The Carnaby: Where Modern Meets Vintage

What began as a single, intimate building at 2 Gladstone Ave. in Toronto’s Queen West neighbourhood, has evolved into a cohesive community that encompasses 2 Gladstone, 8 Gladstone, and now The Carnaby, Streetcar Developments’ latest urban gem.

As its name suggest, The Carnaby takes inspiration from Carnaby Street in London’s west end, a pedestrian-friendly enclave of café culture, boutique shopping, funky galleries and art studios. Historic Carnaby Street became a lightning rod of fashion and design talent in the 1960s, and remains one of hip London’s coolest destinations.

The vibe lives on here, in one of the Toronto’s most dynamic, cutting-edge neighbourhoods, where Streetcar has used a connecting laneway between the developments to create a European-inspired, foot-friendly new block.

“The Carnaby is an exclamation point at the end of the laneway,” says TACT Architecture senior designer Monika Jaroszonek. “Envision bicyclists, strollers, dogs, everyone sharing a well-designed space where you can sit and read, have a coffee, cut through to get to the park — it encourages the existing character of the area, with its culture, arts, and small studio spaces. But it’s also a brand new, active urban block,” Jaroszonek says.

While there is a sense of continuity among the three buildings, The Carnaby’s architecture is distinct. “We wanted to contrast the two volumes of the tower,” she says. Anchored by a dark-clad podium, they’ve fashioned a tower that will read as pure glass and light on the north portion. Crisp vertical details on the balconies transition seamlessly into lobby details at lower levels.

The south portion, wrapped in precast concrete, creates a clean, strong visual from a distance. “We’ve emphasized the texture of the material to create something really graphic,” Jaroszonek says. “It’s a strong medium. Perfect for pushing envelopes.”

The Carnaby’s long, mid-block aspect essentially created the laneway that will become its identity, Jaroszonek says. “It lends itself to a compelling arrangement of spaces.” The lobby, for example, is on the laneway, inherently connecting it with the pedestrian experience, away from the traffic.

“This area has evolved so much in the past five years,” she notes. “It keeps getting more interesting, diverse and dynamic. The Carnaby will definitely contribute to that.”