Don Mills’ “Atomic Ranches”

I recently visited the Don Mills Library in Toronto to check out the special collection the library keeps on the community. A lot of the material that had been put away was not organized in any way; the new material was intertwined with archival material dating back to the early 50s. However, I was given a binder that was jammed with articles from the 50s right through to the early 90s. It looked like a PR campaign clip book, minus the irritating tables us PR folk produce to prove our worth (thank the good Lord for MRP).

Anyway, to get to my point, what I noticed from the majority of the stories that I had read was that both the design community and the media at the time was very impressed with the residences going up in Don Mills, especially the ranch-style homes (or “atomic ranches”, a term coined by an Oregon-based magazine) that were clearly modernist in design and a lot different than anthing else in the city. I even saw my own James Murray-designed split-level featured in one of the clippings.

Today, these houses are just as cool as they were back then and I’m sure that others who appreciate good, modern design would agree. To get a better sense of what that PR buzz was all about — and what will eventually make Don Mills THE spot for design-savvy families in the city — check out the photos below. To those at Cadillac Fairview finalizing the look of the new Don Mills Centre, please note: a shopping/lifestyle centre that adopts the design principles of the community will draw shoppers/condo buyers from all over the city. It’s the perfect opportunity to make a real splash, while perserving the very features that made Don Mills a PR success.

Don Mills’ Atomic Ranches:

This is my neigbours’ newly expanded James Murray split-level, freshly stuccoed

My little split-level in the north-west quadrant

A Berkinshaw Beauty. Mid-century meets 21st century modernism in Don Mills

This split-level is on Joscelyn Cresent, my favourite street in Don Mills. I absolutely love the Flintstones-style angled carport

This fine looking ranch, located in the north-east quadrant, is straight out of southern California. I’m not sure if the open roof works well here in Canada, but I’m a sucker for the post-and-beam stuff

Rancho Relaxo — another common design in Don Mils

Not bad, huh? Who knew a suburb could be so cool.