43D – Marlatt House 1888
- admin
- 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”.
Finished Family Room in Basement
Preservation of the “Apple Lady” in situ was of paramount importance
Custom made elevator cab
Details !
Other Readings:
Sources:
“Old Oakville” by David & Suzanne Peacock
WaaL architecture
The Invidiata Team
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