A quick look at a great idea: a microhousing concept for Vancouver called Lanefab. More than just a hip-looking infill housing scheme, it's one that is uniquely suited to the specific urban fabric of Vancouver, which apparently has an extensive network of alleys, aka laneways.
The concept plumbs the possibilities of new municipal legislation in that city that legalizes the conversion of garages and sheds into secondary housing units. It's a great concept, and it ties into a few things I've hit on before, out of a generalized curiosity about alleys, and the roles they play as public space and transportation route: what potentials do they hold? How could they be transformed? Need they be decrepit and utilitarian, or could they be play another role?
Lanefab, founded by a carpenter and a designer, aims to realize those potentials through its low-impact, compact home designs, specially suited to tight alley sites. In a dense, burgeoning city like Vancouver, the need for such a product is apparent.
“Vancouver’s lane system [presents] a real opportunity,” says [Lanefab founder] Davidson, who five years ago founded the Dynamic Cities Project, a nonprofit organization designed to help communities respond to the challenges of climate change and oil depletion. “I think between seventy and ninety thousand lots in the city are now open to laneway housing.”
That's a lot. Now multiply that across all the North American cities with languishing, neglected, eclectic systems of alleyways threading through their old neighborhoods. Even in cities where the population has long fled, think about how a radical reconsideration of the alley could play a part in changing a place (not to mention the perceptions about that place).
Check out some Lanefab prototypes here, and check out some not-so-distant cousin-type projects, here. Also check out Smallworks, another Vancouver company poised to fill--literally--this interesting niche.
(Earlier, somewhat related.)
This is a great way to increase density (as well as housing affordability) in established neighborhoods. Hopefully it catches on throughoutNorth America.
Posted by: Yuri Artibise | 09/02/2009 at 23:19
Looking at the photo, a great idea. I think this concept could be expanded to cities all over the world where land space is restricted.
Posted by: photo restoration services | 09/05/2009 at 05:05
Beautiful make over. What a very nice thinking. Thank you for sharing.
Posted by: Facaderens | 09/29/2009 at 06:38
yes l agree, afforbable houses and street lighting is always welcome
Posted by: lights2go.co.uk | 10/12/2009 at 05:59
All I can say is wow. That is a lot of information. I wonder how long it took to come with an article that long and how long you have been pondering on the ideas express here. Thanks.
Deirdre G
Posted by: Philippines property | 11/24/2009 at 22:49