At the base of the Apuan Alps, where marble mountains touch farmland, an unfinished house stood empty. It was meant to be a spa with a sunken pool and wellness features, but it never opened. Instead, it became an opportunity—a spacious building in a beautiful spot, and a client with a new idea.
Tuscan Villa. Photography by Michael Taylor Architecture + Design
Michael Taylor Architecture + Design brought that idea to life, turning the empty building into a roomy family retreat for gatherings. The house keeps its classic Tuscan shape, but the inside feels modern. It fits well with its surroundings and is ready for future celebrations and summer evenings.
Long before spas and retreats arrived in Tuscany, farmers built limonaie—low stone buildings that protected citrus trees during winter. These buildings had tall, arched openings that opened in summer and closed in winter. Michael Taylor Architecture + Design drew inspiration from this traditional style, letting its shape and rhythm guide the design of the new house.
The house connects the indoors to the outdoors through a row of arched openings with glass doors along its length. Outside, there is a garden and a quiet reflecting pool, with the Apuan Alps in the background. The design feels dramatic and peaceful, blending traditional shapes with open, light-filled views. It shows that great modern design often starts by honouring the landscape.
Tuscan Villa. Photography by Michael Taylor Architecture + Design
Tuscan Villa. Photography by Michael Taylor Architecture + Design
Inside, you can look straight down the full 128-foot ground floor. One end holds an open kitchen, while the other has an entertainment room for late nights. Sliding glass walls separate the spaces, making it easy for people and groups to move between areas.
At the center of the house is a kitchen, dining, and living area made for people who enjoy hosting. An eighteen-foot island gives lots of space for groups to gather, and a table for sixteen is perfect for long dinners. Cozy seating areas offer quiet spots to talk after meals. The space feels open and welcoming, never formal or closed off.
Tuscan Villa. Photography by Michael Taylor Architecture + Design
As you move further in, you come to a media and lounge area built into the old spa's sunken pool. The architects kept the dramatic feel, adding couches that step down toward a screen. A wood bar and mirrored panels reflect light around the room. With a pool table and arcade games, this area has become the lively heart of the house.
Tuscan Villa. Photography by Michael Taylor Architecture + Design
A bold staircase divides the two sides of the house and passes a glass-walled wine room that quietly shows off the collection. This spot invites guests to pause between the busy ground floor and the quieter upstairs. At the top, a wood-slat wall partially hides an open fitness area, providing some privacy while keeping it connected to the rest of the floor.
Walking upstairs, two master suites sit at each end of the house, just like the layout below. Each suite has a marble bathroom and a walk-in closet. There are also two guest bedrooms, each with its own bathroom, making it easy to host family and friends for longer stays. The ground floor is designed for gatherings, while the upper floor is made for relaxation.
Tuscan Villa. Photography by Michael Taylor Architecture + Design
Tuscan Villa. Photography by Michael Taylor Architecture + Design
The change in mood is highlighted by the materials used. Downstairs, charcoal-coloured terra-cotta tile, warm walnut woodwork, off-white plaster walls, and veined marble culminate in a full wall of mosaic tile at the far end of the entertainment room. Upstairs, the colours are softer: light oak herringbone flooring replaces the terra-cotta, giving the bedrooms a cozy, home-like warmth that contrasts with the drama below.
Tuscan Villa. Photography by Michael Taylor Architecture + Design
What began as an unfinished spa is now something much more personal—a home shaped by the area's farming history and made for a client who wants to share it with others. Michael Taylor Architecture + Design kept the building's original purpose in mind but gave it a new direction, shifting from solitary wellness to connection. The citrus-house shape, the sunken gathering space, and the long view down the ground floor all tie the house to its land and give it new life.
In the shadow of the Apuan Alps, with the doors open to the garden and the pool table ready for the evening, the house finally does what it was meant to do. It brings people together.
Michael Taylor Architecture + Design is a Toronto studio defined by the seamless integration of architecture and interiors under one creative vision. Building on the 25-year legacy of Taylor Smyth Architects, co-founded in 2000, Michael takes a deeply hands-on approach—involved from the first conversation and present at every client meeting, guiding each project from the first sketch well after construction ends.
Every project unfolds through close collaboration with clients who hold a strong point of view yet stay open to new ideas — the foundation for homes that are unique, personal, and exceptional. The studio's strength is listening deeply, then translating that into warm, livable spaces that reflect who our clients are.
Over 30 years, Michael has completed more than 25 highly customized residential projects, as well as community, educational, and workplace commissions — earning 25+ design awards, including three OAA awards and a Toronto Urban Design Award for the St. Lawrence Market redevelopment.
