Project: Shudell House
Architecture: Weiss Architecture & Urbanism Limited
Engineer: Shannon Hilchie
Contractor: Carmelin Design + Build
Location: Toronto, Canada
Year: 2024
Photo Credits: David Whittaker, Birdhouse Media
Shudell House, designed by Weiss Architecture + Urbanism, reimagines aging-in-place design in a modern, light-filled home in Toronto’s east end. Built for a travel writer and a retired buffalo rancher with three children, the house is designed to grow and adapt alongside its residents—offering thoughtful solutions for family life, future care needs, and narrow urban lots.
Smart Design for Multigenerational Living
The homeowners envisioned a space where they could raise their children and comfortably age over time. They also planned for a separate laneway house that could one day serve as a caregiver’s home. With this in mind, accessibility was a top priority from the start.
Instead of the traditional raised porch common in the neighborhood, Shudell House offers an at-grade entry through a sheltered patio. Tall plants provide privacy and reduce the exposed feeling often created by ground-floor living rooms. Inside, the home includes an elevator, a roll-in shower, and a kitchen that can be easily modified for universal accessibility.
Light and Space on a Narrow Lot
Toronto’s older neighborhoods often have long, narrow lots. To overcome this, the design uses skylights, light wells, and a dramatic double-height dining space to bring in natural light. A second-floor overlook adds openness and visual connection between levels, helping the home feel more spacious and connected.
Honoring the Past with Modern Craft
The house’s bold brickwork is a tribute to the neighborhood’s history. Located in an area called “The Pocket,” once known for brickmaking and quarries, the home uses buff and dark-brown bricks in traditional patterns. A diamond design, called ‘diapering,’ adds character to the upper façade. While the materials nod to the area’s heritage, the clean massing and modern layout bring the aesthetic into the 21st century.
Shudell House shows how thoughtful design can support accessibility, beauty, and urban livability all in one. It’s a home built not just for today—but for every stage of life.
