Home Tour:
Katie’s Live Work Space
Join us on a tour with architect Katie Kurtin, Principal Architect of Kathleen Kurtin Architect, as she shares with us her unique space on trendy Queen St West — a multi-tenant live-work project that has evolved and changed in parallel to her career and life. This tour features 3 unique homes, an office, and a commercial space, all in one building! This tour is part of the #TSAHomeTours program, an online tour series celebrating and exploring homes designed by architects for themselves.
About the Home
Katie originally purchased the building on Queen St West in the 80s, when the neighborhood was significantly less desirable than it is today. The only property she could afford at the time, it became the office for her architectural practice and a space which she could develop and iterate as her career (and life) evolved. In the late 80s, she began the process with the city to develop the property into a live-work project, which resulted in the addition of a three-storey plus mezzanine at the rear of the property, connected to the ground and upper floors of the old building and separated by a courtyard in the centre. The ground floor facing Queen St W was then developed into a cafe by Katie and a partner, in order to meet the needs of the neighbourhood (and keep the office well supplied with good coffee and lunches!). The cafe was eventually sold and continues to operate to this day.
Katie has since occupied various parts of the building depending on her changing living and business needs. Today, she lives on the second floor in the front building and walks across the courtyard to her office on the second floor rear.
About the TSA HOME TOURS Series
Having spent the last year and a half working, playing, and resting in our homes, residential design has never been more topical or top of mind. Last year, we toured some very special homes of our very own TSA members, and this year we are continuing our home visits across the GTA! Each tour will have a new architect or designer feature their home and share with us the stories, challenges and opportunities that shaped their residences.
