Opposite House / Atelier RZLBD

Architects: Atelier RZLBD
Area: 6,000 ft²
Year: 2016
Photography: Borzu Talaie
Lead Architect: Reza Aliabadi
Interior Design: Julia Francisco
Structure: Egbert Engineering
Mechanical: McCallum Consulting
Septic: Gunnell Engineering
Construction: Caledon Building & Design
City: Toronto
Country: Canada

Opposite House, designed by Atelier RZLBD, is a 6000 ft² private residence in Scarborough Bluffs, Greater Toronto Area. Situated on a 2.7-acre sloping site, the house features a long, dark-brick façade on its northern side and a glass and stucco southern face that opens up to views of Lake Ontario. The geometric design, described as “mathematical poetry,” balances public and private spaces. A central hall and foyer create a dynamic setting for entertainment and relaxation, while clearly dividing functional areas throughout the home.

The clients, a professional couple who work from home, commissioned the house to fit their current lifestyle, including hosting guests, while also allowing space for future family expansion. Atelier RZLBD designed the residence to accommodate this flexibility, ensuring that both work and leisure are seamlessly integrated into the home’s layout. The design responds to their needs with a modern aesthetic and thoughtful spatial organization.

The house is built partly on the footprint of an old bungalow, on a quiet street with a 2.7-acre site sloping towards Lake Ontario. To the north, the house features a low, dark-brick profile that stretches 146 feet, offering unobstructed lake views from anywhere on the property. The southern side opens up with a 10-foot-high glass curtain wall and white stucco finish. Despite its 6,400 ft² size, the interior maintains a human scale due to its precise geometric design, which the architect calls “mathematical poetry.”

The Opposite House explores juxtaposition, with the design combining familiar yet distinct elements. The layout follows Louis Kahn’s “servant and served” principle, placing private functions on one side and public areas on the other. The north side, wrapped in dark brick, contrasts with the light-filled southern side, symbolizing a plant’s roots in the ground while growing towards the sun.

The house’s central spine runs east-west, bracketed by a large windows at either end. A north-south foyer intersects this hall, featuring a 49 ft² skylight and stadium seating that leads to the tower level. For entertaining, the clients can use the agora-style seating to enjoy lake views through a 20-foot double-height curtain wall or watch films on a roll-down screen. The home is divided into four main zones: a garage and storage area, a guest suite, home offices and secondary bedrooms, and the main living spaces including the master bedroom, kitchen, and living area.