BOATHOUSE KITCHEN

Steven and Mary Ellen have been involved in some fascinating projects, so we talked about a few of them.

You seem incredibly busy.

Toronto has almost become a new city in the past ten years – there are over 100 new condo towers under construction right now. The 2008 recession didn't really hit us here. We tend to stay busy because with our background, we can attract a mix of projects, everything from retail to contemporary construction to heritage-type projects.

Tell us about the Aurora Heritage Centre.

This is one of the typical kinds of projects we get, where we adapt an older structure for new uses. It was an 1886 schoolhouse that fell out of use. The town took it over and, for a while, it was used by various community organizations and even the school board offices. When the Aurora Historical Society was looking for a new home, they were given the opportunity to occupy parts of the building with their offices and artifacts. To augment this use, we then invited the community in for a design "charrette" (a process that originated in the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in the 19th century), where we all brainstormed about what other uses the building would contain.

What did you come up with?

In co-operation with the client, we decided on a multi-purpose center – 3 stories, 6000 square feet – with historic collections, new local art, historical research rooms, a catering kitchen, even an events space for musical performances. It's a way for the community to save a historical structure, and generate revenue.

What was most memorable about the project?

When we began doing the initial demo work, we uncovered a beautiful tin ceiling, which had been plastered over, and even hidden under a drop ceiling. I thought the client was going to cry.

Do you have other projects like that in the works?

We are working at the Markham Museum on the conversion of a barn structure into an event space. The barn is located in an open air museum consisting of historic buildings salvaged and re-located to the site during the last several decades.

Your project list is very diverse. Tell us more.

We might restore an old home, or do seven floors of an office building. The big picture is problem solving, in whatever we do. What we learn on one project, we can often apply to the next, even if it's a completely different use. A lot of what we do, is what I’d describe as modern and contemporary interventions in older buildings.

What is your biggest challenge as an architect and designer?

In the kitchen, my biggest challenge is always the refrigerator. It seems mundane, but it is very important to integrate it in such a way as not to overpower or anchor the kitchen in a negative way. In the Boathouse Kitchen, we integrated the refrigerator into a pantry off the main work area, and clad the unit to blend seamlessly into a walnut wall.

What are some of the current design trends?

I see a lot of raw and reclaimed materials being used in the future. We are also adding more wood details that elevate the kitchen beyond the minimalist aesthetic that we see in the industry. Visual frames are important now especially in open plan designs; they set up the focal point of the kitchen and help to visually organize the different elements.