THE BANANA LOFT IS A BRICK WAREHOUSE BUILT IN TORONTO'S EAST END IN THE 1940S BY TWO BROTHERS FOR THEIR BANANA IMPORT BUSINESS, SPANNING THE BACKYARDS OF THEIR ADJACENT HOMES.

OUR CLIENTS PURCHASED THE BUILDING IN DISREPAIR WITH THE INTENTION TO CONVERT IT INTO THEIR PRINCIPAL RESIDENCE. OUR DESIGN APPROACH EMBRACED THE INDUSTRIAL PAST, COMBINING ORIGINAL ELEMENTS WITH MODERN TOUCHES. DRYWALL-CLAD BEAMS AND COLUMNS WERE STRIPPED TO REVEAL STEEL MEMBERS, AND THE ORIGINAL STEEL DOORS TO THE WALK-IN FRIDGE WERE REFINISHED.

A PORTION OF THE CONCRETE FLOOR WAS REMOVED TO CREATE A SUNKEN LIVING ROOM WITH 14-FOOT CEILINGS, AND A NEW FIREPLACE, AND FEATURE DISPLAY WALL.

THE EAST COURTYARD FAÇADE FEATURES TWO NEW METAL CANOPIES DEFINING THE ENTRY AND THE NEWLY LANDSCAPED COURTYARD.