Like a stack of books, the volumes of the Stack House in Toronto

The Stack House is like a stack of resized books on human living proportions. Composed of horizontal platforms that make up a three-story high structure plus a basement, the villa is a playful expression of horizontal volumes differentiated by finishing materials.

The 3-volume composition

Among the various creative architecture projects, the Stack House is designed by Atelier RZLBD as a composition of three blocks: the lower one, containing the communal space, is finished in stucco; the central block, which houses transitional spaces like the multipurpose room on the mezzanine floor, is finished in charred wood; and finally, the upper block with its more private areas, such as the master bedroom and bathroom, is finished in metal panels. A dark gray color serves as a background and highlights the differentiation of volumes, creating a contradictory image of monumentality and intimacy.

The staircase as a point of light for the entire structure

The staircase splits the composition from top to bottom, all the way to the basement, bringing light from the skylights. The rooms on different levels overlap this extreme vertical void. Located between the ground floor and the second floor, the multi-purpose room is a diagonal extension of the living room below and interprets the shared gathering space of the three bedrooms on the upper level. From the living room, this diagonal line continues to the transparent cellar and the garden.

Differentiation of external volumes and internal labyrinths

Unlike the clear differentiation of the three blocks on the outside, the interior is a vertical labyrinth that winds around the staircase and generates a constant movement in the body, eyes, and mind, permeating throughout the house. Located in the Forest Hill neighborhood in Toronto, the segmented profile of the house is well-scaled compared to the surrounding buildings: its sloping roof facade tends to blend in with these but at the same time is a provocation.

An alternative architectural typology

The solid and dark image of the villa evokes a sense of monumentality, suggesting more fluid and undefined spatial boundaries within. Respecting all regulations, the house rejects the monotonous conception of most residential architecture in the city, proposing an alternative typology: an unorthodox form that claims the free nature of an architectural space, maintaining and dramatizing the spatial order that unifies the interior and exterior complexity.

Gallery

The volumes stacked like a column of books from the Stack House in Toronto.

Photo credits
Top image, content and gallery images: Borzu Talaie
Drawings, Diagrams, Models, and ...: Atelier RZLBD

Companies credits
kitchen appliances, Dacor
kitchen bar stool, Yabu Pushelberg
carpets B&B Italia
dining room chairs, B&B Italia
living room couch, B&B Italia
staircase / void light, Bocci
faucets / master ensuite, Vola
faucets / kitchen, Galley
office couch, Tacchini
office wallunit, Rimadesio
offfice desk & chair, Poltronafrau
patio furniture, Lapalma & Gandia Blasco

PEOPLE

Atelier RZLBD

Duncan Mill Road, Toronto, ON M3B 3J5, Canada