House of the week: 781 Craven Road
This house at 781 Craven Rd. might feature the most minimalist design in all of Toronto. On the market at $699,000, the so-called Mini House was designed by architect Andrew Reeves of LineBox Studios who took a tiny plot of land on one of Toronto's most interesting streets and created something unique.
It won't be to everyone's taste, but the ultra contemporary design is radical in its simplicity. Some would call it stark, but the light-filled space is designed to be free-flowing and well connected to Zen garden at the back. Meanwhile, the wood stove adds considerable warmth -- both thermal and aesthetic -- in the fall and winter.
Prior to the construction of Mini House, the building at 781 Craven Rd. was a shack-like drug lab (or so claims Linebox Studios). The current structure dates back to 2011 when it was built to suit the tastes of a client with near disdain for ornamentation. It will have to attract someone with a similar sensibility now.
When thinking of this 566 square foot house, it's useful to view it as a condo alternative. Its minimalism, for instance, doesn't seem quite so harsh when compared to the many modern loft spaces. In fact, the intuitive design of the fold-up kitchen and loft bedroom, make this space considerably more airy, and the garden is far nicer than a balcony
SPECS
NOTABLE FEATURES
GOOD FOR
One or two people who love good design but hate ornamentation. This is a house to take pride in, but only if the architectural vision matches your taste. You must be willing to sleep on a Murphy bed in an open loft space.
MOVE ON IF
You need more space (duh). This micro home will appeal to a limited clientele, one who likely doesn't drive, is kid-free, and doesn't own any stuff. If you're looking to radically downsize your life, this could be your dream space.
ADDITIONAL PHOTOS
What do you think of Mini House? Let us know in the comments.
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