The Myers Residence is Toronto’s first glass and steel house constructed in 1970 by Barton Myers, during the time of the Canadian hippie movement. The home is located in Yorkville on 19 Berryman Street, and is a part of the Yorkville Hazelton Heritage Conservation District. As an urban infill project, this contemporary designed home is situated amongst Victorian-style houses in the affluent neighbourhood. Originally built to house the Myers family, it has now been passed down to new homeowners.

The Myers Residence was designated as a Part V heritage property on August 1^st, 2002. The house is of significance because it was Toronto’s first glass and steel house and is also a model for urban infill homes across the GTA.

The first of its kind, the Myers Residence used steel frame construction, which stood out from its neighbouring red-brick facades. The Myers Residence’s steel construction majorly influenced the design of laneway homes in Toronto. The use of steel frame construction allows for larger spans and gave the opportunity to create a large open space: an interior courtyard. Exposing the steel structure of the home added to the industrial atmosphere Myers was trying to achieve.

The Myers Residence was the prototype for urban infill designs that followed. Though the site is a narrow, 25 by 188-foot lot, Myers managed to bring light in from the design of an interior courtyard, as well as create a spacious experience for homeowners. The contemporary design of the home is successfully balance between the scale and massing of its Victorian counterparts.

Key elements which characterize the heritage value of the Myers Residence include:

• Its setting, located in the Yorkville Hazelton Heritage Conservation District;
• Its contemporary design compared to the older neighbouring homes;
• The alignment of the house in relation to its neighbours;
• The scale of the house in relation to its neighbours;
• The use of steel frame construction and exposed steel structure;
• The fully glazed interior courtyard, which all rooms overlook;
• The exposed mechanical systems;
• The exposed, bare concrete block walls;
• Modular construction;
• Off-the-shelf building materials;
• The yellow painted door and yellow-painted concrete wall on the exterior;
• The iconic “19” painted on the garage door;
• The bridge in the courtyard that connects both ends of the home; and
• The corrugated fiberglass roof spanning 12 meters, with a bowstring truss supporting it.

• Architect - Jack Diamond & Barton Myers  <-- More buildings by this architect.
• Architect - Barton Myers Associates Ltd.  <-- More buildings by this architect.
• Interior design - Living Arts Design - aka L.A. Design