43D - Marlatt House 1888

43D – Marlatt House 1888

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11-02-2020

Old Oakville ON – Heritage District

Marlatt House 1888 – where Modern Function Meets Classic Aesthetic

Facts:

– the Marlatt House is representative of one of the finest examples of Victorian brick architecture in Canada and is the largest home built in Old Oakville;
– Situated at the mouth of Sixteen Mile Creek, lots were offered for sale in 1833, with the construction of the Marlatt House appearing toward the end of the build-out cycle;
– Additions and re-modelling took place over a 12-year period and the home now boasts over 9,200 sf of living area.

Epoch:

Location:

Neo-classicism (Victorian)

The Town of Oakville is situated on Lake Ontario, 36 km west of downtown Toronto.

Commentary:

The original home was built as a 2-story residence with living space in the attic and a low-ceiling basement for storage. The structure was masonry (4 layers of brick) set on an ashlar masonry (stone) foundation. The Owner wanted to undertake a complete modernization and makeover / additions while maintaining the historical appearance of the home. The following list represents the scope of the undertaking:

o Strip the interior down to the masonry shell and sub-floors;
o Underpin the foundations and excavate for a proper height basement;
o Replace a mis-matched front porch that was added in the 50’s;
o Add a 4-floor elevator;
o Add new garages attached to the home with a garden wall;
o Add an authentic Victorian Conservatory to serve as a Dining Room.
o Protect the ‘Apple Lady’ stained glass in situ at all costs

The home was totally updated including new historically correct windows, full insulation and modern conveniences. A grand dame in the 21st century !

Front Porch

New Carriage House with garden wall link to main residence

Conservatory added to rear garden

Takeaways:

Most re-models lead to many surprises during construction if the shell is not stripped out completely;

o Give yourself a reasonable timeframe for planning, design and construction phases as the added layer of Historical Board approvals can be lengthy;
o Be prepared to source materials from far and wide (the roof lantern was fabricated in Mexico)
o Be accessible to the Contractor at all times as many things on the site may not be as they seem;
o Choose your Architect and Construction team wisely. Make sure they have a skillset and experience working on period homes as this is critical to the outcome.
o Remember “God is in the details”.