St George Residential
The residential development of 262–266 St. George Street represents a sensitive and sophisticated architectural response to a prominent heritage site in Toronto’s Annex neighbourhood. This project carefully integrates new construction within the context of existing historic buildings, preserving their character while enhancing the site’s contribution to the public realm.
Application for Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-Law Amendment
The design respects the heritage value of the original structures through minimal intervention and adaptive reuse, while introducing a contemporary addition that is contextually scaled and thoughtfully massed. The building orientation and stepped massing reduce visual impact on the street, reinforcing the residential rhythm and maintaining sightlines to key architectural features.
Material choices and detailing reflect a commitment to craft, proportion, and continuity, ensuring the new architecture complements rather than competes with the heritage fabric. At the street level, the redevelopment emphasizes a welcoming public edge, enhancing the pedestrian experience with clear entryways, landscaping, and a rhythm of setbacks that reflect the scale and cadence of the neighbourhood.
By balancing design innovation with heritage sensitivity, Studio VMA has created a model for sustainable intensification in heritage districts—honouring the past while shaping a livable, contextual future.
