Stereo Hearts

Rosedale is an affluent area in Toronto. When people say Rosedale, the first impression would be century old grand mansions of stockbrokers, industrialists and business owners.

This is my first Rosedale post. The Studio Building is quite the opposite of the usual “luxurious” Rosedale norm. This unusual building was meant to be used as creative studios and a habitable space for artists.

Situated beside the TTC subway tracks on the edge of old Rosedale ravine, every commuter will get a glimpse of it, as the tube train speeds past Rosedale station.

I have a slight fetish for urban contrast (i.e. 363 Adelaide St. E). One day I decided to be curious and took a walk. My heart melted when I first saw this house. The contrast makes it so charming and cute.

As new offices, apartments, the expansion of Yonge Street, bike lanes, the construction of TTC subway happen beside it, somehow, this pre-WWI era house, located on the edge of Rosedale, has survived and withstood the test of time and urbanization.

Survived beautifully it did, its simple brick and mortar design with white window frames popular during the Edwardian era, gave it an industrialist look. The the lack of ornamentation and rectilinear design, this may be one of Canada’s earliest modernist buildings that predates the Bauhaus movement in Europe.

The architect, Eden Smith has worked on many stockbroker mansions in Rosedale, but this design is so different. When painter Lawren Harris asked Eden Smith to work on the design, the minimalism was purposely done, as if it was intended be a “white canvas” for artists.

Throughout the years, many famous Canadian artists, including the “Group of Seven” would be lived here and created the most famous paintings in this building.

Additional comments from Instagram followers regarding the building.

“When I was a kid I was a private waiter in there for the lavish parties of, then owner, Gordon McNamara. Gord was an artist and his son David lived upstairs. They had a floor each. The parties were pretty great. The interior woodwork in the main floor was stunning combined with the eccentric stylings of Gord’s art and collected art from around the world. As a kid it was a real eye opener. The 80’s Toronto art scene!”

“My number one choice for a guided tour of any building in Toronto, hands down. The shack built for Tom Thomson, which used to sit nearby now resides on the grounds at the McMichael Gallery near Kleinburg. Original group member A.Y. Jackson was still living and working in the building into the 1950’s.”

“The shack is a replica. The original behind the studio building was in very bad shape when they removed it.”

“Tom Thomson had no money. But back in the day it would have been more rural and he would have had a place to work. I’m glad they built the replica because it gives us an idea of what he was. A real outdoorsman.”

“I’ve been inside a few times. Each studio has double-height spaces with little sleeping mezzanines at the back. Long ago the two ground floor studios were merged, making for a very impressive space.”

25 Severn Street, Toronto

YouTube video on Severn Street (Source, BobGeorgiouTO)

YouTube video on “Group of Seven” Artists (Source, Rookley’s Canadian Art)