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This contemporary infill project was lead and completed by homeowners Chris and Susan Meiorin. The husband-wife duo took on their second project at 294 Ryding, Toronto, knowing that this build would be described as an anomaly. Not just for it’s unique geographic coordinates, but for The Junction – Toronto area.

nestled amongst the original homes of The Junction area

As a community, The Junction represents a diverse and rapidly changing urban landscape.   This major industrial suburb owes its name and existence to the intersection or rail lines operated by the Grand Trunk and Canadian Pacific.  This infrastructure supported industrial development since before the turn of the century and today continues to play an important role in defining the community.  The Junction is changing.  Booming and gentrification are often used to describe its current state and even long-term residents are struggling to keep up with the rapid change of pace.

feature window of the home is this full-view tilt turn window spanning the kitchen

The Meiorin’s fascination with building in this neighbourhood stems from over thirty years of living in surrounding communities and wanting to create something cool and contrasting on a fascinating landscape. Across from the home is a constant flow of slow moving steel rail cars, visible through 100-year-old oak trees in Runnymede park. By no coincidence, combination of hardwood and steel details were used throughout the build.

facade detail pays homage to CN Rail

294 Ryding

The challenge

Even though the house aesthetic is not typical to the area, the local community embraced this distinctive build with an understanding and nod of approval, knowing it would be a ‘modern black box’ amongst their red brick and peaked rooflines. This acceptance was largely due to the transparency provided via the @294Ryding Instagram account, which was followed and monitored by local residents and businesses. From early stages of planning the build, Chris Meiorin utilized Instagram by following local builder trade accounts to gain insights to their workmanship, creativity and tone of accountability. After a few months, the majority of trades and suppliers to the project were sourced through this social media feed. Every trade was featured on @294Ryding, which was gaining attention and traction. The result was collaboration throughout the trades by featuring their work and the work of others on their accounts - posting and reposting craftsmanship in a live timeline. Unique details were created and a sense of community evolved from within the build. This was evident when multiple trades stayed on site until 4AM the day prior to move-in, to ensure running water was available.

The unconventional build in an evolving neighbourhood has been well received and has a loyal social media following. With a few trim details and some landscaping remaining on the to-do list, photographer and self proclaimed Instagrammer Chris Meiorin continues to post vignette shots of their refined space, along with images from the community, which have embraced The Meiorin’s and their @294Ryding home.

Our solution

Series 4500 Tilt-Turn windows and doors provide the highest sound dampening of all fenestration systems, which is ideal when location is such close proximity to a train shunting yard.  Series 2200 sliding doors align with the details of windows and hinged doors, carrying the same glass stops, colour finish and visible glass geometry.  Combined glazing is comprised of laminated glass, LoE272 dual coated glass and LoE366 triple coated glass produced an exception result for both sound and solar barriers.  Laminated glass is also ideal for improved security, as are the full stainless-steel locking systems which are integral with our tilt-turn and sliding door systems.

For a blend of privacy and views of oak-treed Runnymeade Park, a 3M film was applied to the interior which has a gradient finish; fully obscuring the bottom to a soft clear view at the top.

All windows ad doors were custom colour matched to the exterior steel siding and kept white to the interior, for a bright and airy environment.

Case Study via REHAU Industries

 

The products