Project Name: Periscope House

Location: East York, Toronto, Canada

Design Team: Atelier RZLBD

Design Lead: Reza Aliabadi

Design Assistant: James Chungwon Park

Project Area: 122 m²

Completion: 2024

Photography: Riley Snelling

Structural Engineer: TEG Structures

Construction Management: Maxamin Homes

Mechanical Engineer: Ramin Riahi

Feature：

Project - Toronto-based Atelier RZLBD has transformed a single-story bungalow into a dynamic residential space that draws its distinctive form from the unexpected constraints of pandemic-era construction costs. Named Periscope House, the renovation-addition project features a partially built second floor that creates a series of compelling double-height spaces beneath a stepped ceiling.

Rather than compromising on the design when faced with soaring material costs, the architects turned limitation into innovation by removing half of the planned second floor. This strategic reduction resulted in a unique architectural form resembling a periscope or vintage camera with an accordion bellows, setting the house apart from typical residential additions.

The 122-square-metre home's most striking feature is its sophisticated interplay of volumes and light. Three clearstory windows, positioned at intervals along the stepped ceiling, work in concert with a front bay window to create dynamic natural lighting conditions throughout the day. This careful orchestration of openings transforms the interior into a light-modulated space that changes character with the sun's movement.

The project's spatial arrangement is equally thoughtful, with public areas organized to the front and private spaces to the rear. A linear built-in bench niche elegantly resolves the width discrepancy between the existing structure and new addition, while simultaneously connecting the dining room, living room, and sitting room into one fluid space.

The architects have demonstrated how building constraints can spark architectural innovation, creating a home that challenges conventional renovation approaches. Through its creative response to budget limitations and zoning restrictions, Periscope House offers a fresh perspective on sustainable and affordable residential architecture, establishing a new paradigm for renovation-addition projects in Toronto's urban fabric.

Design Team - Atelier RZLBD, established in Toronto following founder Reza Aliabadi's relocation from Tehran in the early 2000s, has evolved into a distinguished architectural practice known for its paradigm-shifting residential interventions and theoretical explorations. The studio, led by Aliabadi (RZLBD), operates at the intersection of art, architecture, and urbanism, crafting spaces that challenge conventional typologies while responding sensitively to contextual demands.

The practice's philosophical foundation was shaped by Aliabadi's formative experiences, including his architectural education at the University of Tehran and subsequent scholarly work at McGill University. Through a series of transformative expeditions—from the Canadian Arctic to a global architectural pilgrimage—the studio developed its characteristic approach to spatial composition, emphasizing the dialogue between void and matter.

Working with a core team of design professionals, including James Chungwon Park, Atelier RZLBD has garnered international recognition for its minimalist aesthetic and innovative response to urban constraints. The firm's portfolio spans residential, commercial, and cultural projects, each embodying their principle of "positive virus"—architecture that actively contributes to and challenges its context. Their work has been widely published and has received numerous awards, establishing the atelier as a significant voice in contemporary Canadian architecture.