If you’re not an architecture buff you’ll be forgiven for not knowing who John C. Parkin is. But if you do dabble in architecture and design history, you’ll know Parkin was one of the leaders in the development of mid-century modern style in Canada.
“Toronto was transformed by star-architect John C. Parkin who created the ‘International Style’ in Canada and designed such incredible modernist buildings as Pearson International Airport [and] Toronto City Hall,” realtor Jane Zhang noted.
He also designed this jaw-dropping residence in the Bridle Path: 30 High Point Road. “It’s one of Canada’s most architecturally significant residences,” said Zhang. The foyer. The eight-bedroom, 12-bathroom home was originally built in 1976. The concrete walls become whiter and stronger with time. It features exceptional construction, including concrete walls embedded with pink and white quartz stones, thoughtful engineering, detail, material selection and flow. The imposing front entrance. When you drive up to the property you’ll notice that the house is imposing in size but the clean lines add a sense of elegance to the building. The interior of the home is just as stunning as the exterior. Th atrium foyer with built-in planters. The foyer features sparkling black granite floors and soaring atrium-like ceilings with views of a zen garden. It’s giving some expensive office building vibes, too. The home is bright with plenty of natural light flowing in from all directions. The atrium with an indoor zen garden to allow for quiet contemplation. “The spaces have been designed for both everyday family living and large-scale entertaining, with palatially proportioned living and dining rooms,” commented Zhang. A funky staircase. There are also whimsical touches throughout the home that keep the home from feeling too impersonal. The dining room. For example, in the dining room there’s a hand-painted mural that showcases an “eternal story”. Each floor steps back to take advantage of the natural sunlight. The home boasts a larger-than-life 26,000-square-feet of living space over three-and-a-half storeys. One of the grandest spaces in the home is the 1,700-square-foot recreation room where you can play cards or billiards, and there’s a catering kitchen that joins the space, perfect for big poker nights. The main five bedrooms are all on the upper level of the house, as well as two sitting areas.
There’s also a guest suite with two bedrooms and two bathrooms on the main floor. The kitchen overlooks the pool. Everything about this house is over the top, but in the best way. The indoor pool is almost 12-feet deep with two change rooms and a hot tub. It not only has an outdoor pool, but it also has an indoor pool, which has a cantilevered floor over it where the breakfast area is. The indoor pool walks-out to the backyard and outdoor pool. It’s just too cool!
