By Cat Ford

Project: Neville Park / Location: Toronto Ontario / Architect: Reigo & Bauer / Photos: Doublespace Photography

Standing tall among traditional brick homes on a sloping lot in Toronto’s east end, this 2,000 square foot (185 square meter) single-family home commands attention. Completed in 2023 by Reigo & Bauer, the home’s diamond-patterned façade and angular roofline bring a modern presence. Tall, staggered windows reinforce verticality, abstractly echoing the towering trees around it, while side bay windows face one another, drawing in natural light and maintaining privacy.

“The entrance is highlighted by white concrete boards, which extend to the roofline and curve over the entry steps,” the architects explain. This playful contrast softens the sharp angles while creating a sheltered transition into the home. The interplay of angles and curves continues inside, seamlessly connecting exterior and interior elements.

Inside, light and volume define the space. The living room ceiling follows the home’s exterior contours, curving upward to frame views of the wooded hillside. A central partition—housing storage, a powder room and a pantry—eliminates the need for traditional doors, creating seamless transitions.

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The minimalist kitchen, nestled between the dining and living areas, features a crisp white palette, sleek cabinetry and a monolithic island. Frosted glazing diffuses natural light, enhancing the warmth of the wood flooring and creating an atmosphere of serene elegance. This gentle interplay of light and shadow is complemented by arched cut-outs and a mirror, which introduce a playful element, subtly distorting views and adding depth—a “fun visual trick,” as the architects describe.

A wall separates the kitchen and staircase, transforming into a sculptural balustrade that curves like a ribbon along the skylit second-floor corridor. The deep green of the wall contrasts the warm oak treads, guiding the eye and keeping the space feeling intimate yet airy. A playful oval cutout is a peek-a-boo moment that adds a bit of architectural whimsy, while sharp ceiling planes and scattered skylights create a dynamic dance of light and shadow. Together, these elements transform the staircase into a striking architectural statement.

The refined material palette emphasizes form and proportion, staying true to Reigo & Bauer’s ethos. “Through minimalism, design details are reduced to their most essential forms,” the architects explain. “We eliminate what’s unnecessary to strengthen what’s meaningful.”

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This philosophy comes to life in the home where every detail feels intentional. Matte and glossy surfaces juxtapose, layered textiles add warmth and accent walls—ranging from soft to moody tones—meet white planes. Subtle transitions between elements foster a sense of continuity while contrasts in materials, textures and forms create a balanced asymmetry. White walls and light oak floors serve as a neutral canvas, allowing homeowners to introduce personality through bold furnishings and art. Spherical elements and light fixtures echo the home’s curved motifs, reinforcing cohesion between interior and exterior.

In the bedroom, a sculptural pendant light reinforces the home’s recurring spherical motif, while oak furnishings create the illusion of the floor extending upward. This seamless flow continues into the bathroom, which features large-scale marble tiles, a sleek white vanity and pink-toned walls contrasted by black fixtures. Meanwhile, a child’s bedroom shaped by angular ceilings bursts with playful energy, as soft pastels and geometric furniture bring the space to life.

Since its inception in 2005 by Merike and Stephen Bauer, Reigo & Bauer has built a reputation for bold, contemporary architecture. It also has the ability to work within constraints to design homes that are both strikingly modern and contextually grounded in their environment. This home dares to be different, exuding personality and charm by reinterpreting familiar geometries. The architects summarize the project’s vision by stating, ”the result is an exterior that’s unlike anything else on the street, yet still seems appropriate for its setting, and interiors that feel at once dynamic and balanced.”
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Cat Ford is an architectural designer with seven years of experience. She now uses her design expertise as a freelance writer.