“The sales centre, much like the project, will fuse elements of old and new. We wanted the sales centre experience to give people a sense of how their future home will feel.”
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For almost 35 years, interior design firm Cecconi Simone Inc. has been helping shape the face of Toronto; the firm has designed more than 80 condo towers in Toronto.
On the international level, Cecconi Simone has created award-winning interiors for retail stores, corporate offices, hotels and homes in the United States, Anguilla, Italy, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, India and China, to name a few.
As a founding partner of Cecconi Simone Inc., Anna Simone is leading the team on the interiors for the redevelopment of Waterworks. The Tap sat down with Anna to talk about the Cecconi Simone way of design, which is all about bringing the community together.
The Tap: We’ve read that you like to be included in the planning process as early as possible. How does that affect your overall design process?
AS: The most successful projects are those that are designed from the inside out where the architect and interior designer are both brought in at the onset of a project. This way they can work together to ensure that the building envelope and the interior are respectful of one another. By combining our knowledge, we come up with a building that is both conducive to the cityscape and the livability of the homeowner.
The Tap: You’ve been working in design since you were 10 years old. What keeps you motivated?
AS: I’m constantly motivated by my desire to challenge the norm in design. I think it’s important to come up with new and innovative ways to approach projects by drawing inspiration from what surrounds us every day. That’s what I love about Toronto. It’s a city filled with different people and cultures we can learn from. If you truly want to be motivated and inspired you need to go beyond yourself.
The Tap: How do you continue to find inspiration for new designs?
AS: I’m always inspired by my travels. I love taking something I’ve observed in another part of the world and bringing it back to the studio with me. By injecting elements of other cultures into our designs we can create something unique and different. I also draw inspiration from history. I think that it’s very important to have an understanding of where we have come from. That understanding provides a solid foundation that we can build upon.
The Tap: What do you think of the Waterworks project as a whole?
AS: Waterworks will be the hub of a community. It is surrounded by a park and will include the YMCA but I think the most significant feature is the spectacular food hall that will anchor the project. Food always brings a community together and much like the idea that the kitchen is the heart of the home, the food hall will be the heart of this project.
The Tap: You’ve designed dozens of different suites for Waterworks, what was that like?
AS: It was important that Waterworks offer a variety of homes that would appeal to different types of purchasers. Condominiums are no longer only transition homes and we wanted to ensure that there were suites tailored to all types of homeowners, including families. We also wanted to make sure that we took advantage of the magnificent views of the tree line and skyline from this midrise building and the variety of suites reflects this, allowing residents to connect with nature.
The Tap: Cecconi Simone has worked on more than 80 towers in Toronto. What separates Waterworks from other projects you’ve worked on?
AS: The sheer location and historical component of this project set it apart. The development’s nod to the past influenced our approach to the sales centre as well. When you walk through the doors you are transported into an old school design studio. The ‘by appointment only’ sales approach allows the purchaser to sit down and get the one to one experience with their sales agent. That service is often lacking in modern developments. We feel that we’ve created a truly unique experience where purchasers can feel that their home has been carefully crafted for their specific needs.
The Tap: Explain your “whole design” philosophy and how you were able to bring that insight to the Waterworks development.
AS: Our whole design philosophy means applying the five principles of design to our projects. It’s the application of these principles that makes a design timeless regardless of its genre or when it was built. When you are sensitive to rhythm, harmony, balance, scale and proportion you create environments that will be celebrated 25 or even 50 years down the road.
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