Above: 32 Saintfield Road by Jerome Markson, 1961
In the 1950s and 60s, Toronto’s Bridle Path was not just an enclave of faux-châteaux, but an architectural hotbed for Toronto’s young modernists looking to execute designs for clients with large lots, and large budgets.
Greatly varying in materiality and form, these houses convey the experimental spirit of the time, as well as influences of international modernists. The clean and minimal lines of the few surviving houses contrast with their ever larger, contemporary neighbours.
Above: 21 Parklane Circle by James A. Murray, 1960s
Above: 78 The Bridle Path by Brook and Banz, 1961
Above: 77 The Bridle Path by Seligman & Dick, 1961
Above: W. Posluns Residence, 63 The Bridle Path by Jerome Markson, 1967
The remaining houses from this period of experimentation are in a variety of states of repair; some, such as the residence at 78 The Bridle Path are being renovated and given a new lease on life, while a small handful look as good today as they did when they were built. As the neighbourhood continues to evolve, hopefully new buyers will find value in quality spaces over shear size.
Don Mills is a whole other post entirely…
Above: BC Trend House, 41 Weybourne Crescent by Eric Arthur, 1954
Built in the same period, the Trend Houses, as previously discussed, were designed to showcase different ways of using softwood lumber in home design, and were built in each of the major cities across the country.
Above: 12 Eastview Crescent by George Eber, 1961
Bonus Spike Jonze / Arcade Fire collaboration:
