Residence of Mr. & Mrs. A.W. Billes, Toronto (1973-1975)

Part of:

People:

John Cresswell Parkin (archive creator)

Title:

Residence of Mr. & Mrs. A.W. Billes, Toronto (1973-1975)

Date:

1973-1984

Level of archival description:
Project

Extent and medium:

Approximately 1122 drawings (including 799 reprographic copies)
Approximately 43 photographic materials
1.144 l.m. of textual records
1 mounted work of art

Scope and content:
This project series documents the design and construction of the residence of A.W. Billes and his family at 30 High Point Road in North York, Toronto from 1973-1975. The office identified the project number as 7302.
This project consisted of a ten bedroom home for Toronto businessman Alfred W. Billes, who was part of the Canadian Tire founding family and part owner at this time. The extravagant home included tennis courts, a pool, an indoor atrium with gardens, staff quarters, a library, and a piano room, among others. Built in the Bridle Path neighbourhood, the home was designed in the modernist style with two terraced balconies facing the street. Following the completion of the project, A.W. Billes sued the firm of Parkin Partnership Architects Planners over dissatisfaction with the construction, a case that was appealed all the way to the Supreme Court. Parkin lost the case in 1984 and had to pay A.W. Billes approximately $125,000.
The project is recorded through drawings, photographs, slides, a project painting, and textual records dating from 1973-1984. The drawings are a mix of original sketches and construction drawings. The photographs and slides show the completed project. The textual records include construction documentation, design notes, interoffice memos, correspondence, meeting and site reports, extensive lawsuit documentation, contract data, a project manual for the homeowners and consultancy records. Some of the drawings and textual records are labelled Part 7', but it is unclear from the documentation what this refers to. There are a large number of construction drawings, some sketches, and detail drawings arranged within the textual materials.

Reference number:

AP018.S1.1973.PR02

Arrangement:
Materials in this project series have been compiled from different accessions and/or arranged by material type.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Jennifer A.C. Parkin holds copyright for materials from accession AR1997:0021. Permission must be sought from copyright holder before reproductions can be made.

Location:

North York Toronto Ontario Canada

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