Discover Eden Smith’s Impact on Toronto’s Built Heritage
Eden Smith was undoubtedly the most consistent Arts and Crafts architect in Toronto during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
There were other Toronto firms, such as Chadwick and Becket, who were influenced by Arts and Crafts mannerisms for a time, but Eden Smith was the only one who not only adhered to the principles throughout his career but defended them vigorously in public debate.
Smith’s uniqueness lies in the way he adapted English Arts and Crafts principles to Toronto’s climatic and social conditions. Cold winters demanded deep footings and provision for central heating; and hot summers open verandas, sleeping porches and open plans for cross ventilation.
Confined city sites demanded much ingenuity when designing according to the fundamental Arts and Crafts principle “plan from the inside out”; while the absence of a large servant class called for layouts that allowed efficient management.
Thus necessity forced Eden Smith to develop an original Arts and Crafts house appropriate for Toronto and southern Ontario – a process that influenced domestic architecture in Ontario over the next quarter century and helped provide the groundwork for twentieth century housing design.
Author W. Douglas Brown has kindly provided his book available for free download in PDF format.
Download "Eden Smith: Toronto's Arts & Crafts Architect" Free!
Table of Contents:
- Introduction
- Eden Smith's Early Life & Career
- The Gothic Revival, William Morris, and the Art & Crafts Movement
- The Influence of Birmingham
- The Education Debate in England & Canada
- Individuality in Simplicity
- The Plans
- The Materials
- The Buildings
- The Man
- The Legacy
- Eden Smith Buildings in Toronto
- Notes & Bibliography
The Books' Purpose from the Author
The primary goals of this essay are: to set the record straight about Eden Smith‘s family background, which has been misrepresented elsewhere; to reveal his relationship to William Morris and his circle, which was previously unknown; and to provide a reliable inventory of his work in Toronto.
The essay first sets the background with a sketch of Eden Smith’s origins in England and his career in Canada; it then explores the sources of the influences that acted upon him as a young apprentice and student of architecture in his hometown of Birmingham. His credentials as an Arts and Crafts architect are then explored by examining his role in a critical debate that involved the Arts and Crafts communities in both England and Canada, and by looking at his statements on architecture that appeared in the Canadian press.
After considering various aspects of his buildings, there is an attempt to provide some insight into the character of the man. We then look at his legacy and provide an inventory of Eden Smith buildings arranged by district, derived mainly from the City of Toronto building permits.
About the Author
W. Douglas Brown was born in Niagara Falls but spent most of his life in the Greater Toronto Area. His passions include Eden Smith, the Arts & Crafts movement and hiking. Douglas was also an active supporter of the Bruce Trail Conservancy and the William Morris Society of Canada.