Walk down almost any Toronto street and you’ll notice the contrast. A glass-and-steel box pops up beside a stately Victorian, a minimalist infill house squeezes between a pair of Tudors, or a row of Edwardians quietly watches while a developer unveils the latest “modern marvel.” Modern homes certainly make a statement—sleek, bold, sometimes divisive. And yet, that old refrain still lingers in the background: are older houses built better?
It’s a question I’ve been asking my entire life—as someone who grew up in both old and new houses, who has owned, restored, gutted, and rebuilt many across Toronto, and who now makes a living helping others weigh the same decision.
As a real estate broker and architect, I love sharing my experience and knowledge to help my clients make the best decisions, whether they are buying a home or selling a home.
What Are Modern Houses Made Of?
Modern homes reflect contemporary values: efficiency, openness, convenience. What are modern houses made of? Today, you’ll find highly engineered materials—drywall instead of plaster, engineered joists instead of heavy timber, spray foam insulation instead of sawdust. Mechanical systems hum with quiet efficiency: radiant heating, HRVs, high-SEER cooling, even multiple systems layered together to keep every corner of a house at the perfect temperature. (Read my blog for more smart home investments for a refined lifestyle.)
The best of them also embrace fine materials. Imported marbles and stones. Sustainably sourced woods. Engineered flooring systems that hold up to decades of use. When used thoughtfully, these rival the craftsmanship of the past. And of course, there’s the integration of technology: automated lighting, wired sound, security systems you can monitor from your phone. It’s remarkable how far building science has come.
Whether you’re buying a new home, building a new home, or renovating something to modern standards, here are a few more posts you might enjoy:
- The Flavour of Luxury in Today’s Homes
- How Much Does it Cost to Build a Home?
- Sustainability in Real estate
Are Older Houses Built Better?
And yet, the nostalgia is real. Many older houses were built with materials and methods that simply don’t exist anymore—slate shingles held with copper nails, plaster walls layered by hand, quarter-sawn oak that could last a century, and bricks like the legendary John Price, now extinct.
Older homes didn’t have proper insulation, or advanced mechanical systems, but they had something harder to replicate: presence. Brilliant proportions. Generous spaces. Details crafted by tradesmen whose skills bordered on artistry.
Of course, not everything about old houses is worth romanticizing. We’ve moved on, wisely, from asbestos, lead pipes, and lead paint. And not every old house was perfectly built—I once gutted a 1911 home in Lawrence Park and discovered a toilet simply balancing on its waste pipe, along with raccoons in the attic and even a skeleton (mercifully, it turned out to be raccoon, not human). Still, the bones (of the house, not the skeleton) were solid, the ceilings lofty, the proportions dignified. After a full rebuild, that house still stands as one of the neighbourhood’s admired homes.
Do you love unique homes as much as I do? Join me on a couple tours of some beautiful homes across the world:
- Magnificent 21st-Century Comfort in Edinburgh’s Historic New Town: Exploring 18 India Street
- Brilliant Mid-Century Glass Architecture Meets Natural Splendour: Exploring the Roy O. Allen House
Lessons From Homes I’ve Owned or Lived In
Some of my favourite lessons have come not from textbooks, but from living inside the houses themselves.
- The 1937 Georgian custom build my wife and I fell in love with was full of innovations for its time—gypsum board walls instead of plaster, an ingenious “air conditioning” system that used a giant basement fan and stragteically opened windows, elongated one-piece toilets, sturdy wooden sashes, and John Price brick that glowed in the sunlight, with quoined corner details. It taught me that innovation is not a modern invention; it has always been part of building.
- The 1911 Lawrence Park house, with its chaos and charm, taught me humility as a builder. Behind the filth, the raccoon tenants, and the odd discoveries, there was a noble structure worth saving. We respected its character, rebuilt its dignity, and it remains one of the neighbourhood’s oldest—and most admired—residences.
