Toronto is becoming a global destination. It has an eclectic culture and an array of museums, restaurants, parks, churches and architecture. The city’s center is a hub of activity, but you can walk ten minutes outside of the center and find eyefuls of Toronto modern architecture at its very best.

The 40R Laneway House by superkul architects:

About the home:

Located on a 40’x18’ lot, it is built to the property lines on 3 sides, with 2’ to spare on the fourth. Current zoning regulations don’t allow for additional openings in any of the walls, so the design strategy was to draw additional light, air and views from above. A light shaft topped by skylights runs the length of the west wall of the building, broken only by a courtyard on the second floor. The shaft brings light to the ground floor, and provides passive ventilation. On the second floor, a glass and wood wrapped courtyard separates the two bedrooms. From the courtyard, with its primary view to the sky, there is a small stair up to a roof garden.

Once a blacksmith’s shop, then a horse shed and later an artist’s apartment and studio, this laneway building in Toronto was purchased by its current owners in 2006. Interested both in the character of the building and smaller footprint living, they wanted to convert it into single-family residence—while retaining as much of the character of the existing building as possible.

It’s a renaissance of culture in Canada’s largest metropolis. The Crystal, inspired by the museum’s mineral collection, is Canada’s new cultural icon. It’s got no right angles, but many perspectives.

Eyesore or icon? Millennium Dome or the Guggenheim? The heated debate continues. But one thing is sure: the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)’s Michael Lee-Chin Crystal is a groundbreaking piece of architecture. This type of work, as well as the numerous contemporary Toronto homes that attract attention, signal Toronto’s rise as a modern city.

Now that you’ve seen their latest work, jump over to B+H’s website. It’s full of impressive structures, modern design, and a comprehensive explanation about their work and motivation.

Here’s a sample:

B+H is one of Canada’s largest and longest established full service architectural practices. The firm brings renowned Canadian design, problem solving and construction skills to large-scale, technically complex projects located around the world. The practice’s ficus on high-quality design and project delivery, with equal comfort in design leadership and collaboration, is rooted in a 55-year active legacy.

The Intergrated Learning Center: Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario.