North of the Gardiner, at The Queensway and Islington Avenue, a 35-storey tower that spans 300,000 square feet will soon define the evolving Etobicoke sky line. This unique structure will include 459 stylish, highly liveable units offering a diverse mix of studio, one-to three-bedroom suites and plenty of amenities and services for residents.
When it comes to the building’s look and feel, the team at Altree Developments had a concept in mind. “Even though Thirty Six Zorra is not that close to the water, we wanted to take a wave approach to the structure of the building,” says Jordan DeBrincat Mintzas, Altree’s vice-president. Architecture firm Graziani + Corazza translated the undulating nature of the lake by constructing the building with jagged edges and glass, giving the impression of waves while offering spectacular views from wherever you are in the building. “The suites facing north will have spectacular views of a park that Altree is designing and building for the city; the south-facing units will off er views of the lake, the east has views of Toronto’s sky line and the west is Mississauga’s sky line. As a result, the suites are bathed in natural light,” says DeBrincat.
As for the interiors, Altree worked with design firm U31 to design the suites. Every space is luxurious, but the kitchens are truly impressive novel “Kitchens include quartz countertops, top-of the-line appliances from Italian appliance brand Fulgor Milano and, instead of the typical slide-in range, Zorra introduced a drop-in cooktop with a separate wall oven inside the cabinetry.” This allows for a sleek look and adds a layer of sophistication to the space, as do the black matte finishes on the faucets and door handles. With units ranging from approximately 450 to 1,200 square feet, the cohesiveness of design prevails in all interiors.
Beyond the modern design aesthetic, DeBrincat emphasizes that functionality was a major consideration for all units. “We went through each and every floor plan, taking the time to assess how it would feel to actually live in the unit,” she says. “The entire 7th floor is dedicated to both indoor and outdoor amenities: When you step outside, a luxurious oasis awaits. Residents will find an open air deck with a large pool and cabanas, a seating area for al fresco dining, barbecues and fire pits.”
Inside, there’s a gym and a retro-style rec-room, complete with ping pong tables and arcades. There is also a demo kitchen, which can be used to host parties or a cooking class. “We thought it would be a cool idea to provide a space where residents can come and cook meals for their guests; the space has a long table and a mirror above the island so everyone can see what you are cooking,” says DeBrincat.
Wanting to inject some flair into the Queensway area, the team chose yellow as the primary hue for Thirty Six Zorra. The sunny shade starts in the lobby, which houses a two-storey art piece with their signature colour front and centre, and golden hints are detected throughout the common areas. Altree’s colourful vision for the neighbourhood resonates with the community and buyers. It turns out that adding that fun element was a sprouting seed, in flux within an ever-evolving vibrant community primed for great things.