- The mid-century modern home which I spent my teenage years in and which my parents owned for 47 years, was another revelation: redwood and cork finishes, floor-to-ceiling double-glazed window walls, teak veneers, long Roman bricks. It was designed for a California climate, but here, it felt timeless. Tragically, the builder-wannabe plastic surgeon that bought it stripped it of its splendour in a misguided renovation, losing both money and the soul of the house. It was a stark reminder that people should respect the DNA of a home, modernizing it without erasing what makes it unique.
And then there were the other homes I grew up in—a 1910 brick Edwardian in the Annex, a 1930s Tudor in the Kingsway, and finally that mid-century modern masterpiece with walls of redwood and glass. Each move was a masterclass in how architecture evolves, and in how the houses we live in shape the way we see the world.
When it comes to buying an older home, or a condo in an older building, for that matter, here are a few features you should look for that simply scream, ‘Lasting Quality!’
Building and Rebuilding: Marrying Old and New
As an architect and builder, I’ve spent years trying to take the best of both worlds. To avoid squeaky floors, I used tongue-and-groove plywood subfloors, screwed into engineered joists that don’t twist. I chose spray foam insulation that seals but doesn’t off-gas. I’ve even designed houses with two or three mechanical systems working in harmony, so every room is equally comfortable.
At the same time, I’ve always loved proportions, the play of light, and the importance of character. Modern homes often open themselves up to natural light, with layouts that suit today’s lifestyles. But older homes, with their compartmentalized rooms, can be reimagined too—sometimes easily, sometimes painfully, but always worth the effort when done respectfully.
I love looking at floor plans. In my Condo Chronicles blog series, I feature prominent Toronto condo buildings to reimagine better layouts. Here are a few you can read next:
- Condo Chronicles: Social Condos at 100 Dalhousie Street
- Condo Chronicles: Vu South Tower
- Condo Chronicles: Reworking the Residences of 488 University Ave
Toronto’s Architectural Dialogue
This conversation is especially alive in Toronto architecture. In Cabbagetown, Victorian homes stand with their delicate brickwork and bay windows. In Rosedale and Lawrence Park, heritage mansions are lovingly updated, pairing historic façades with cutting-edge interiors. In Leaside and the Annex, striking new infill homes rise beside their century-old neighbours—sometimes jarring, sometimes inspiring, always part of the dialogue.
The truth is, Toronto’s housing stock tells a story of evolution. Every generation builds differently, reflecting its values, its technology, and its aspirations. The discourse between old and new isn’t new. The Bauhaus and International Style of the early 20th century gave us the roots of modernism. Mid-century modern pushed it further, and today’s contemporary homes carry that dialogue forward, albeit with new technologies and sustainability goals in mind. These styles, when executed thoughtfully, become timeless classics.
Looking for more unique Toronto homes? Come with me on a visual tour of the Most Interesting Homes in Hoggs Hollow.
My Verdict: Respect Both
So, are older houses built better? In many ways, yes—their craftsmanship, materials, and proportions are enduring. But modern homes bring advantages older ones never had: energy efficiency, sustainable construction, comfort, and technology.
The real key is respect. Respect older houses by updating them thoughtfully, without stripping their soul. Respect modern homes by designing them with care, using fine materials and sensitivity to their context.
Having lived in and worked on both, I know the answer isn’t either/or. The best homes are the ones that marry past and present with care—where craftsmanship meets innovation, where history meets sustainability.
Final Thought
Whether you’re drawn to the charm of a century-old Victorian or the sleek lines of a modern infill, the decision is personal. My role—as an architect, builder, and now realtor—is to help people see both sides, and guide them to a home that doesn’t just shelter them, but elevates them.
Because after all, they don’t build them like they used to. And in some ways, that’s exactly the point, and what makes both yesterday’s and today’s homes worth celebrating.
Do you have more questions about buying or selling real estate in Toronto’s unique architectural landscape? Get in touch with me today by calling 416-824-1242, emailing me at robert@lifeofluxury.ca, or filling out the form on this page!
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