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Forest Hill House:

Where Century-Old

Charm Meets West

Coast Sustainability

Toronto, Canada

estled in Toronto’s prestigious Forest Hill neighbourhood,
a century-old home has been transformed into a beacon of
Nsustainable, eco-conscious design, expertly blending historical
charm with West Coast aesthetics. Spearheaded by Dewson Architects,
this project brought together a family’s vision and thoughtful architectural
solutions, resulting in a stunning, timeless, and sustainable home.

The story of Forest Hill House began when a family of five relocated
from British Columbia to Toronto for new career opportunities.
Drawn to the elegance of their historic home, they wanted to preserve
its character while introducing modern, nature-inspired elements.
However, the project wasn’t without obstacles – a leaking fuel oil
tank and an obstructed garden view, among other hurdles. This led
the family to partner with Dewson Architects, renowned for their
innovative yet community-focused designs.

Expansive triple-glazed glass doors
connect the interior to the lush garden, “We had certain challenges beforehand,” explained the homeowner.
allowing natural light to flood the “The existing garage was blocking most of the rear yard view. We also
space and offering an uninterrupted needed an architect to achieve the West Coast vibe we envisioned – a
connection to the outdoors. These space that embraced an open garden design. Within half an hour of
energy-efficient windows enhance in- meeting Bill Dewson on site, he sketched a solution that completely
sulation, reduce energy consumption,
and contribute to a comfortable indoor transformed the concept.”
environment year-round

Open-concept family room and kitchen seamlessly
connect to the outdoors through a sliding door wall,
expanding the space onto the deck and rear garden.

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