city living condo design

History Repeats Itself

• Vitorhya Shields Dec 17, 2020
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Everything 'old' is new again on this recent condo project by Vitorhya Shields, ARIDO and her team. They were approached to renovate the lobby of this downtown Toronto condo. It had great bones, with a classic upscale 1970's look, limestone walls, and a linear metallic ceiling in bright gold.

Interior Designer: Vitorhya Shields, ARIDO
Team Members: Marley Roppolo, Intern ARIDO; Amanda Tsui, Intern ARIDO
Design Firm: Shields and Associates Interior Design Consultants
3D illustrations: Design Solutions
Photographs: S+A

The client’s three major issues were a set of stairs leading to a raised seating area, storage space for resident's deliveries, and the lack of security equipment space. The older professional demographic also wanted to retain the existing architectural elegance while updating to a more modern take on the original. It was quite a list of challenges.

Vitorhya Shields, ARIDO and her team completed the space planning, design, construction drawings and project management of the whole project including mail room, security area and elevator lobby.

The new finishes integrated so well with the existing conditions that it is impossible to tell they weren’t originally placed together in the first place. The new and the old blend together harmoniously, making the space feel more modern and elevated.

The security desk now accommodates the agent and all their equipment as well as a barrier free counter which blends in to the new design. The entire back wall behind security is made of lockable doors for small package storage which flip up and the mail room was turned into large package storage by installing new front mounted mail boxes. The stair was removed to make the whole lobby accessible.

We couldn’t have done it without the help of BLT Construction, who did a wonderful job with the security desk and elevator feature wall using Formica laminate and solid surface. Beautiful new pendant lights in gold by Lumens and of course Olympia Tile for matching the limestone where it needed repairing.

This project is also featured on our Instagram account @shields_interiors, as well as on our website www.saidc.ca