto Cedarvale Ravine.

The ravine system, the most distinctive feature of Toronto’s geography, comprises ofextraordinary arteries that flow through the city giving unique access to the wilderness.

Cedarvale Ravine House
© Drew Mandel Architects
Cedarvale Ravine House
© Drew Mandel Architects

This infill house sits on a typical mid-town residential neighborhood street, but opens to protected woodlands at the rear of the property. The building mass is formed by pushing and pulling the desired volume across the site.

It is further manipulated with void spaces. The sculptural expression solves programmatic requirements, maximizes views, provides natural light, and enhances the promenade and transition from sub-urban streetscape to contact with very primal forms of nature.

The circulation of the house weaves through a modulation of intimate and expansive spaces and courtyards that lead to a glass-enclosed single-story space at the rear of the property. This is the kitchen and family room, the heart of the house.

Cedarvale Ravine House
© Drew Mandel Architects
Cedarvale Ravine House
© Drew Mandel Architects

It also defines the south edge of the courtyard. This volume has been pushed down to one story in order to permit light to the interior and views out to the ravine.

Large expanses of glass dematerialize the monolithic stone building and dissolve boundaries between the interior and exterior.

The building is clad in custom local Ontario stone masonry units. 2”, 3” and 4” tall stone courses are laid in an irregular sequence.

Cedarvale Ravine House
© Drew Mandel Architects
Cedarvale Ravine House
© Drew Mandel Architects

The random lengths of stone range from 1’-0” to 4’-0” and intend to emphasize the horizontal lines of the building.

At the second floor, a zinc-clad cantilevered superstructure frames views from the inside and gestures to the woodlands.

It floats above and beyond the main stone volume and allows the re-naturalized ravine plantings to be brought farther into the site.

A lap pool reflects light into the space under the second floor cantilever where a family can enjoy outdoor activities around the pool and barbeque.

Cedarvale Ravine House
© Drew Mandel Architects
Cedarvale Ravine House
© Drew Mandel Architects
Cedarvale Ravine House
© Drew Mandel Architects

The reaching superstructure is the structural feature of the project. Its one story high trusses are embedded in walls and are supported on an exposed slender column. Column supports are reduced by diffusing the overturning forces into both the roof and floor diaphragms.

A series of space-defining vertical planes and a mass concrete wall are used for lateral resistance. The floating rear volume is complimented by a carport cantilever reaching to the front property line. Its structure is a three-point steel framing system with wood infill, sitting on cantilevered concrete walls.

Cedarvale Ravine House
© Drew Mandel Architects
Cedarvale Ravine House
© Drew Mandel Architects

The private areas located on the second floor feature operable floor-to-ceiling glazing with sliding interior wooden shutters. The system allows one to control sunlight, privacy, air flow, and noise as desired.

The second floor diverges into two wings separated by a double height dining space and its adjacent open courtyard. This connection space is traversed by a bridge that leads to access to a green roof. It contains a vegetable garden for family meals while insulating the one-story family room-kitchen below. Here, the ravine is brought to the foreground at the second floor spaces.

Cedarvale Ravine House
© Drew Mandel Architects
Cedarvale Ravine House
© Drew Mandel Architects

Both the courtyard and the green roof spaces support the local conservation authority’s interest to have the rear of the property re-naturalized as part of a larger ravine stewardship program. With much of the rear planted, these natural spaces provide additional amenity space and shape complex volumes.

The restrained and limited material palette of stone, walnut, and concrete avoids unnecessary ornamentation in order to focus one’s attention on the site, natural light, and movement through a variety of open spaces.

The Cedarvale Ravine House provides opportunities to celebrate the everyday rituals of residential life and enhances the slow unfolding experience of a special site.

Cedarvale Ravine House
© Drew Mandel Architects


Cedarvale Ravine House
Site Plan

Cedarvale Ravine House
Situation Plan
Cedarvale Ravine House
Elevation + Sections


Cedarvale Ravine House
Second Floor Plan
Cedarvale Ravine House
Ground Floor Plan
Cedarvale Ravine House
Elevation + Sections
Cedarvale Ravine House
Exploded Axon

Drew Architects, (Pty) Ltd.
T +27 11 4420224
Drew Architects, (Pty) Ltd.
35 Chester Rd, Parkwood, Johannesburg, 2193, South Africa
Mandelli 1953
T +39 0362 96991
Mandelli 1953
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