/Get Inspired/Spaces

A Geometric House Breaks Ground in Etobicoke

Phaedrus Studio introduce light and shadow to create an ever-changing interior at the Tesseract House in Etobicoke.

By Jeremy Freed
Photography by Ryan Fung

The Firm

“Interior designers often find they’re doing things to fix bad interior architecture,” says David Grant-Rubash, principal of Toronto’s Phaedrus Studio. By working on both together, as he prefers to do, the results are simpatico. “You end up with a better, more thoughtful space that’s part of a comprehensive experience.”

Articulations are abundant in Tesseract House, from the deep-set windows to the jointed effect of the stairwell.

The Project

At Tesseract House, a new build in Long Branch, the interior and exterior are playfully in sync. Designed by Phaedrus Studio with architect Jeff Geldart, the 280-square-metre home has a striking facade. This complements an interior of light-filled rooms and artful, unexpected geometry. From the street, four windows set into trapezoidal corrugated steel and pale wood frames meet the gaze of onlookers. These are unusual at a glance, but the longer you stare at them their shapes begin to shift, challenging your perspective and drawing you in for a closer look. This is all part of the experience. “Tesseract” is the word for a four-dimensional cube, and as such, the home is intended to reveal itself not just as you move through it, but also over time.

In the living room, where the drywall angles down to mimic the faceted design of the exterior wall, a pocket in the ceiling conceals the top track for the sliding door. Coffee table, rug, armchair, and sofa from Suite 22.
The custom-fabricated kitchen by Laurysen features rift oak uppers and a 3.7-metre-long soapstone island. Solid white oak hardwood from Superior runs throughout.

The Geometry

Grant-Rubash’s background includes training in industrial design and product design in addition to architecture. And he employed similar thinking at Thor Espresso on John Street. While the coffee shop was built into an existing commercial space, its origami-like counter is nonetheless a testament to Phaedrus’ adeptness with unusual lines. “There’s an interest to continue to pull at that thread,” says Grant-Rubash of his fascination with odd geometries. “At both Thor and the Tesseract House, you’re not always sure how it’s going to resolve itself.”

The staircase’s landing looks up to the Velux skylight, down to the first floor, and across into two staggered interior windows.

Inside the Home

Both spaces are defined by asymmetrical shapes and the interplay of light and shadow they create. The main floor of Tesseract House makes use of the home’s long, narrow lot with a single open living space. Angled floor-to-ceiling windows on each end frame a formal dining room, a living room and a minimalist kitchen clad in black Brazilian soapstone. In addition to flooding the main floor with light, these two apertures create an ever-changing geometry of shadows throughout the day. Upstairs, a pair of light wells open the home’s four bedrooms to the sky, while connecting them to the rest of the house.

Off the landing at the top of the stairs, two bedrooms are illuminated with ample sunshine pouring through an adjacent light well. Beds, area rugs and pouf from Ikea.

The End Result

“You end up with this interesting experience. It’s an intimate moment with the house that’s expanding both outward and inward,” says Grant-Rubash. The space really does transform, not just depending on the position of the sun, but also from your position inside (or outside) of it. “Just when you think you have it figured out, it surprises you again.”


You may also like