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Portugal Village House: A Dialogue Between Heritage and Modernity

  • Mar 20
  • 3 min read

In collaboration with: Creative Union Network


Situated in the heart of Toronto, the Portugal Village House is a refined reimagining of a classic 19th-century semi-detached bay-and-gable home.


Person in white stands by triangle window, gazing outside. Modern interior with wood floor and black fireplace with orange flames.
Image courtesy of: Riley Snelling

The project encompasses a total of 2,125 sq. ft. of primary living space, supplemented by a 650 sq. ft. basement rental suite designed to address urban density and flexibility.


What began as a limited consultation to review a third-floor addition evolved into a comprehensive architectural intervention. The design team recognized that the home’s potential lay not just in adding square footage, but in fundamentally restructuring the flow of light and movement. This approach led the homeowners to extend the renovation to the ground floor, ensuring a cohesive aesthetic and functional language throughout the entire residence.


The Ground Floor: From Compartmentalized to Fluid

Historically, Toronto’s narrow 19th-century homes suffer from a "railcar" effect—long, dark corridors with isolated rooms. The original ground floor was further hindered by a dated rear addition with a low-sloping roof and a disjointed floor level that severed the home's connection to its backyard.


The renovation stripped away these partitions to create a unified, open-concept plan. By introducing floor-to-ceiling glass doors and strategically placed skylights, the architects transformed the rear of the house into a light-drenched pavilion. The change in floor level was recalculated to feel like a deliberate transition rather than an obstacle, effectively pulling the greenery of the garden into the daily living experience.


Every corner was scrutinized for efficiency; custom-milled cabinetry and integrated furniture pieces serve as "functional sculpture," eliminating clutter while maximizing the home's narrow footprint.



The Third-Floor Sanctuary: A Parent’s Retreat

The new third-floor addition was conceived as a private sanctuary for the homeowners—a dedicated floor for restorative activities: rest, work, exercise, and meditation. Rather than a traditional suite of closed rooms, the layout employs an open-plan strategy divided into three distinct zones that maintain a visual and atmospheric dialogue.

  • The Restorative Suite (Rear): The bedroom is a masterclass in small-space design. Though only 135 sq. ft., the room feels boundless due to a massive picture window. This aperture provides an elevated "treehouse" perspective over the laneway and neighbouring gardens. The western exposure ensures the room is bathed in a warm, golden glow during the evening hours.

  • The Morning Lounge (Front): At the front of the home, a multifunctional lounge and dressing area serves as a transition space. The standout feature is an 8-foot-high triangular window. This geometry is a contemporary abstraction of the home’s original bay-and-gable DNA, functioning as a "light-catcher" that pulls the crisp, eastern morning sun deep into the floor plate.



The Architectural Void: The Yoga Balcony

Perhaps the most intentional gesture is the central "cutout". In semi-detached homes, the middle of the structure is notoriously dark. This was addressed by carving out a small, three-sided glazed balcony, specifically dimensioned to accommodate a yoga mat. This void acts as a vertical light well, allowing natural light to penetrate the core of the house from multiple angles. It offers a moment of outdoor serenity and a dual-aspect view that defies the constraints of a shared party wall.



Materiality and Continuity

The transition between levels is anchored by a sculptural metal staircase. More than a functional element, the stairs act as a visual thread that weaves the historic character of the lower floors with the modern, airy volume of the new addition.


The spa-like bathroom continues this theme, using curated views and a minimalist palette to reinforce the feeling of being in a high-end retreat.



Portugal Village House stands as a testament to the idea that thoughtful architectural "editing"—removing the unnecessary and emphasizing the elemental—can turn a constrained heritage house into a spacious, light-filled modern home.


Based in Toronto, Creative Union Network is a boutique architectural practice specializing in new builds and major renovations for residential and commercial spaces.


Established in 2012 by Timothy Mitanidis and Claudia Bader, the firm operates as a multidisciplinary collaborative, combining international design expertise with a focus on "livable architecture."


The studio is recognized for its detail-oriented approach to a wide range of projects, including private homes, commercial interiors, and specialized infill housing like laneway and garden suites. By balancing aesthetic inspiration with practical constraints, Creative Union delivers innovative, high-quality solutions tailored to its clients' unique lifestyles and goals. From initial zoning research to final construction, the firm remains dedicated to creating meaningful spaces through clear communication and a shared pursuit of excellence.


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Our built environment is in a constant state of beautiful evolution. At Forma, we believe that architecture and design are deeply personal—they dictate how we live, grow, and connect across every stage of life. As a community of designers, architects, engineers, trades, builders, suppliers, students and creators, we are constantly tasked with bridging what was with what will be. Whether we are exploring innovative new builds, thoughtful restorations, or the visionary people shaping our industry, our mission remains the same: to look beyond the aesthetics. We invite you to explore the human stories woven into the brick, light, and landscapes of the spaces we inhabit. Thank you to everyone who reads, contributes, and shares in this vision.

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Founder of Forma The Magazine

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