The new office space needed to support agents and provide a comfortable, open setting to enable collaboration and connection between agents – both formally and informally. It was also important that the office provide a space within which to grow the company’s culture and provide an inspiring environment.

The new office works to showcase the values of SAGE Real Estate: tailored, considered solutions to each client’s needs supported by unique and targeted strategies.

BVTa responded to this brief in two ways: first by creating a common hub at ‘the bar’ where both the ‘nomadic’ agents could come in to work and ‘resident’ agents could decamp and take a break. Around this hub smaller break out meeting spaces, phone rooms and lounge seating were distributed. This arrangemnet, similar to what one might find in an airline lounge, provides all the amenities ‘nomadic’ agents need on their stop-overs between showings and client meetings. The lounge also provides a location for the ‘nomadic’ agents and the ‘resident’ agents to gather, meet and interact with one another.

The second floor houses the offices of the ‘resident’ agents. The intent behind the layout was similar to the effect of apartment life in Paris: smaller residences drive people out to meet and gather within larger common, public amenities – effectively engaging and participating with the surrounding community.

Barbora is a registered architect (OAA 2013) and principal of Barbora Vokac Taylor Architect Inc. (BVTA)—a professional architecture and interior design practice serving clients on human-centred projects focused on quality, wellbeing, and sustainability.


With works in residential, educational, commercial, new build, renovations, and interiors, the practice recognizes the importance of the sensual aspect of the human condition, and is driven by an experience-first design process rooted in integrity and intention—providing elegant and successful solutions.

Barbora's approach to architecture is a balance of contrasts: striving for tactility, beauty and atmosphere—in complement to rigorous technical resolution, longevity and usefulness. Her commitment to social responsibility, and her awareness of the impact of design on the community, drives the practice’s focus on common-sense sustainability and well being for all.

Prior to founding her practice, Barbora worked with acclaimed architects in Toronto, London UK and Montreal, developing professional expertise on award-winning institutional, commercial and residential projects. Barbora holds a Bachelor of Science in Architecture as well as a Master of Architecture (MArch 2005), both from McGill University and was awarded the Ray Affleck Prize in Design, the American Institute of Architects Henry Adams Certificate of Merit and a place on the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada Honour Roll.

Within the community, Barbora fosters critical discussion and advocacy through her work as an Executive Member of the Toronto Society of Architects (TSA) and the Director on the Design Industry Advisory Committee (DIAC). In addition to serving on the Program Advisory Committee at George Brown College and teaching part-time, Barbora has also served as guest critic at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly known as Ryerson University), the University of Toronto, OCADU and the Institute Without Boundaries at George Brown College.

The practice’s work has been published in the Globe & Mail, and featured on Dwell.com, DesignLines and recognized on the Dezeen 2018 Interiors Awards longlist. BVTA’s Hibou House was also included in the 2020 hardcover publication “Building Character: Transforming Old Homes for Modern Living”.

Sage Real Estate is a new concept office space designed as a hub bringing both agents and their clients together