Minto Award Homes - Then and Now

During the 1960s and 1970s Minto won numerous Canadian Housing Design Council awards for their house designs. 
For the awards, Minto entered houses built from their plans. I was curious to see how these award-winning houses stood the test of time, so I searched the addresses on Google Street View to see what they look like now. Many look almost the same, but some have changed over the years...

1974



2010: At some point a second window was added on the front of the house to balance out the facade and give it a more traditional look. I prefer the asymmetrical original elevation though...but I am a modernist at heart!

Here is another house in the same neighbourhood where a window was also added to the front facade...but not one that matches...

1971

2010: Unlike the last house, this one still has the one off-centre window on the facade (which was a trademark of Minto designs of the time). I Love the colour scheme!

The modern facade of this design seems to have been an issue with quite a few homeowners. As seen in the next few photographs of houses built from the award-winning plan, traditional elements (and windows) have been added.

While the original colour scheme seems to be intact, the decorative trim work has added a traditional layer on to the front of this house. 

Adding another window and shutters gives this house a very traditional look.

Again, a second window has been added to balance out the facade. It looks as though white vinyl siding was used to replace the original wood.

1969

2010: The trees have really overgrown this house! Another signature element of Minto designs was having a section of blank wall facing the street. With the overgrown trees covering the windows on the upper floor, this house presents a blank facade to the street.

1969

 2010: New front doors have been added, and the new picture window has slightly different proportions compared to the original. Here is another great example of the blank section of facade facing the street

1962

2010: The facade looks less modern with the decorative trellises. The entrance court has been enclosed and the carport turned into a two-car garage.

1962

2010: This house has undergone many changes. Since the house is on a corner lot, the garage was re-located to the side, and the original garage made in to a room (which was done in keeping with the style of the house, and looks great!). A bay window was also added, giving the house a more traditional facade.

1969

2010: The one-car garage was expanded to a two-car garage, and the window box was removed.

2010: The real difference can be seen in this view from Bing Maps. showing a small addition at the back.

1967

2010: The house looks the same, except for the new garage door. The original garage door had great horizontal lines, but the new one works too, as it ties in to the geometry of the decorative brick wall.