Toronto is growing at an amazing rate– spreading out throughout the large lakeside plain it anchors and increasing in dense vertical pockets. In simply a few years, its population has gone beyond that of other blossoming urban centers, making it the fourth-largest city in The United States and Canada. Real estate rates are soaring. In reaction, downtown has actually become a collage of overblown architectural statement pieces– futuristic spires contorting in all directions or stacked like offset pixels. With each structure contending for attention, a dizzying assortment of designs and scales has emerged amongst the few historical structures that stay. The most effective brand-new developments, however, are those that build upon– instead of eliminate– existing architecture.
Take the newly opened Nobu Residences and Hotel, a Teeple Architects– designed complex that fully integrates the renowned exterior of the Pilkington Glass building that long stood in its place. Its defining function: glass bricks. Protected as the skin of the initial structure, these components reappear throughout the multipronged, city-within-a-city location. Rising from this structure are two 45-story towers with angled window bays and gently shaped façade fins. As they rise, a 15,000-square-foot Nobu dining establishment and surrounding retail spaces pave the way to 660 property systems and, above, 36 “rental properties in the sky” guestrooms. In between, a two-story amenities podium is sculpted through by a near temple-like circular space.
Accountable for the extensive outfitting of these areas is Miami-and Toronto-based multidisciplinary practice Studio Munge, a firm that prides itself on crafting immersive experiences. “The significant opening in between the 9th and 10th floors allows daytime to waterfall deep into the interior areas listed below, “states starting principal Alessandro Munge.”From the health club that surrounds it, visitors can observe natural light, rains, and snowfall coming down, while upper-level rooms look down into this illuminated core.” It offers a more unified, soothing counterpoint to the hurried streets crossing the city beyond.
Though exclusive and limited in number, the accommodations range widely in size and features. Strategic spatial preparation guarantees a consistent set of concerns throughout: bed orientations that frame views; walk-in closets; generous living
locations; and window-side soaking tubs. These standard wood components subtly reference Nobu Hospitality’s Japanese origins.< img src="https://design-milk.com/images/2026/04/Studio-Munge-Nobu-Toronto-07.jpg"alt ="A light-colored modern-day armchair and side table sit versus a wood wall with framed art, illuminated by natural light."width="512" height="768"/ >< img src =" https://design-milk.com/images/2026/04/Studio-Munge-Nobu-Toronto-08.jpg "alt="Modern living room with light wood flooring, a black textured cabinet, minimalist chairs, a white sofa, neutral carpet, and a fireplace with a stone and wood-paneled wall." width="512"height=" 768"/ > That cultural cue informs the totality of the interior styling. The soothing, corrective qualities of ryokans– traditional Japanese inns with tatami-matted spaces– act as a thoughtful point of departure for surfaces and furnishings. It’s a purposeful counterbalance to the energy of the city outside. “Rather than interpreting the hotel through a standard high-end lens, this hint was matched by subtle Canadian impacts, “Munge includes.
In the lobby, nods to the local landscape are abstracted and rendered through standard Japanese metalwork. < img src= "https://design-milk.com/images/2026/04/Studio-Munge-Nobu-Toronto-10.jpg"alt= "A contemporary dining location with a black table, 5 black chairs, a sculptural pendant light, wood-paneled walls, and framed abstract art work."width="512 "height=" 768 "/ > In the guestrooms, soft blue spectrums suggest peacefulness, referencing sky and water– Lake Ontario, just visible through the thicket of nearby towers– while likewise stimulating escape. Framing this palette, Munge and his group utilize a restrained product selection: Tundra Grey stone with a tough surface, rift-cut white oak, hand-dyed indigo textiles, and handmade Kawara tiles.
The finishing touch is a thoroughly curated suite of home furnishings from leading brands and designers, consisting of B&B Italia, Gallotti & Radice, Henge, Piet Advantage, Christophe Delcourt, The Rug Business, Device, Giopato & Coombes, Holly Hunt, Karimoku Case Study, and Carl Hansen & Søn.
< img src="https://design-milk.com/images/2026/04/Studio-Munge-Nobu-Toronto-24.jpg" alt="Modern interior with beige couch, black round coffee tables, wood and marble wall panels, and a sculptural black sphere suspended in front of a mirrored wall." width="512" height="768"/ >
What: Nobu Hotel Toronto Where: Toronto, Canada Just how much: $ 2,700 per night Style draws: A Japanese ryokan-style retreat high above ever-expanding Toronto outfitted with soft tones and natural products. A residential tower hotel with a comprehensive 2 level facilities complex pierced by circular space with cascading natural light, rain, and snow.Book it: Nobu Hotel Toronto Photography by Ema Peter, < img src="https://design-milk.com/images/2024/07/Adrian-Madlener-Design-Milk-Headshot-100x100.jpg" width="100" height="100" alt =""/ > Adrian Madlener is a Brussels-born, New York-based writer specializing in collectible and sustainable style. With a particular focus on topics that exemplify the best in craft-led experimentation, he’s dedicated to supporting skills that push the envelope in various disciplines.