building permits and construction adminis-
tration—through to occupancy.
The firm’s role depends on the needs of
the client, Wright said, and sometimes
the client may request a transformation of
an existing building so great that the final
product may look nothing like the original.
One client fromToronto’s wealthiest neigh-
bourhoods requested Wright’s help in a
grand scheme to completely transform his
1960s residence into an aged Georgian-
style home.
Georgian architecture gets its name from
the succession of English kings named
George, popularized in the 1700s. The
style is defined by symmetry, gentility,
and elevated style. Its charm still endures
along the eastern sea line of North Amer-
ica, where English affluence dominated
high culture.
ACI designed every square inch of the
house, a venture that took three years to
complete and more than doubled the size
of the home to 7,200 square feet.
“The client and I spent an incredible
amount of time, designing right down to
the keyhole of the cabinet in the library,”
Wright said.
“It was an absolute treat to work on it,”
Wright said. “Although the client had a
clear vision of wanting an aged Georgian
home, the challenge was converting the
’60s-modern style, very tight-knit home to
look like an aged Georgian home. I think
we were very successful in achieving that.
JUNE 2016
H
business elite canada
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