Twenty-first century built form heritage is not an oxymoron. If asked to name significant Leaside buildings, many would rhyme off the Lea farmhouses, the Elgie house, Garden Court and the old Leaside Town Hall and fire station. All from centuries past. And while it is true that Leaside boasts an impressive array of private and public buildings and structures from the 1800s and 1900s in its residential and industrial zones reflecting development over time, we shouldn’t ignore those built post-2000. We should celebrate buildings that are new and yet already historically and culturally significant.
On my quest for modern Leaside locales worth celebrating I was accompanied by long-time Leasider Abraham Heilbrunn. Heilbrunn graduated from architecture school in 1974 and retired earlier this year. At the start of our journey, he told me, “The best way to appreciate architecture is on foot” …which made a lot of sense. His wisdom and more than half century in architecture made him an excellent guide. Four buildings made the cut: SAHIL, the Leaside Public Library, The Upper House Condos and Leaside Manor.
SAHIL
Much has been written in Leaside Life about SAHIL – pronounced “say hill” – an acronym for Stay At Home In Leaside (see Leaside Life, January and February 2016). The small, quirky site at the southeast corner of Bayview and McRae was for decades a gas station. In the late ’90s it was purchased by a group of Leaside seniors who aimed to build a condo following the life lease model. The life lease scheme allows the board to stipulate that at least one of the purchasers is 65. At four storeys and with 18 units in total, SAHIL was built on a human scale. “It follows a simple approach to architecture – using just bricks, stucco and metal panels – and it works,” Heilbrunn remarked. “It has a clean verticality to it achieved by the clever window design – very Scandinavian.” Makes sense since the architect, Seppo Kanerva, studied architecture in Finland as well as Canada. He designed Suomi-Koti on Eglinton as well. Heilbrunn said, “Many buildings at that time used fussy ornamentation; SAHIL’s simplicity is pleasing to the eye.”
Leaside Public Library
Heilbrunn gives the library top marks. What he likes best? “It’s simple, avoids combining too many materials and it is honest, especially in its styling.” On our tour, he pointed out its strong horizontal lines with the emphasis on the entrance (important so patrons know where to access the public building). What he also admires is the use of precast concrete surrounding the windows – concrete that looks very much like the stone found around the front doors and bay windows of the Tudor-revival homes across the street. Opened in 2002 and designed by Moffat Kinoshita, it is a bright, modern, well-used community hub that enhances the streetscape.
The Upper House Condos
Built in 2017, this seven-storey condo at 25 Malcolm Rd. was designed by Kearns Mancini, the same firm that has helped restore and revitalize the Canada Malting Company’s buildings at Ireland Park. Heilbrunn’s assessment? “It’s honest; it is designed in three complementary horizontal sections in multi-coloured brick and aluminum panels.” The variegated brick colour and the use of stone at the base seem to pay homage to the Leaside vernacular.
Leaside Manor
Just across the road and up the street is Leaside Manor, a Shane Baghai project. Built in 2021 it is also seven storeys tall and designed by Rafael + Bigauskas architects. Built beside the Leaside Memorial Gardens, this red-brick building sits attractively on its corner lot and steps back as it approaches the closest neighbour to the west, a traditional Leaside bungalow. Like the Upper House Condos, Leaside Manor uses brick and stone in its construction with black windows and balconies. “It is simple in design and achieves verticality with the interplay of windows and ‘blocks’ of bricks in between. It is light and airy,” said Heilbrunn. At seven storeys it does not overpower the corner. This condo and its neighbour complement one another and bring a vaguely downtown loft look to this part of Leaside.
Heilbrunn spent most of his career working for a mid-sized Toronto firm, which specialized in rental buildings and social housing projects as well as condos. I asked him which architect’s work he likes. His first response? Moshe Safdie’s. “His work has a sensibility and style which I appreciate since we are both from the same part of the Middle East,” he explained.
Do you have a favourite from the 21st century that we missed? Tell us at.
