Wallace Walk Studio
![Interior photo of studio 2nd floor workspace and corridor](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/32be0ae19e4635627c5c4b77ae3b2b3abe91297520d383263fd1d8fe415351d3/20068_200814-10-HDR.jpg)
When we sat down as a group to discuss how we wanted our new studio to look and feel, our team found that we all wanted a variety of spaces — for sitting, working standing up, reading, meeting, and private conversations.
![Interior photo of meeting room with pinboard and movable fins](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/bca48bf96ca75dc4eea19b24479759a833cbaaf1d52735d609626df286d54904/20068_200814-114.jpg)
![Interior photo of lounge with railpath view and plants](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/0b0ecf4ae5e44c89b8745c192eacdad0d59681de7c65eeb2dcab48c77355f2db/20068_200814-79-Edit.jpg)
We like to eat lunch together, so the
kitchen is designed like a comfortable café that can accommodate individuals or
a larger group. When seated at the kitchen’s
oak and felt bench, eye level is in line with a groundscape of native plants
and grasses.
![Interior photo of kitchen with WORKSHOP team]()
![Interior photo of ground floor workspace towards kitchen]()
![Interior photo of kitchen with WORKSHOP team](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/19a48092e3cc06f517f2c58edf82b85f09f47ad247d9c8f7aa2064a1d6793db7/20068_200814-88-Edit.jpg)
![Interior photo of ground floor workspace towards kitchen](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ff77587327502540d5ae871cef15316b6443d49694bfdc9e87d0674694639f04/20068_200814-148-HDR.jpg)
We
wanted workspace dividers that would provide some privacy and sound isolation
without blocking light or sightlines.
![Interior photo of workstations with pinboards and supply sation in background](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/9fb9c3c9b867260a1a2b662b9ebf4fbe558525467d04de95c2d6add961a950df/20068_200814-176.jpg)
![Interior photo of workstations with library in background](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/c630a2d0fac1b085a4ff939402bb0b21ad133042bf1af5027dfa7cf38564c1c4/20068_200814-25.jpg)
We wanted bright colours, and plants! So many plants. They extend the West Toronto Railpath greenery inside.
As an extension of the plant-theme, we added
terracotta tile and feature lights by Hand & Eye Studio. The passing GO Trains inspired the dark
green exposed ceiling.
![Interior photo of team members in small meeting room with terracotta light fixture](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/fd61a27740c4f341286cd0dde7691df0e2d15194c6c0ac8c7fda178a4232f74c/20068_200814-55.jpg)
![Interior photo of studio 2nd floor workspace](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/6fb3dea8032aec56fd9ba56ee9f0d3e62762b3b819dad90f35048768dc35fa27/20068_200814-219.jpg)
![Photo of the Eames House and Studio](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/23ea737ffd28ca33b74d475073eb9e290751fdcea2906d3d6034a698c1d4339d/Inspiration---eames-case-study-house-01.jpg)
The resulting studio takes inspiration from the ethos of the Eames House and the colour theory of Le Corbusier, while also considering staff health and well-being and supporting a positive work atmosphere.
Throughout, we used simple,
materials that are non-toxic and consider acoustics and comfort. For example,
linoleum flooring covers the desktops — it’s soft for wrists, easy to write on.
![Detail photo of the millwork with orange laminate and exposed plywood edging](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/41592c1e03b97a15117fcd783d05bf8163c0fac73cb3745298c2ffa15ff6b179/20068_200814-218.jpg)
![Photo of colour and material samples laid out on a desk](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/4503acb6e6bcd1431410ea917ab1f01a3a6055a4696ba431607d6bc44ebc2a25/WORKSHOP-brand-4.jpg)
Colour and material samples
The custom-built desks have cut-outs for cords and accessories and deep shelves to store full-scale drawings.
