$7 million Toronto home was architecturally designed to showcase art

In Toronto's luxury real estate market, it's easy to become numb to endless marble countertops, wine cellars, and home theatres.

But every once in a while, a home comes along that's memorable because of the architecture itself. That's exactly the case with 36 Millbank Ave., a custom-designed residence that was conceived as both a family home and the perfect place to showcase a serious art collection.

The striking property has just hit the market for $6,695,000.

The living room. 

The four-bedroom, five-bathroom home wasn't built from a stock set of luxury finishes or designed to chase trends.

The primary bedroom. 

Instead, it was custom-designed by award-winning Canadian architect Siamak Hariri of Hariri Pontarini Architects, whose work includes some of the country's most celebrated contemporary buildings.

The foyer. 

The owners commissioned Hariri to create a home tailored to their family's lifestyle, with one unusual request at the top of the list: they needed a house that could properly display their art collection.

The family room. 

As a result, the home features soaring walls specifically designed for large-scale artwork, while still managing to feel warm and livable rather than gallery-like.

The dining room. 

The 5,857-square-foot home revolves around a dramatic three-storey atrium above the dining room that floods the interior with natural light.

A bedroom. 

Towering picture windows, full-height sliding glass doors and carefully placed sightlines blur the boundary between inside and out, making the surrounding mature trees feel like part of the home's design.

The kitchen. 

Natural materials play a starring role throughout the house.

The family room with built-in bookcases and sliding doors that lead out to the backyard. 

Algonquin limestone, Brazilian cherry hardwood, mahogany doors and windows, copper detailing, teak and cedar combine to create a modern home that still feels remarkably warm.

A home office. 

An elevator connects all levels of the home, while the layout includes flexible spaces designed for both entertaining and quiet retreats — ideal for the owners, who envisioned a house that could comfortably accommodate visiting family while still offering peaceful workspaces.

An overview of the backyard. 

Outside, the landscaping is just as thoughtfully designed.

The water feature in the backyard. 

The gardens were created by renowned landscape architect Janet Rosenberg and include limestone terraces, Owen Sound ledge rock, and a central water feature designed to mimic the gentle sound of a babbling brook.

The backyard. 

Despite the home's tranquil, almost country-like setting overlooking mature trees and nearby ravines, it's still just a short walk from the shops and restaurants of Rosedale and Summerhill, as well as TTC access.

The open-concept main floor. 

It's the kind of house that proves modern architecture doesn't have to feel cold or minimalist.

The dining room is perfect for showcasing large-scale art. 

Instead, every design decision appears to have been made with the people living there — and the art they loved — in mind.

The lower level recreation room. 

At nearly $6.7 million, it certainly isn't an impulse purchase.

The front entrance. 

But for anyone looking for a home that's as much an architectural statement as it is a place to live, 36 Millbank Ave. is in a class of its own.