Flavelle House was built in 1902. It was once the private residence of Sir Joseph and Lady Flavelle (who called it "Holwood") and is designated an historic site by Heritage Toronto. It was given to the law school in 1962. The building retains much of its unique architectural interest and, through the generosity of several benefactors, parts of it have been restored to their former elegance.
Rooms inside Flavelle House (formerly known as Holwood) taken from 1930s. Courtesy of University of Toronto Archives.
Flavelle Ceiling
As you stand in the middle of "Fireplace Foyer" in Flavelle House, look up and you'll see one of the more elegant and historically significant ceilings in Toronto.
A popular, quiet reading area for students and lounge for visitors to the Law School, the fine Georgian Hall with its art nouveau ceiling was painted by German-born artist, Gustav Hahn (1866-1962). Hahn painted four floating angels reminiscent of stained glass in the arts and crafts tradition of the late 19th century. One of more architecturally important rooms in Flavelle, the room hosts one of only two surviving Hahn-painted ceiling in Toronto.
Hahn was appointed head of the Department of Interior Design at the Ontario College of Art in 1930. While pursuing an academic career, he served for two decades as the chief designer at Elliott and Sons, specialists in church interiors. Among his public and private mural projects in Toronto, the ones at the Ontario Legislature Building at Queen's Park and at Flavelle House are recognized on the City of Toronto Inventory of Heritage Properties.
