Symphonia POP: Hitting all the right notes on Nuns’ Island
Music appeals to our senses in a way that transcends reason, which is why the construction of a second phase of the Symphonia development that was completed in 2014 should come as music to the ears of Nuns’ Islanders.
Inspired by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Symphonia POP is scheduled for delivery in late 2020 and, much like the works of the prolific composer himself, it is slated to exceed expectations thanks to the power of its composition as well as the elegance of its forms.
“Like any great artist, Alain really put his mark on this project,” said Debbie Lafave, the senior vice-president of sales for Baker Real Estate, about Alain Desgagné, the renowned interior designer from Innédesign who meticulously chose everything from the development’s matte black faucets and bleached wood floors to its smooth Corian countertops and muted window mullions.
“These days, everybody is doing the same thing with their interiors, and what’s unique about this project is that Alain’s imagination was allowed to run wild,” she said. “In the end, what he created is very different than anything you’ll see anywhere. It’s like a cashmere sweater; if you run your hand over any of the surfaces, everything’s got this soft, smooth finish.”
Kevin Robinson, the general manager of Développements Symphonia, agreed.
“Alain Desgagné’s philosophy is very streamlined; he intentionally chose every material to work together as a whole,” Robinson said. “Instead of having a design-by-committee approach to the project, we embraced his creative vision and encouraged him to express it to its full potential.”
As a result, contrary to other developments, Symphonia POP has a harmonious and distinctive, all-inclusive approach to its design.
“Usually, when it comes to condos, everything is à la carte,” Robinson said. “Not with us though. What you see in the showroom is what you get.”
And what you get is really quite extraordinary.
From European-made appliances — including panel-ready double 24-inch refrigerators and dishwashers as well as ovens and cooktops that are flush mounted — to bathrooms with extra large tiles and vanities with wall-to-wall mirrors, everything is streamlined or concealed. The result is natural, flowing lines that blend in seamlessly with the overall design, and the lifestyle of residents.
“If you choose to live in Nuns’ Island you want peace and quiet, and your idea of luxury is unobstructed views of the water, a golf course, and the sparkle of the city in the distance,” Lafave said. “If you choose to live smack in the middle of the downtown core, you probably only need a tiny fridge because you’re going to be eating out most nights, but that’s not what Symphonia POP is all about. For the people who are going to live here, they also want the pleasure of cooking dinner at home in their own gourmet kitchen, so the kitchens were designed to be used and enjoyed.”
Located on the southern tip of the island, the development — which will be connected to the first tower — was originally designed to house 240 units on 32 floors. Due to the demand for larger living spaces, however, a number of units were combined, resulting in a total of 217 condos, terrace apartments and penthouses.
“We’ve just started promoting a collection of combined units, which are now available for sale,” Lafave said. “People with large, beautiful homes who, in the past, haven’t been willing to move to a condo, have been really drawn to the quality and size of these new units.”
To maintain the streamlined — and natural lightfilled — look that’s omnipresent in the rest of the design, all bedrooms are equipped with custom concealed storage. “We wanted the fenestration to be unobstructed by furniture,” Robinson said. “That’s why the storage is tucked away behind beautiful floor-to-ceiling doors; everything that should be concealed, is.”