Imagine you have a set of six rectangular children’s blocks in front of you. Place the blocks in a stack, three on top and three on the bottom. Then, with your finger, push a couple of the blocks forward a little, and one or two others back. 

 This simple “shifting” idea is the principle behind an attractive Modernist house by Dubbeldam Architecture + Design nestled on a quiet North York street. However, as is often the case with simple ideas, the effects turn out to be surprisingly complex.