Inspired by the minimalist design movement, the amenities of 400 Wellington West draw on the Mies motto “less is more” to offer a living environment that is at once aesthetic and pragmatic. Strategically located exposed concrete imbues the address with a warehouse-like environment, bucking the current trend towards artificial finishes and thus faithfully representing the King West neighbourhood’s historic charm. Yet “God is in the details,” meaning design nuances are embellished with exacting precision, every element serving both a visual and functional purpose.
A contrast of traditional and modern, of horizontal and vertical, of glazing and masonry. 400 Wellington West unites form and function through design inspired by the King West neighbourhood’s distant and no-so-distant pasts. A structure of halves, the front 10-storey building draws from the existing fabric of Wellington West with architecture inspired by the red-brown warehouse buildings populating the area. Meanwhile, 400 Wellington West’s 12 storey alter-ego draws from a more recent past, with a mid-1900’s inspired horizontal layout of windows and masonry. And each half is capped by contemporary penthouse designs with extra-large windows offering stunning views of the King West neighbourhood and beyond.