The Garage Gem

THE GARAGE GEM

Office Ou

The Garage Gem
© Adrian Ozimek

ARCHITECTS
Office Ou

LEAD ARCHITECT
Sebastian Bartnicki

GENERAL CONTRACTOR
Derek Nicholson Inc

MANUFACTURERS
Bl Woodworking, Bliss Nor-am Steel Doors And Windows, Roanoak, Ssab Greencoat, Trimble, Zita Terrazzo & Tile

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING
Kieffer Structural Engineering

PHOTOGRAPHS
Adrian Ozimek

YEAR
2019

LOCATION
Toronto, Canada

CATEGORY
Houses, Renovation

The Garage Gem
© Adrian Ozimek

Text description provided by architect.

This project stemmed from the desire to transform the traditional urban garage into a flexible amenity space.

This small structure re-imagines the detached laneway garage (often an under-utilized storage space), and makes it into a true extension of the home, as well as an open event space to forge community bonds.

The Garage Gem
© Adrian Ozimek
The Garage Gem
© Adrian Ozimek

The 'Garage Gem' strikes a balance between precious and utilitarian to support a wide range of uses: it is a functioning garage, a conservatory, occasional workshop, a three-season space for entertaining guests, dining, movie screenings, writing, and simply enjoying the quiet seclusion of the leafy rear yard.

The building features hardwearing terrazzo floors and countertops, an exposed douglas fir structure, black-stained OSB sheathing, and meticulously detailed steel-framed windows and doors.

The Garage Gem
© Adrian Ozimek
The Garage Gem
© Adrian Ozimek

The cedar exterior cladding will, in time, weather to blend in with the fence. In the yard between garage and house, a new outdoor kitchen repeats the theme of cedar and terrazzo, and custom designed globe lights tie the entire space together.

Thanks to its large glazed conservatory doors, the garage gem can seamlessly connect to the diverse spaces around it: the laneway, connecting it to the neighbourhood, the backyard, connecting it to the home, and finally a small side garden for intimate gatherings.

The Garage Gem
© Adrian Ozimek


The Garage Gem
© Adrian Ozimek
The Garage Gem
© Adrian Ozimek
The Garage Gem
© Adrian Ozimek
The Garage Gem
© Adrian Ozimek
The Garage Gem
© Adrian Ozimek


The Garage Gem
Street plan
The Garage Gem
Floor plan


The Garage Gem
Sections


The Garage Gem
Elevation
The Garage Gem
Elevation


The Garage Gem
Street elevation
The Garage Gem
Side garden elevation