The Residences of Hill and Dale

Designed by Studio JCI with interiors by Chapi Chapo, Hill and Dale is an intimate six-story residential structure that celebrates the highest standards of modern city building.

Comprised of three Partners at the helm and with the support of 35+ talented and multi-cultural designers, Chapi Chapo Design based in Toronto, Ontario is known for creating spaces that reflect each project’s geography and the cultural and historical identities that make it truly one-of-a-kind. The Residences of Hill and Dale is uniquely situated in a neighborhood that’s both urban and nature, while the interiors are unmistakably contemporary. We spoke with one of the firm’s partners, Boris Mathias, about his design firm and the concept behind this upscale project. Today, Chapi Chapo Design is an award-winning international design firm working with distinguished developers and clients that span the globe, and it looks like they won’t be slowing down any time soon.

Hi Boris. Tell us about your background in design and how that led to where you are now.

Born and raised in Paris, I studied architecture at the École Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture Paris-Malaquais, where I became a French licensed Architect (Architecte DPLG) with Honors. Prior to being recruited in 2004 by a globally-renown design firm in Canada where I led a design team working on key international projects, I acted as a Design consultant to LVMH Group and L’Oréal. My work spans across China, the Middle East, North and South America and Europe. As a licensed architect, I developed my keen sense of design and project management through works ranging in scale from City Planning to Architecture and Interior Design. My skills integrate a breadth of design experience from consultancy to turnkey execution of a project focused on meeting clients’ needs through innovative solutions.

Tell us about Chapi Chapo Design.

International designers, our love for design and travel brought us together in Toronto. After many years as colleagues working for one of the most recognized firms in the world, Tatian Sheveleva, Loris Ognibene and I took a leap of faith. Drawing the name from a 70’s French cartoon show, we founded Chapi Chapo Design in 2011. Today, we are accomplished trailblazers in the world of cultured and inspired design. Our International award-winning design firm has worked with distinguished developers worldwide and hospitality industry brands including Marriott, Hyatt, Intercontinental, Hilton, and Four Seasons, as well as condominium, private residential, and global retail brands.

How were you influenced by Hill and Dale’s “Where city meets nature” concept when designing the interior?

As a foundation of any of our projects, we always develop distinctive expressions of each project’s location, culture, and historical identity. Hill and Dale is situated on an old underground river facing a ravine and a lush green residential neighborhood on one side with prime views of the city on the other side. This concept linked the entire team together which drove the design process from the layout through the pattern and the finishes selection.

Knowing this project would be marketed to extremely upscale consumers, how did that play into the specification process?

A good portion of our design is dedicated to high-end homes which help us deeply understand the upscale market. Over the year we understood that this clientele is interesting in what we call “design personality”. He has a European flair and refined expertise in unique custom design and curating spaces that resonate through time.

We love how you designed the bathrooms which were all specified with MEM. Can you talk us through some of the design features and materials you chose for the bathrooms, and the overall vibe you were hoping to achieve?

The MEM collection has always been the most timeless design with sophistication and perfect proportions. It also has the right balance of feminine and masculine. Following our concept and target client, MEM became evident!

Are there any unique characteristics or features we should be aware of?

Every single suite in this building is unique. While there are always commonalities among condo units in a residential development, we still managed to create unique layouts for every owner. This combined with completely personalized and unique finish selections, every suite is customized.

What’s next for you?

We are already working on several new projects: a concept for a brand new Gym experience in Toronto, a large condominium in Warsaw and a number of high-end hotels in the Dominican Republic, Mexico, US and Canada.