Camera Lucida is a minimalist home located in Toronto, Canada, designed by Anya Moryoussef Architect. While the Victorian home was undoubtedly grand, its design was narrow and often felt imposing. The owners’ affection for the house was undeniable, but its cold and restrictive nature made it less than cozy. AMA’s task was not simple. They were to transform the daily experience of living within this space without radically altering its core character. Bypassing the all-too-common approach of starting from scratch, AMA embraced a more nuanced methodology. Their aim was to unveil the home’s potential by meticulously observing its existing features, then making well-thought-out adjustments.

In a true partnership with the contractor, the interior of the home was diligently disassembled down to its foundational studs. This careful deconstruction revealed hidden gems, from staircases and moldings to doors and fireplaces. All these were preserved, ensuring a nod to the home’s past. Simultaneously, crucial updates were made, like the replacement of outdated windows with aluminum-clad wood alternatives and the introduction of radiant in-floor heating. The main architectural strategy was the introduction of seven strategically placed apertures. These new openings, harmoniously aligned with the original doors and windows, act as light conduits. They both illuminate the home’s traditionally darker sections and soften its Victorian rigidity.

This innovative use of light gave rise to the project’s name, ‘Camera Lucida,’ drawing inspiration from the artist’s tool that employs reflected light rays for accurate representation. The house’s foundational elements – its proportions, order, and circulation pathways – remain largely untouched. However, material choices provide a contemporary twist. For instance, new white-washed pine flooring, sourced from historic logs, is contrasted with unique manganese brick tiles. The main staircase, sporting a robust balustrade, is painted in a striking shade of cornflower blue. And the kitchen, marrying form with function, showcases nanotech surfaces alongside brushed stainless steel.