Rare home with zen garden re-listed with a $4M price cut in Toronto

A rare home built by Canadian architect, John Cresswell Parkin, is back on the market in Toronto.

The home at 30 High Point Rd. in Toronto is listed for $23,980,000, down from $28 million in September 2022. The property has been listed for sale several times from 2022 to 2025, according to online real estate records.

Described as an “exceptionally rare landmark residence” in the Bridle Path, the home was built by internationally renowned architect John C. Parkin, according to the listing on Realtor.ca.

Born in 1922 in England, Parkin is credited as one of the leaders in the development of modern architecture in Canada during the post-war period. He worked mainly in Toronto from 1944 to 1987.

Parkin designed the home for Alfred W. Billes, son of Canadian Tire co-founder A. J. Billes, and it was built between 1973 and 1975, according to the Canadian Centre for Architecture.

The extravagant, eight-bedroom home included tennis courts, a pool, an indoor atrium with a zen garden, staff quarters, a library and a piano room. Designed in the modernist style features include two terraced balconies facing the street, the CCA said.

The concrete home is now considered a “mid-century masterpiece” on a 2.12-acre property.

Features include a four-storey solarium, skylights, enormous windows and private indoor and outdoor pools.

There are 13 bathrooms, indoor garage facilities and additional surface parking through a circular driveway.

With 26,000 square feet of space across all levels plus enormous open space at 3.5 storey atrium, there is room for large gatherings, the listing from Sotheby’s International Realty Canada stated.

“Have a live band at the base of the atrium or spend intimate time in the zen meditation garden,” the listing noted.

Photos: Sotheby’s International Realty Canada