Perhaps I need to have my head examined but it has always been my dream to live in a hotel. After all, why not? For many, hotels serve as a home away from home – albeit one that involves daily maid service, room service and various forms of pampering that one may not find at home. Almost like a magical oasis of sorts. What is it that lures individuals away from traditional dwellings into the seemingly transient hotels? Is it that sense of being removed from the everyday life? Is it the ability to control your environment? Or more importantly, is it the quality of the chocolate mints placed on the pillow each night? Whatever it may be, the cool factor is definitely not in question, and neither is the unparalleled convenience. But if you’re into cutting costs, cutting coupons or cutting your own hair, hotel-inspired condo living might just be pure fantasy.
Fact is, there’s a large, privileged segment of the population for whom this type of residence fills a real niche. Particularly for those who travel a lot – business people, politicians, professional athletes, well-to-do retirees – the combination of a private home with the amenities of an upscale hotel couldn’t be more welcome. Hotel-inspired condo living doesn’t come cheap, but it’s hard to think of a more affordable way to have a butler, cook and maid at your beck and call. For the financially fortunate, this type of residence represents luxury at its most sensible.
As Toronto continues to build up instead of out, it is preparing for what some are calling the ‘Manhattanization’ of downtown. The new towers combining residential privacy with hotel convenience are nearing completion, and if you are one of the lucky ones considering making your home in the hottest trend in condo living, here are some highlights of what can be expected in each of these amazing hotel/residence developments.
FOUR SEASONS YORKVILLE RESIDENCES
LOCATION: 50 – 60 Yorkville Avenue (Bay & Yorkville)
DEVELOPER: Menkes Developments Ltd.
ARCHITECT: architectsAlliance
INTERIORS: Yabu Pushelberg (common spaces); Brian Gluckstein Design (unit floor plans)
SIZE/SCOPE: 2 towers – west tower: 55 stories, east tower: 25 stories; 210 residences
SQUARE FOOTAGE: from 1,100 sq ft to 9,000 sq ft
PRICE: from $1,900,000 to $28,000,000
PERKS: Access to hotel amenities, bar/restaurant onsite, 28,000 sq ft spa, lush central courtyard, private elevator access in west tower.
RITZ-CARLTON TORONTO RESIDENCES
LOCATION: 183 Wellington St. W. (Wellington & Simcoe)
DEVELOPER: Graywood Developments Ltd. and Cadillac Fairview Corporation Ltd.
ARCHITECT: Kohn Penderson Fox Associates and Page + Steele Architects
INTERIORS: HBA/Hirsch Bender Associates
SIZE/SCOPE: 1 tower, 53 stories, 159 residences
SQUARE FOOTAGE: from 1,400 sq ft to just under 6,000 sq ft
PRICE: from approx $1,600,000 to over $9,000,000
PERKS: Access to all hotel amenities, 24-hr concierge, valet parking, residential lobby with express elevators
LOCATION: 621 King St. W. (King & Bathurst)
DEVELOPER: Freed Developments
ARCHITECT: Saucier+Perrotte Architects
INTERIORS: BurdiFilek
SIZE/SCOPE: 2 towers, 12 stories each, 314 residences
SQUARE FOOTAGE: from 350 sq ft to 2,600 sq ft
PRICE: from $379,900 to $839,900
PERKS: A la carte hotel amenities, 24-hr concierge, natural exposed concrete ceilings, access to the coveted Thompson rooftop pool/bar/lounge
LOCATION: 325 Bay Street (Bay & Adelaide)
DEVELOPER: The Trump Organization and Talon International Development Inc.
ARCHITECT: Zeidler Partnership Architects
INTERIORS: II BY IV Design Associates
SIZE/SCOPE: 1 tower, 60 stories, 118 residences
SQUARE FOOTAGE: from 578 sq ft to 7,799 sq ft; no more than six suites per floor
PRICE: from $2,000,000 to $20,000,000
PERKS: Access to hotel amenities and services, direct-access elevators, a pair of S-Class Mercedes available 24 hrs to drive you around, STOCK restaurant onsite, 10.6ft – 13ft ceilings
LOCATION: 180 University Avenue (Richmond & University)
DEVELOPER: Westbank Peterson Group
ARCHITECT/INTERIORS: James KM Cheng Architects and Hariri Pontarini Architects
SIZE/SCOPE: 1 tower, 66 stories, 287 residences, 83 private estates
SQUARE FOOTAGE: from 818 sq ft to 6,697 sq ft
PRICE: from $1,000,000 to $9,000,000
PERKS: Access to all hotel amenities, floor to ceiling windows, one parking space per home, separate lobby for residences
