Snider House

Snider House, originally built in 1828, is the oldest surviving building in North Toronto and was designated a heritage property in 1979. Over nearly two centuries, the one-and-a-half-storey brick cottage has undergone numerous alterations, gradually evolving alongside its surroundings, from rural to urban.

The most recent renovation was carefully designed by GPA, with ERA advising on integrating the heritage architecture with the contemporary addition, and liaising with Heritage authorities at the City of Toronto to support permit approvals.

A guiding theme of the project was the clear delineation between old and new: the addition’s glass curtain wall intentionally contrasts with the solidity and symmetry of the historic masonry, underscoring the idea that heritage is ongoing and evolutionary.