Atlas House Toronto: Redefining Modern Brick Architecture
2 days ago
3 min read
Ranging from clay red to dark purple, each brick on Atlas House is visible individually when seen up close, but from across the street, the bricks appear to form a single wall. The house is located on a corner plot in the Humewood-Cedarvale neighbourhood of Toronto and is a complete reconstruction of an earlier bungalow. It now has two storeys and is covered by a gabled roof, which takes the classic style common to houses in that area and gives it a more modern appearance.
Atlas House. Photography by Scott Norsworthy
Studio VAARO carried out the 2,925 sq. ft. house in 2025. The principle is simple: respect the typology, then reimagine it.
The project is supported by two materials: handmade Belgian brick, which encases the entire front face and the front steps, and monolithic terrazzo, which extends through the ground floor, acting as a leitmotif.
The bricks differ in shape and come in a range of colours. To develop a method for working with them, Studio VAARO worked closely with the brick masons. The team adjusted the colour of the mortar, the size and depth of the joints, and the pattern of the bricks together.
Look at them individually, but see how well they fit together when viewed from a distance.
Atlas House. Photography by Scott Norsworthy Atlas House. Photography by Scott Norsworthy
Inside the building, the colour scheme becomes more subdued, consisting of natural wood, white-and-grey terrazzo, and soft tones. This is a deliberate contrast to the rich, textured masonry found outside.
The first floor has a semi-open plan. On the western side, there is a small living room and a fireplace, while on the eastern side, there is a dining area and a pantry. The kitchen is in the middle.
Terrazzo brings the three elements together; the fireplace and the bench, the kitchen island and the pantry counter are all constructed from terrazzo slabs of the same solid thickness. Each is a focal point, and together they carry the single material theme throughout the main level.
On the upper floor, there are two bedrooms, a walk-in closet, an office and two bathrooms. In the basement, there is a separate area for the extended family to live in.
Atlas House. Photography by Scott Norsworthy Atlas House. Photography by Scott Norsworthy
A curved staircase links each level, from the basement to the second floor, acting as a counterbalance to the house's generally rectilinear design.
The curves do not end at the staircase; the opening in the ceiling bends to follow them, and the line where the wall meets the floor does the same. A skylight located directly above it brings daylight deep into the house.
Atlas House. Photography by Scott Norsworthy Atlas House. Photography by Scott Norsworthy
The clients' main concern was aging in place. There is an elevator which links all the floors. Each door, corridor, and shower has been designed to allow wheelchair access.
The house is designed to grow old.
Atlas House. Photography by Scott Norsworthy Atlas House. Photography by Scott Norsworthy Atlas House. Photography by Scott Norsworthy Atlas House. Photography by Scott Norsworthy Atlas House. Photography by Scott Norsworthy Atlas House. Photography by Scott Norsworthy Atlas House. Photography by Scott Norsworthy Atlas House. Photography by Scott Norsworthy Atlas House. Photography by Scott Norsworthy Atlas House. Photography by Scott Norsworthy Atlas House. Photography by Scott Norsworthy Atlas House. Photography by Scott Norsworthy Atlas House. Photography by Scott Norsworthy Atlas House. Photography by Scott Norsworthy Atlas House. Photography by Scott Norsworthy Atlas House. Photography by Scott Norsworthy
