We were delighted to see Globe and Mail Architourist columnist Dave LeBlanc’s article about Hungarian-born, Toronto-based architect Ernest Annau (1931 - 2000). Annau was, as LeBlanc says, a ‘small m’ modernist who designed condominium complexes with a human scale and integrated them into urbanely engaging landscapes.

One of PLANT’s recently completed projects happens to be a landscape renewal for the Annau-designed Rosegarden Mews, on Walker Avenue in Toronto. This cluster of 35 townhouse units received a 1979 Award of Excellence from Canadian Architect magazine. A few years ago, when the waterproofing membrane over the underground parking garage below the complex needed replacing, necessitating the removal of the existing landscape, the condominium’s board selected PLANT to design the successor landscape. Now completed, this new landscape deploys shrubs and taller perennials to emulate the shade and privacy conditions of mature plantings while its young trees establish themselves. In keeping with the varied, village-like configuration of Annau’s townhouses, we provided the owners of the units with a menu of options for customizing their courtyard-facing patio landscapes, tailored to north-facing and south-facing orientations. LeBlanc’s Rosegarden Mews photos, which accompany his article, show off the new landscape nicely.

If you are a Globe and Mail online subscriber, you can view the article about Annau and his work here.