Lytton Park Residence

Architecture and interior design come together as a harmonious whole at this residence in Toronto. By offsetting the upper volume of the home at its apex and slicing the roof with a wraparound skylight, Akb has not only created a unique building that stands out from — yet is respectful of — its context; it has also choreographed a dramatic inner sanctum for a multigenerational family. Internally, the contemporary interpretation of the hip-roof typology translates into a boldly sloped ceiling of multi-faceted planes, given depth and dimension by the constant play of light and shadow filtered in through the capacious skylight. Maximally minimal, the material palette of crisp white walls and white oak — which also clads the marvelous angular staircase that ascends the two-storey atrium beneath the skylight — puts the emphasis back on the outdoors. Generous views burst in through the customized windows that fold around walls and

Location Toronto, Canada Firm Akb Architects, Canada Team Kelly Buffey, Robert Kastelic and Aaron Finbow Photo Shai Gil

Apartment in Santa Catarina

The Pombaline style of early 20th-century Portuguese architecture is given a fresh reboot in this thoughtful redesign of a top-floor apartment near Lisbon’s São Bento Palace. Most of architecture firm Aspa’s major moves focused on celebrating what was already there but hidden behind the oppressive layers of past renos. Newly excavated, the original roof structure features remarkable dormer windows that now illuminate a clean-lined arrangement of original rafters and joists, rendered more contemporary in a coat of white paint. Stripped of their partition walls, a series of formerly cramped rooms have given way to a wide-open living space. The introduction of smooth marble floors, countertops and sills rounds out the sensitive refresh, with historic and modern features coalescing into a calm, timeless retreat.

Location Lisbon, Portugal Firm Aspa, Portugal Team Jose Maria Cumbre and Nuno Caetano with Tânia Correia, Pedro Treno and Miguel Almeida Photo Francisco Nogueira