Brick never goes out of fashion, as this sleek, geometric Toronto townhouse by Kohn Shnier Architects attests.

Seventeen years after it was built, the Trinity Bellwoods home still cuts a striking figure—a modern riposte to the surrounding Victorian streetscape. Known as Richmond House for the street it sits on, the property’s boxy lower levels are built in rich red brick, punctuated by slit and floor-to-ceiling windows and vertical timber louvres. The composition is crowned by a zinc-clad roof that connects the house to the adjacent laneway.

‘I’ve sold a really wide range of modern homes throughout Toronto, and there’s something very seminal about this property,’ says listing agent Paul Johnston, who is marketing the home for $3.4m CAD. ‘It’s unashamedly modern—strong volumes, quiet details and outstanding windows—yet utterly respectful of the Toronto context. Ours is a city with a long history of red brick, refreshed in this instance by mortar in a matching colour. It’s a subtle but strong move that places the home in context, but hints at something very special inside. And what’s inside is exceptionally considered and beautifully executed space.’

Indeed, the two-bedroom, three-bathroom home is a temple of modernity. Its interior features include poured concrete floors with radiant underfloor heating to stave off the winter chill, gallery-like white walls, and carefully crafted timber built-ins—from Spanish cedar kitchen cabinets to bespoke window frames.

A carefully curated spatial rhythm flows from one floor to the next, expressed through the restrained material palette and the abundance of natural light. There’s drama too, thanks to the sculptural open-riser staircase, which rises through the height of the home and connects the upper-level bedrooms.

A large terrace overlooks Richmond Street at the front, and there’s a pretty garden at the rear. But the best outdoor space is the private rooftop deck—ideal for relaxing with a book or hosting intimate gatherings with friends on a hot summer evening.

Parking in Toronto can be notoriously difficult, and Richmond House comes with a detached two-car laneway garage, featuring two street murals by local graffiti artist Skam.

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