![Detail photo of hands removing a drawing set from the desk shelf](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/377d8cbebbe55533118278f4f489e8d17408135054805d2269cdec8dafeacad1/20068_200814-171.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/7cf73eb84b7d921b1bdef362ff6c59a6d49b4c605033b57ea09a96a9ed552f3b/20068_200814-154.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/0ba329f8ed7069c1f36ec01b7e3f9c84c7ca2c2200808afa2bccc769c786da0e/20068_200814-153.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/9de2bde41fef8b47d119ac81487048e375a5dc0977124ab0b39a7fba01c85e43/20068_200814-151.jpg)
To keep the long views of the railpath and to maximize
daylight and fresh air in the studio, the service spaces – including the
staircase, washrooms and storage, are contained within a two-story box, wrapped
in rift cut white-oak veneer, punctured by frameless doors and minimal hardware.
The service box reveals a bright orange interior with supply cabinets in plastic laminate, natural rubber stairwell treads and painted walls.
![]()
The service box reveals a bright orange interior with supply cabinets in plastic laminate, natural rubber stairwell treads and painted walls.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/80babf63ec06f6df050ad8aa98a3d1ff596724d21f82c7de2cf21c645dfca3bd/Wallace-Walk_Axo-no-numbers.jpg)
A series of movable oak and mint-green fins control the light and view in the large meeting room, and pinboard panels rotate to open the room to the main space.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/070c55241167c43f5a43dde9faf3459da1ffc022a70d5f5864daac478b22ed01/20068_200814-123-HDR.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/0731b646796e84d34a18784255c14c8e3f9b50d04ef1f384eec54138a4290de8/20068_200814-126-HDR.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1fc8405b91d5329ec31d762ff732e4703a0e5234e9a0ce401aa922fc80144a02/20068_200814-134.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b928f9242e0b4afc379fcc221d6e4939bc69856722361ba4a1a20f9fa397e2ed/20068_200814-132.jpg)
— Elaine Chau“It’s always a fun challenge designing your own space. We started this project with a design charette, and the ideas were endless — the difficult part was trying to edit them down and hone in on final materials. We learned early on that there is such a thing as ‘too much colour,’ but in the end I think we achieved the right balance.”
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/f8ef7019520d4561d2b177bc6c42abbc73e9d22eda60da3fbdc67163ad6ab6dc/2.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/4edb3080f315342c5069491f65e7c34b1c0ace6b60659cd9c70c281ffe8d1e45/20068_200814-13.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/14d6952501a25434d66901e953f2f293d21993b4daf656aa9a3195761923cbe8/20068_200814-35-Edit.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/4d46a774883b5524e450e41e6e802b6a43c806ced91fbcbf768c5f505455b86b/20068_200814-156.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/32b27021c117e391fa3c40e19397bdf78d026d9f84c12483b36c21b4156f3e79/20068_200814-212.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/eee737f79be30c4c73a1a25d9c2b358a28105139c0c4a5ead1e2700b60e95301/20068_200814-239.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d52c57d50fce96a2b6a0aa3319d18e4e786e65e09c6422cfe648beee62704182/20068_200814-194.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/c097aa76155324642bef648c62565dc5b3b43f104677351050864e31e1ed895d/20068_200814-161.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/957a00b799e5ca6c1e415e556ba45bb19ec23baac9f2b8be4ad33187cb410823/20068_200814-63.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/5bb27fe5ce066d0d0762bd47e275118a16a55eef7a6be0cc67b1028c4606a811/20068_200814-230.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/9091c0b30a4ca2a375254acd0963d943e4ba8ae5772333f9bcea536aac9d1bf3/20068_200814-188.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/8adcfbb51d1c9787e3261f735adc41ffea592318a8da261f2f1b8a89e00ef7b3/20068_200814-221-Edit.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/168ab16e00a90e21bc7acbfae5cbd283d89a6044e78f13e0c668609ab0a64c19/20068_200814-82-HDR-Edit.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/547390ef8df7b588d051ce28bb5fdef420afbe0824e370d84e97e373a1f6605d/20068_200814-227.jpg)
![Interior photo of wood veneer service bar and staircase](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ccb57a7f44c0e40f2b99f159909a13240fd865e1afaa353f5a2159aba6526257/20068_200814-141-Pano.jpg)
Client: WORKSHOP
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Date: 2019
Team: Helena Grdadolnik, David Colussi, Elaine Chau, and Nina Hitzler
photos by Scott Norsworthy
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Date: 2019
Team: Helena Grdadolnik, David Colussi, Elaine Chau, and Nina Hitzler
photos by Scott Norsworthy