It's only fitting  that the renovation of a building whose histopry is so rooted in storytelling would become its most gripping drama to date. "Challenging" doesn't begin to describe the task that faced the Toronto-based design-build firm Barbini Corporation when it was contracted with overhauling a century-old home in Toronto's legendary Kensington Market neighbourhood. Describing this project as "Sisyphean" might have been more appropriate. Nut in this case, Amedeo Barbini and contruction manager Raul Alberto somehow did get that boulder to the top of the hill - with tremendous results. 

Located just south of College Street on Augusta Avenue, the Victorian home - estimates by Barbini to be at least 100 years old - was purchased by John McBride in 2004. It had been a mixed-use property for many years, then housing a retail pottery studio. Soon, a skateboard store moved in, with McBride building a skating ramp in the back

[...]

Around 2011 McBride decided it was time for a makeover, and he had some very specific ideas about what he wanted - not only in terms of the look and feel of the structure, but also the type of tenants. His goal was to make a "seamless integration into the market" 

See full article >>