Glen Manor Haus
Project Name: Glen Manor Haus
Tagline: Living with light in the shelter of trees
Architecture / Interior Design/ Landscape Design: baukultur/ca
Project Lead: Felix Leicher
Structural: Gabris Associates
Mechanical: Fuzion HVAC Consulting and Design Inc.
Builder: Owner
Construction: 2025
Use: Detached single-family home with secondary suite.
Size: 3,700 sq.ft four levels including basement
Materials: Fine stucco, black cedar, composite stone, white oak, brick tile.
Photographer: Alex Lukey, Michael Peart.
Selected Media Features: Nuvo Magazine • Build Canada • Aspire Metro • Design Skill • i2dinspiration • Archina
Before
The clients approached us seeking to build their first long-term home, a dwelling grounded in calm, shaped by natural light, and connected deeply to the nearby ravine.
Their wish was for a modern family home that would feel both open and refined: generous for daily living, fluid enough for entertaining, yet composed and private in all the right places.
They imagined living within the tree canopy—waking up to filtered forest light, moving through spaces that felt quietly restorative, and ending the day on a roof deck overlooking the ravine and looking out toward Lake Ontario.
With trust built through many previous collaborations, they gave us complete creative freedom, from spatial organization to the material palette, to design a home that embodies clarity, restraint, and long-term value.
Site
Glen Manor Haus sits near the end of a secluded cul-de-sac at the edge of the Glen Manor Ravine, only minutes from Queen Street yet distinctly removed in atmosphere.
The surrounding context spans early-century homes to newer builds, with tight lot conditions and limited construction access shaping many early decisions.
The massing is calibrated to sit confidently but without dominance: angled planes, recessed balconies, and wrapped façade bands soften the volume while maintaining adistinctly modern presence.
Design
Inside, the main floor unfolds through a series of subtle elevation changes that define each area, giving every function its own atmosphere within a continuous open plan.
Openings on three sides of the home and generous skylights draw daylight deep into the interior, while the central stair acts as a vertical light register, carrying brightness through all four levels.
The material palette reflects a warm, livable minimalism: fine stucco, black-stained cedar, and composite stone outside; white oak, brick tile, muted millwork, and sculptural light fixtures inside. Exterior materials reappear indoors, reinforcing continuity.
Throughout, the design aims for quiet richness through tactile, natural finishes; long-lasting surfaces; and a calm spatial order that supports family life without visual noise.
Living
The main floor is anchored by a generous kitchen with a concrete-finished island counter and red-toned brick gables, balanced by whitewashed oak and light grey cabinetry.
The living area opens to the garden through precise full-height portals, supported by overhead light from three skylights. A freestanding black fireplace, oak and brick sideboard, and built-in bar complete the room’s quiet sense of comfort.
The second floor houses three bedrooms, bathrooms, and a laundry room, all brightened by natural light.
The principal suite occupies the third floor, unfolding through a sitting room with a glass wall onto the roof deck—an intimate perch above the trees with distant views to the lake. A deep burgundy bar brings richness and subtle contrast.
A concealed door leads to a flexible room for additional wardrobe space or a hidden office. A private secondary suite on the lower level adds versatility while maintaining the home’s tranquil rhythm.
After
Glen Manor Haus embodies Quiet Luxury as a lived experience—calm spatial order, crafted light, and honesty in material expression.
Every detail is intentional; every element belongs to a coherent whole.
The home feels quietly confident, both contemporary and timeless, shaped by proportion, reduction, and the stillness of well-resolved spaces.
Interior
Exterior
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