ABOVE: A clean, nature-inspired interior reflects the smart architecture of the Laneway Loft House, at the B.C. Home and Garden Show. Photo by Stuart Coleman
It’s one thing to read about the large possibilities of a very small home, and quite another to walk through a beautifully designed example. A decidedly West Coast, 624-square-foot prototype is the showpiece of the B.C. Home and Garden Show, running this Wednesday through Sunday at BC Place.
The Laneway Loft House, built by Vancouver’s own Smallworks Studios/Laneway Housing, is on the show floor now but could be appearing in a residential lane near you, if the city finally approves this form of neighbourhood densification-without-demolition.
This is no converted garage; the modern and airy lane house is designed to assume the same square footage as a single or double garage while taking advantage of a backyard landscape through large windows and varied views.
The ingenuity of this ultra-modern cottage is not just in the architecture and space-saving interior design but in the whole new set of social possibilities. This could be the delightful downsizer home for longtime owners who want to stay not only in their community, but on their own land. It could be the starter home built by parents for their kids as they start they start their own adult lives. It could be the hospitality suite for all the friends and family, or a rental unit to help offset the high mortgage of the existing house. The little house goes a long way to address the general problem of not having enough (relatively) affordable housing without severely altering the character of established neighbourhoods.
Smallworks interior designer Erica Letchford enjoys the challenge of getting a lot of living out of a small footprint. She relies on 24-inch-wide, counter-depth European appliances tucked into custom cabinetry and built-ins made in-house at Smallworks. Radiant-heated polished concrete flooring helps create a seamless flow between rooms, and details like well-planned potlights and a limited number of finishes, in natural materials like stone and bamboo keep the view uncluttered and contemporary.
Even though the Laneway Loft House isn’t a reality for most high-density-dwellers, there’s a lot to learn for anyone looking to renovate their small space. Other Laneway house ideas include an under-counter microwave oven that keeps the single run of countertop clear, and a kitchen island/bar on braked castors that can be moved according to need.
Tickets to the B.C. Home and Garden Show are at the door or online (where you can donate your discount to the United Way) at http://www.bchomeandgardenshow.com
