Inside an Omar Gandhi–designed home built for intergenerational living

Sav Brar, a surgical oncologist at Mount Sinai Hospital, first crossed paths with celebrated architect Omar Gandhi in high school in Caledon, long before any inklings of Gandhi’s fame were on the horizon. The two grew closer a few years later while studying at University of Toronto. Gandhi, who commuted to school from his parent’s house in Brampton, would often crash at Brar’s dorm. The pair, who describe themselves as “like brothers,” would stay up late into the night discussing their respective futures—including Brar’s dream home, a tricked-out bachelor pad designed, naturally, by Gandhi.

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In 2018, Brar and his wife, Jaspreet, a teacher, purchased an elegant semi-detached five-bedroom Edwardian in Queen West after falling in love with its stained glass windows and curved plaster walls. As much as they loved the century details, they always intended to renovate so that Brar’s mother, Simerjeet, who was left partially paralyzed after a stroke in 2013, could eventually move in.

But, by the time Brar was ready to build his dream home, he wasn’t even sure if his friend would be interested–Gandhi hadn’t taken on a renovation since the beginning of his career, preferring new builds. And of course Brar was no longer a bachelor—he and Jaspreet had their first daughter in 2020 and another in 2021. When Brar broached the subject, however, Gandhi was more than game. “I just knew it would be a blast,” says Gandhi.

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Stephanie Hosein, lead at Omar Gandhi Architects, got to work on designing a fully accessible family home that could accommodate both an elder in a wheelchair and toddlers in diapers. Gandhi envisioned a space that was big and bright, with room to display Brar’s growing art collection.

To jump-start the design team’s imaginations, Brar sent them images of sweeping, minimalist renovations done by UK architecture firms Procter and Shaw and Fraher and Findlay as well as Punjabi architectural elements from Chandigarh. His main concern was ensuring that his mother would be comfortable and independent in the home. “To be able to give her the gift of dignity was very important,” he says.

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The resulting design transformed the many-roomed home into a modern open concept space. While the new design bears almost zero resemblance to its predecessor, small nods to the original character remain: the original curved plaster walls were torn down, but their shape was maintained and augmented by new undulating archways and entrances.

The ceiling and upper walls feature warm wooden slats, which narrow along the original line of the wainscoting—elements that echo the new Prime Seafood Palace, which Gandhi’s firm finished right before taking on Brar’s commission.

The old decorative baseboards were replaced with new sleeker ones but remain the same height. The uneven hardwood floor was levelled and replaced with untreated wood sourced from Europe. “For a long time, I made guests take their socks off to walk on the floors,” says Brar. “It just felt so alive.”

Across from the kitchen is an elevator, elegantly hidden by minimalist millwork, which delivers Simerjeet from the first-floor kitchen to her second-floor bedroom and ensuite bathroom. All the hallways and door frames were designed to be wide enough for an electric wheelchair to pass through.

Likewise, the kitchen is laid out to foster maximum independence. There are cabinets that open with a small push, and the fridge shelves, kettle and microwave are easily accessible. Plus, the induction stovetop reduces the risk of burning oneself.

Attached to Simerjeet’s room is a private balcony where she can take in fresh air whenever she likes. Also on the second floor is a reading room and library, preserved from the original home. Brar thinks of it as “an echo of an older time.”

The kitchen and dining area have become the home’s main headquarters, where everyone congregates. “My mom sits at the head of the table, and the girls love to do crafts or colouring there,” says Brar. “It’s a place where the whole family can be together.” The open design provides a line of sight to the living area and front hallway, so Brar and Jaspreet can keep an eye on the kids, and the large windows drench the area in sunlight.

The hulking, nine-by-four-foot curved stone kitchen island is monumental yet practical. The Caesarstone was bent into its unique, organic shape, resembling a single block of polished stone. “The house feels like a museum,” says Brar. “But we live in it fully and completely.”

Previously, the third floor was more of an attic, accessible only through a narrow staircase hidden in a closet. The family used it so infrequently that Jaspreet would occasionally go upstairs to check if any animals had died there. The renovation opened up the stairs, and now the third floor hosts the couple’s primary bedroom, with a dedicated alcove for preparing chai.

“In South Asian cultures, chai is an important part of daily life, so we have a small sink with hot water where we can make it,” says Brar. “It helps create a moment of rest.” The third floor is also home to the girls’ shared bedroom and a bathroom.

Some of the home’s European features were replaced to pay homage to Brar’s Punjabi heritage. On the main-floor staircase, stained glass window was swapped out for a jali, an intricately patterned window screen that lets in light while maintaining privacy. The screen’s design mimics phulkari, the traditional folk embroidery of the Punjabi people, which was all over Brar’s childhood home.

After completing the renovation, Brar and his family moved back in July of 2024, and his mother arrived several months later from her home in Brampton. Brar’s brother lives just a few doors down on the same street. Simerjeet is happy to be living close to her family, and she loves her new home. ​​“She was struck by how natural it felt to be living in that space with us,” says Brar. “Her only regret is that she didn’t move sooner.”

For Brar, the new space feels timeless. “I was really impressed by the permanence of the design,” he says. “It feels like there’s another 100 years in this house.”