500 square feet seems small.

This is only one of many concerns shared by Vancouver's potential laneway house owners. Space (or lack thereof) can be a significant roadblock for anyone looking to build a small home.  Some apprehension is understandable when downsizing your living space. The second part of our laneway house series seeks to put these anxieties to rest. One of the most important considerations for any potential resident of a laneway house is space usage. Therefore, we have taken some inspiration from our very first laneway house and highlighted some general space-centric features.

‍Convertible spaces. Due to their size, laneway houses must often make use of multi-purpose spaces. For our clients, we designed a hallway adjacent to the bathroom that—with the slide of a door—converts into a dressing room. This gives our clients a convenient space to get ready for work every morning.

‍Space maximization. When you only have a few hundred square feet to work with, maximizing all available space is crucial. We have made use of built-storage throughout our laneway house. Some features include:

• Recessed bookshelves integrated into thicker wall assemblies.
• Sitting room that offers built-in storage that integrates with the kitchen cabinets.
• Metal box cabinets recessed into the wall of the bathroom.
• Custom drawers for shoe storage built under the staircase.

Vertical space. Building up and not out is an excellent concept in space conservation. Lofts use the same principle. In our laneway house, the mechanical room, which houses the boiler and central vacuum, is designed to fit above the garage, saving precious floor space. Using vertical space also gives a small space the feeling of openness, which is very important in a laneway house.

‍Psychology.How and why space is used in a home is addressed by our attention to psychology of space. Sensitivity to proportions also allowed us to design an upstairs area that provided unobstructed city views. Psychologically, we separated the floors based on their intended use: The upstairs kitchen and living area was designed as a “public” space in which our clients could entertain; the downstairs area was intended to be used as a private “retreat” for our clients.

‍Green roofs. Unique to our laneway house is the addition of a living roof. Besides providing insulation and aesthetics, green roofs can add more green space to a laneway house. Many studies have shown the positive impact of urban green space.

‍Adding green space. Because a laneway house takes up area on an existing property, there may also be concerns about how outdoor space will be affected. More often than not, laneway houses are built where concrete parking pads or detached garages once were.  Our laneway house actually takes up less space than the parking pad that existed before it. All of this “leftover” space can then be transformed into green space!

‍Landscape design. The city asks that all laneway builds provide some amount of dedicated semi-private outdoor space for its occupants, which makes good sense and boosts the quality of life in a laneway. For this home, we went further and ensured that those connections to the outdoors were meaningful and relevant for the owners. Some outdoor features include:

• Creeping thyme between pavers.
• A small yard with a plum tree.
• Herb and downspout gardens that characterize the north and west sides of the house and suit the owner’s desired outdoor activities.
• East and south views of tree-lined Vancouver neighbourhoods.
• Complementing greenery surrounding the building itself.

Living in a small home does not have to mean making huge sacrifices. By balancing thoughtful and discerning design with a client’s wishes, laneway houses can support exceptionally comfortable lifestyles. Yes, even in Vancouver.

Part 3 in out Laneway House series is out October 5^th! Don’t miss it!

Curious to see how we’ve taken thoughtful design from concept to completion? Come visit us on October 19^th as part of the Vancouver Heritage Foundation’s Laneway House Tour!

For more information and how you can purchase tickets (all proceeds benefiting the Vancouver Heritage Foundation), click here.