Kaleidoscope House, designed by architect Paul Raff, was built for a family of four located in the Chaplin Estates neighbourhood of central Toronto.

© Ben Rahn / A-Frame

Architects: Paul Raff Studio

Location: Toronto, Canada

Architect In Charge: Paul Raff

Area: 457.0 m2

Project Year: 2015

Photographs: Ben Rahn / A-Frame, Scott Norsworthy

Structural Engineers: Neumann Associates Limited

Mechanical Engineers: Bowser Technical Inc.

General Contractor: Duffy and Associates

© Ben Rahn / A-Frame

From the architect. Kaleidoscope House, designed by architect Paul Raff, was built for a family of four located in the Chaplin Estates neighbourhood of central Toronto.
© Ben Rahn / A-Frame

Its striking and strong contemporary exterior is integrated into a leafy, urban setting, with powerful visual and physical connections to its garden space. From the street, it is wrapped in robust but subtle zinc cladding, punctuated by expansive windows, creating the impression of a gently shifted low-relief sculpture. This sense continues in the backyard, as these interlocked structures fluidly connect with smoothly sculpted terraces and planter beds.

© Scott Norsworthy

Kaleidoscope House?s interior is highlighted by an abundance of natural light. In designing the building, Paul Raff took the traditional configuration of a two-storey, centre-loaded house an...