Constructed in 1967, Canterbury House is an integrated apartment and townhouse complex situated on the shores of the Assiniboine River near Winnipeg’s Osborne Village. While not a historically designated property, the two buildings are representative of post-war modernist design and living ideals. 1x1 architecture was engaged to provide architectural design services as part of an overall envelope upgrade project, including building code analysis, finish selection and design detailing.

From the outset, a concerted effort was made to maintain the modernist aesthetic inherent in the existing material palette and composition. 1x1 worked through an extensive mock-up process with the project’s mason and local suppliers to select a masonry unit that closely resembled the original brick. Prominent horizontal stucco bands which express the building’s linearity were also maintained in a warm charcoal colour.

Light Baltic

Birch veneer plywood soffits were introduced into the exterior breezeway and at recessed entrances to offer a tonal and textural contrast to the dark brick masonry. White stucco and doors balance the composition of the unit entrances and form a vertical element with the windows and stucco panels on floors above.



Stainless steel accents including wall base, mailboxes and house numbers, round out the material palette at the entrance thresholds.

Overlooking the river to the rear of the property, current floor-to-ceiling fenestration floods the main floor with natural light and offers panoramic views of the river. A continuous metal picket guard runs the length of each unit’s balcony, providing a clean sense of rhythm and order against the river’s natural landscape. The guards feature a hidden base connection, so pickets extend below and beyond the edge of balcony to achieve a minimal aesthetic.

Similarly, the guard’s top rail forms a datum which is referenced in the design of the adjacent metal balcony dividers and accentuated by the panel’s contrasting colours.

Client: Globe Property Management

Type: Residential

Date of Completion: May 2025

Consultant Team

Prime Consultant: Crosier Kilgour

Architectural: 1x1 architecture inc.

Structural: Crosier Kilgour

Mechanical: SMS Engineering

Electrical: SMS Engineering

Photography: Lisa Stinner-Kun

Filed under Residential

📌 Canterbury House Townhomes
🏢 1x1 architecture
📍 Canterbury