460 KING
Project Type : Retail & Hospitality / Year : May 2024 / Status : Third year / Program : Hotel & Commercial Spaces / Site : 460 King, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Project type : Retail & hospitality / Heritage Renovation
The hotel at 460 King St. in Toronto harmonizes retail, hospitality, and open public space through an inventive interplay of form, circulation, and light, blending existing heritage structures with contemporary design to create a unified structure. The design features a two-story contemporary addition on top, which shelters the heritage structures on the site that were respectfully repurposed, reused, and renovated while preserving their original facades. Additionally, a carved diagonal pathway connects the sidewalk along Spadina Avenue on one side and an open public space along King Street on the other. This pathway provides a threshold that transforms the structure from being an obstructive wall into a geometry that promotes movement and circulation. The overall design endows the building with a distinct character, transforming the site into a place of lasting significance for both the neighborhood and the city.
The hotel houses 32 suites in total, consisting of 20 Junior Suites, 10 Deluxe Suites, and 2 Presidential Suites. The reimagined 460 King St. West hotel welcomes visitors to experience the amenities it has to offer, as well as to enjoy the opulent interior with a residential feel. Each of the three suites has its own distinct traits with few thoughtful touches. The rooms can be accessed with a digital key-entry. When opting for the interior and tonality of the new design, the nature of the original structure is reflected though the use of warm-colour palette. The Junior Suites, which occupy the 2nd and 3rd floors, ten rooms per floor, can accommodate 1-2 people. The Deluxe Suites are located on the sixth and seventh floors with 5 rooms per floor. The suite can accommodate 2-4 guests. Located on the same floors are the 2 Presidential Suites. With breathtaking floo-to-ceiling city views, each suite can accommodate 2-4 guests.
The retail area is located on the first level of the building and has been designed to connect people with the surrounding landscape. It is a versatile and welcoming space that offers a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere, catering to the needs of its visitors. To optimize the site potential, the area is designed as a transformative space, functioning as a warm and cozy cafe by day which seamlessly transitions into an intriguing and pleasant bar in the evening. The space is highly accessible on three sides and offers a foldable wheelchair lift for those who need it, as the space goes beow grade. Its high ceiling feature increases daylight access, assists natural ventilation and contributes to a sense of spaciousness. An additional feature is the glass glide-away tilt doors on the West side of the building which opens vertically, maximizing the space and creating an unobstructed view of the park.
