By Ellie Stathaki
last updated

John Shnier and Martin Kohn started their practice together in 1990, and now work together with a new partner, Maggie Bennedsen. While the studio's work ranges from commercial interiors to large schemes for civic centres, they're also adept at turning out modest modern dwellings for space sensitive Torontonians.

The Laneway House in Toronto was originally designed for a family of four, with ground floor sleeping areas - including ultra-compact 'couchettes' for the children - and a living space above. At 120 square metres, this is no sprawling McMansion.

'There are more families who are not opting to go the suburban route when they have children, and as a result are getting comfortable with the smaller places generally available, and affordable, in the city,' says Martin Kohn.

At the other end of the scale is the Muskoka House in Ontario, a paean to the practicalities of prefabrication. Constructed from wooden modules, the house is raised up on columns and threads its way through a spectacular wooded site.

www.kohnshnierarchitects.com

The Bombardier Learjet with dark lights


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The Bombardier Learjet

Interior of the Learjet

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Interior of the Learjet

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Flying Bombardier Learjet

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The Bombardier Learjet

The Staircase House by Cindy Rendely, Toronto

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The Staircase House by Cindy Rendely, Toronto

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The Staircase House by Cindy Rendely

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The Staircase House by Cindy Rendely

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The Staircase House by Cindy Rendely

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The Staircase House by Cindy Rendely

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Coast restaurant, Vancouver

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Coast restaurant, Vancouver

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Coast restaurant, Vancouver

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Coast restaurant, Vancouver

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Coast restaurant, Vancouver

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Hanging lights with sofa

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Restaurant with dinning table and chair

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Coast restaurant with staircase

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Coast restaurant with round wooden table

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Coast restaurant with dinning table and chair

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Coast restaurant with dinning tables

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Supernova by Douglas Coupland

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Supernova by Douglas Coupland

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Talking sticks by Douglas Coupland

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Talking sticks by Douglas Coupland

Penguin Pretty Vacant by Douglas Coupland

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Penguin Pretty Vacant by Douglas Coupland

Coyote by Douglas Coupland

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Coyote by Douglas Coupland

Patricide by Douglas Coupland

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Patricide by Douglas Coupland

Penguin Cumshot

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Penguin Cumshot by Douglas Coupland

Penguin Clash

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Penguin Clash by Douglas Coupland

Matricide Silver Skate

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Matricide Silver Skate by Douglas Coupland

Matricide Beer

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Matricide Beer by Douglas Coupland

Drip Maple Syrup

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Drip Maple Syrup

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Drip Maple Syrup

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Form & Forest by D'Arcy Jones Desig

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Form & Forest

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Form & Forest

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Form & Forest

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Form & Forest

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Farm house with green lawn

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D'Arcy Jones Design

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The Keefer Hotel, Vancouver

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The Keefer Hotel, Vancouver

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The Keefer Hotel

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The Keefer Hotel

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The Keefer Hotel

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The Keefer Hotel

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The Keefer Hotel

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Laneway House, Toronto, by Kohn Shnier architects

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Laneway House, Toronto

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Laneway House, Toronto

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Laneway House

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Laneway House, Toronto

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Richmond Olympic Oval by Cannon Design

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Richmond Olympic Oval

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Richmond Olympic Oval

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Richmond Olympic Oval

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Richmond Olympic Oval

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Richmond Olympic Oval

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Richmond Olympic Oval

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Richmond Olympic Oval

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Richmond Olympic Oval

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Richmond Olympic Oval

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Richmond Olympic Oval

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Richmond Olympic Oval

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Richmond Olympic Oval

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Territory table and chairs by Samare Design, Montreal

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Territory table and chairs

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Territory table and chairs by Samare Design, Montreal

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Territory desk and chair

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Territory desk and chair by Samare design

R-Mountie bench and throw

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R-Mountie bench and throw by Samare design

Still House by Level Design, Vancouver

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Still House by Level Design, Vancouver

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Still House by Level Design

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Still House by Level Design

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Still House by Level Design

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Sunset Cabin by Taylor_Smyth Architects, Toronto

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Sunset Cabin by Taylor_Smyth Architects, Toronto

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Sunset Cabin by Taylor

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Sunset Cabin

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Sunset Cabin by Taylor

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Sunset Cabin by Taylor

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Sunset Cabin by Taylor

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40R_Laneway House by Süperkul, Toronto

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40R_Laneway House by Süperkul

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SHIFT Cottage by Süperkul

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SHIFT Cottage by Süperkul

The Trans Canada Trail

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The Trans Canada Trail

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The Trans Canada Trail

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Nylon Haneda by WANT luggage

WANT luggage, Montreal

Nylon Haneda by WANT luggage

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Newberry White

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Newberry White by WANT luggage

Nylon Haneda

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Dumont black

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Dumont black by WANT luggage

Carl Phare's wooden rollercoaster, designed in 1958, Vancouver

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Carl Phare's wooden rollercoaster

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Carl Phare's wooden rollercoaster, Vancouver

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Carl Phare's wooden rollercoaster, Vancouver

Fashion by Ying Gao

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Fashion by Ying Gao

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Fashion by Ying Gao, Montreal

Fashion by Ying Gao

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Fashion by Ying Gao

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Canada Wallpaper Reviews Toronto
Ellie Stathaki

Ellie Stathaki is the Architecture & Environment Director at Wallpaper*. She trained as an architect at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece and studied architectural history at the Bartlett in London. Now an established journalist, she has been a member of the Wallpaper* team since 2006, visiting buildings across the globe and interviewing leading architects such as Tadao Ando and Rem Koolhaas. Ellie has also taken part in judging panels, moderated events, curated shows and contributed in books, such as The Contemporary House (Thames & Hudson, 2018), Glenn Sestig Architecture Diary (2020) and House London (2022).

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