Montague House

As part of our charitable fundraising efforts, join DesignTO for an exclusive house tour in Toronto’s Wychwood Park neighbourhood. 

Dr. Kenneth Montague was born a collector. So it’s fitting that the Montague House – for Montague, artist and educator Sarah Aranha, and their two young children – was designed for an extensive art, object, and design collection all within a historic house that was sensitively renovated and expanded by the Studio for Contemporary Architecture (SOCA). “The idea was a beautiful envelope for the artwork and the books, rather than going for grand gestures,” says the homeowners.

Within 5,000 square feet across 3 storeys, personal collections of art and design fill each space, including artworks from the Wedge Collection, one of the world’s most important privately owned collections committed to championing Black artists. Montague leverages his collection and his non-profit arts organization, Wedge Curatorial Projects, to create exhibitions and events that explore an expansive expression of Black identity.

When Montague and Aranha purchased the 1919 house designed by Eden Smith, Canada’s leading proponent of the Arts and Crafts movement, there wasn’t much left of the original design; but there were good bones and a few charming elements including the original homeowner’s art studio, which was an ideal spot for Aranha to continue the tradition. The architectural solution involved a careful restoration of the street-facing façade and adding a dormer on the side of the house. An addition on the rear accommodates a family room, an eat-in kitchen, and a principal bedroom suite – contemporary living spaces that didn’t exist when the original house was built. Inside, a series of volumes and interior windows provide sequential moments of livable area and relief in the space, offering different vantage points to view art. “Consider it architecture as a frame for art,” the architect describes.

Experience this special space yourself by joining the tour led by the homeowners, architect and SOCA partner Tura Cousins Wilson, and DesignTO Artistic Director Deborah Wang.

Event Schedule

10:30 AM – Arrive and Gather Outside
10:45 AM – House Tour Begins

Event Location

The exact address for the house tour will be shared with ticket holders. Please respect the privacy of the homeowners by keeping their address confidential. 

Continuing Education

Guests that log professional continuing education hours can request a certificate for 1 hour of structured learning after they attend the tour.

Thank You

Thank you to the homeowners and our Sensory Partner Aesop. Guests will receive a complimentary Aesop gift. 

A charitable tax receipt will be issued for the allowable portion of the tour ticket.