Toronto’s West End is full of century-old semi-detached houses and narrow lots, but the Bellwoods Residence stands out quietly. Instead of using a bold design to stand out, this home focuses inward, letting daylight take center stage in its interior spaces.
Bellwoods Residence. Photography by Felix Michaud
Many new homes have open-concept layouts that often feel similar, but this project takes a different approach. Its design centers on how light moves through the house each day. Rather than focusing on size, it aims to create a certain mood.
The main idea behind Bellwoods is easy to explain but difficult to achieve: a vertical slot brings daylight from the roof down to the ground floor. This is more than just a skylight in a corner. It forms the core of the home, with every room arranged around it.
On the lower level, wood covers most of the living spaces, creating a warm setting for daily life. Concrete floors anchor the sunken living room and connect it to a sunken patio outside. Where the light slot passes through, the materials change, creating a spot of light and openness.
The contrast is wanted. As the sun moves, light streams through the slot, creating shifting patterns on the wood and concrete. The room can feel very different at nine in the morning compared to four in the afternoon. Changes help you notice the passing of the day.
A sculptural white metal staircase comes down through this opening from the floor above. It is designed to be admired as well as used. Where it meets the ground floor, it fits into the wooden guard below, marking the place where the bright, cool stair meets the warmer tones of the house.
Bellwoods Residence. Photography by Felix Michaud
Bellwoods Residence. Photography by Felix Michaud
On the third floor, the main bedroom uses the same materials, but in a softer way. A wood ceiling surrounds the room, making it feel like a retreat. Soft white curtains along the edges let in daylight and provide privacy without making the space feel heavy or closed.
The result is a bedroom that reflects the ground floor’s mix of warmth and light, texture and openness, but in a gentler way. The design feels well-suited for a space meant for rest.
Bellwoods Residence. Photography by Felix Michaud
Bellwoods Residence. Photography by Felix Michaud
Outside, brick is the main material, and every choice is thoughtful. The direction of the brick changes across the front, following the building’s shape and suggesting the layout inside. These changes in texture and shadow give the exterior a gentle rhythm that shifts depending on where and when you stand.
The same brick appears in the main bathroom, where it is paired with smooth, softly coloured floors and countertops for a nice contrast. A tall triangular window brings in daylight from above, and a smaller window by the tub frames a view and lets in fresh air, making each bath feel like a retreat. Nearby, a laneway house replicates the design on a smaller scale, using the same brick and sculptural lines to connect it to the main house.
Bellwoods Residence. Photography by Felix Michaud
Bellwoods Residence. Photography by Felix Michaud
A garden wall hides the pool equipment and acts as a textured backdrop for the pool, which shines in the late-afternoon sun.
The Bellwoods Residence stands out not because of any single material or feature, but because of the thoughtful choices behind each one. Wood, concrete, brick, and white surfaces all have a clear purpose, and nothing is just for decoration. The central light slot ties everything together, from the roof to the ground floor.
Bellwoods Residence. Photography by Felix Michaud
Bellwoods Residence. Photography by Felix Michaud
This shows that a home can feel well-designed without being showy. Often, the most memorable moments come from simple things, like watching sunlight move across a wall in the afternoon.
Bellwoods Residence. Photography by Felix Michaud
Bellwoods Residence. Photography by Felix Michaud
Bellwoods Residence. Photography by Felix Michaud
Bellwoods Residence. Photography by Felix Michaud
Bellwoods Residence. Photography by Felix Michaud
Bellwoods Residence. Photography by Felix Michaud
Bellwoods Residence. Photography by Felix Michaud
Bellwoods Residence. Photography by Felix Michaud
Bellwoods Residence. Photography by Felix Michaud
Bellwoods Residence. Photography by Felix Michaud
Bellwoods Residence. Photography by Felix Michaud
Credits
Architecture: StudioAC Team (Andrew Hill, Jennifer Kudlats, Sarah Reid)
StudioAC is an interdisciplinary architectural practice based in Toronto, led by Andrew Hill and Jennifer Kudlats. The practice was founded in 2015 and has since received numerous accolades, appearing in several publications internationally, including Azure Magazine’s list of 30 Canadian Architecture Firms Breaking New Ground. In 2019, StudioAC was named Canada’s Best Emerging Designer by the Design Exchange. In 2021, the practice was selected by 20+Change and Canadian Architect as one of 20 firms across Canada recognized for the approach to practice and strength of projects. In 2023, StudioAC was named Designer of the Year by Designlines Magazine.
Every project is approached with care and passion, and working with clients and consultants to craft a working relationship that will cultivate an environment that sparks inspiration is critical. The strongest examples of these relationships often produce the strongest work. During this process, StudioAC strives to find an ideological thread that can be fed through a project, giving meaning to decisions along the way. Legibility, clarity, and singularity work together to make projects that impact the user and increase the real and intrinsic value of the work. StudioAC strives to create impactful and thoughtful architecture that speaks to its context at a multitude of scales. They believe that good design, architecture, and art can bring people together, enhance a community, help businesses flourish, and start much-needed conversations within our cities.
