East Meets King West: a film producer’s 34th-floor ode to the Far East
East Meets King West: a film producer’s 34th-floor ode to the Far East
By Peter Saltsman | Photography By Derek Shapton | January 15, 2015
By Peter Saltsman | Photography By Derek Shapton | 01/15/2015
Niv Fichman’s 1,100-square-foot condo mimics a traditional Japanese house—as much as it can on the 34th floor of a building at King and Spadina. The 56-year-old co-founder of the film production company Rhombus Media (Enemy, Sensitive Skin, The Red Violin ) is a self-professed Japan fanatic. His fascination was fuelled by frequent visits to Hiro Sushi in the ’90s and equally frequent visits to the country itself—he figures he’s been at least 70 times in the last 25 years. “Even before my first trip, I was sold, conceptually and aesthetically,” he says. “I love the attention to detail, the way they maximize space and the way they treat art.” So when he bought this pre-build unit six years ago, he hired architect Drew Sinclair, of RegionalArchitects, to turn it into an ode to the Far East. Fichman’s goal was to have as few rooms as possible—an idea he took to extremes by putting his bathroom in the centre of the open-concept space (wooden sliders act as shoji screens when privacy dictates). The bedroom is a traditional washitsu, a Japanese room with tatami floors that serve as a sleeping pad. Yes, Fichman rolls and unrolls a futon mattress each morning and evening—something that sounds easier in theory than practice.
302155 (Image: Derek Shapton) https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/niv-fichman-great-spaces-01-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/niv-fichman-great-spaces-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/niv-fichman-great-spaces-01.jpg 1200 800 {"copyright":"\u00a9 Derek Shapton"} https://torontolife.com/style/niv-fichman-great-spaces/slide/niv-fichman-great-spaces-01/ niv-fichman-great-spaces-01 0 0
(Image: Derek Shapton)
302156 The snaking <strong>ceiling fixtures</strong> by Ingo Maurer allow Fichman to direct the lighting at whim. The actor Don McKellar is notorious for rearranging them. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/niv-fichman-great-spaces-02-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/niv-fichman-great-spaces-02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/niv-fichman-great-spaces-02.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/style/niv-fichman-great-spaces/slide/niv-fichman-great-spaces-02/ niv-fichman-great-spaces-02 0 0
302157 The <strong>furniture</strong> is a mix of Tacchini’s Polar line (designed to mimic ice floes) and custom pieces, all in the same red Italian leather. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/niv-fichman-great-spaces-03-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/niv-fichman-great-spaces-03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/niv-fichman-great-spaces-03.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/style/niv-fichman-great-spaces/slide/niv-fichman-great-spaces-03/ niv-fichman-great-spaces-03 0 0
302158 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/niv-fichman-great-spaces-04-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/niv-fichman-great-spaces-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/niv-fichman-great-spaces-04.jpg 1098 732 {"copyright":"\u00a9 Derek Shapton"} https://torontolife.com/style/niv-fichman-great-spaces/slide/niv-fichman-great-spaces-04/ niv-fichman-great-spaces-04 0 0
302159 Fichman collects <strong>Inuit art.</strong> The series of five etchings depict cultural scenes, like fishing. The sculpture is carved from stone and whale bone. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/niv-fichman-great-spaces-05-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/niv-fichman-great-spaces-05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/niv-fichman-great-spaces-05.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/style/niv-fichman-great-spaces/slide/niv-fichman-great-spaces-05/ niv-fichman-great-spaces-05 0 0
302160 Fichman sleeps on <strong>tatami mats</strong> every night. “It ain’t soft; I won’t lie,” he says, “but I love the clean aesthetic.” He stashes his bedroll in the custom walnut cabinetry each morning. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/niv-fichman-great-spaces-06-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/niv-fichman-great-spaces-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/niv-fichman-great-spaces-06.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/style/niv-fichman-great-spaces/slide/niv-fichman-great-spaces-06/ niv-fichman-great-spaces-06 0 0
302161 The Burmese carved wood <strong>Buddha</strong> is over 200 years old. The shopkeeper in Myanmar made Fichman promise to give it pride of place before he’d let it leave the country. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/niv-fichman-great-spaces-07-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/niv-fichman-great-spaces-07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/niv-fichman-great-spaces-07.jpg 1177 1177 {"copyright":"\u00a9 Derek Shapton"} https://torontolife.com/style/niv-fichman-great-spaces/slide/niv-fichman-great-spaces-07/ niv-fichman-great-spaces-07 0 0
302162 The architect designed the <strong>bathtub</strong> to be a sculptural focal point, hence the gallery-like footlights. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/niv-fichman-great-spaces-08-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/niv-fichman-great-spaces-08.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/niv-fichman-great-spaces-08.jpg 801 1200 [] https://torontolife.com/style/niv-fichman-great-spaces/slide/niv-fichman-great-spaces-08/ niv-fichman-great-spaces-08 0 0
302163 The Carrara marble <strong>Island</strong> stands in for a dining table when Fichman hosts dinner parties. niv-fichman-great-spaces-09.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/niv-fichman-great-spaces-09-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/niv-fichman-great-spaces-09.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/niv-fichman-great-spaces-09.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/style/niv-fichman-great-spaces/slide/niv-fichman-great-spaces-09/ niv-fichman-great-spaces-09 0 0
302164 The living room <strong>wet bar</strong> creates a separate party locus, away from the kitchen. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/niv-fichman-great-spaces-10-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/niv-fichman-great-spaces-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/niv-fichman-great-spaces-10.jpg 787 1181 {"copyright":"\u00a9 Derek Shapton"} https://torontolife.com/style/niv-fichman-great-spaces/slide/niv-fichman-great-spaces-10/ niv-fichman-great-spaces-10 0 0
302165 The <strong>wine cellar</strong> accommodates 500 bottles. “Not much by wine collector standards,” says Fichman, “but it’s pretty good for a single guy.” https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/niv-fichman-great-spaces-11-200x200.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/niv-fichman-great-spaces-11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/niv-fichman-great-spaces-11.jpg 800 1200 {"copyright":"\u00a9 Derek Shapton"} https://torontolife.com/style/niv-fichman-great-spaces/slide/niv-fichman-great-spaces-11/ niv-fichman-great-spaces-11 0 0