Dollhouse Loft

Dollhouse Loft is a minimalist residential renovation located in Toronto, Canada, designed by StudioAC. The conversion of early 20th-century industrial buildings into residential lofts often produces interiors marked by dramatic vertical volume and abundance of natural light, yet these same qualities can resist subdivision into functional zones without sacrificing the spatial openness that defines them. This former toy and bottling factory in Leslieville presented precisely this tension – a double-height volume illuminated by four skylights and south-facing windows that demanded both preservation of its expansive character and introduction of distinct zones for living, working, and rest.

The design response centers on a raised platform that functions as both spatial threshold and social infrastructure. Rather than employing conventional room dividers or partition walls that would fragment the volume, the platform creates subtle differentiation through elevation change alone. The gesture draws from two distinct cultural references that merge in purpose: the Japanese engawa, which establishes transition between interior and exterior realms, and the Greek agora, a communal gathering space. Here these precedents manifest as a sunken living area that maintains visual connection to the kitchen while establishing psychological separation through a shift in floor plane. The platform extends into the kitchen island, creating continuous surface that links the two zones physically while preserving the loft’s sight lines.

On the mezzanine level, a freestanding bath pod addresses the challenge of creating privacy within open volume. The structure houses both soaking tub and shower while dividing the primary bedroom from its ensuite without reaching the ceiling – a decision that maintains the perception of uninterrupted height while establishing functional separation. Open shelving integrated into the pod provides storage for an extensive book collection and creates a permeable boundary between office and sleeping areas, filtering views rather than blocking them entirely.

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