Founded in 2007, Audax is an award-winning architecture and interior design firm with expertise in the luxury real estate market, and a strong focus on high-end residential design. Under the design leadership of Gianpiero Pugliese, Audax’s projects are diverse in design style. The firm’s work is motivated by Human Architecture, a design approach developed by the studio that combines the best elements of traditional architecture with a modern aesthetic.

Its latest and most unusual project is called “The Home in Little Italy” where Audax converted a floor of commercial building in downtown Toronto into a spectacular family friendly home where the firm’s principal, Gianpiero Pugliese and his wife began to look for something different in order to meet their growing family’s needs.

The interior layout was modeled after a New York style apartment to include all the comforts of a house, including a formal foyer, three bedrooms, two washrooms, an open-concept living, kitchen and dining room, and a generously sized laundry. Their family also enjoy direct access to their unit from the street with a private elevator.

The interior design features a harmonious mix of modern and traditional elements. To create a warm and cozy base, they selected a herringbone wood floor and traditional door casing, trim and hardware. The traditional envelope is then layered with modern luxuries, including a sleek and contemporary-styled kitchen and modern Italian-inspired furniture. Many of the pieces used in the home are from Audax’s very own furniture collection, including the Evelyn Armchair, Vasari Dining Table, Raphael Dining Chair and the Donatello Console.

A winter garden was also designed in this unit, which is an enclosed living room with operable windows on two sides. This is a unique and coveted amenity to have in the heart of the city. When the windows are opened in the summertime, the living space is converted into a covered terrace. This allows Gianpiero and his family to enjoy a private open-air space in lieu of a backyard, which can also be used year-round as indoor space.