Spearheaded by local firm Pechet and Robb, the radical transformation of Lakewood Residence is an inspiring example of how to turn an architectural sow's ear into a silk purse. So inspiring, in fact, that in 2005 it received a Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia Innovation Award for Architecture.
From the company's website:
The renovation removed the existing interior walls, creating open living areas with large terrace doors opening to outdoor garden courts. Exposed wood framing and skylights replace what had been cramped dry-walled spaces.
A subsequent building phase has added a 400 sq. ft. accessory building housing a garage and studio and a completed garden.
Take a more thorough tour on the Pechet and Robb website.
Want to check out more Vancouver Specials in all their original glory? It's 2010. You knew there had to be a website dedicated to them, right?
(Images: Nic Lehoux and Stephanie Robb)
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Love the bathroom skylight.
Impressive. I remember passing these houses heading out of Vancouver towards the border (and Seattle, my hometown). They sure were ugly. But then, so was most econo-housing from that era.
I sure hope someone has a fix for the latest version of the Vancouver special.
I've noticed that it seems to be common in Vancouver for people to renovate by raising their houses up and building a new ground level underneath - something I've never seen in California. I had the good fortune to visit architect Richard Henriquez's residence that was renovated in this way - it was fascinating, if a little bizarre. The old front door was in the master bedroom upstairs!
I don't know if they still do it now, but I remember the UBC School of Architecture students used to be assigned a project to remodel the Vancouver Special, and there were lots of really great proposals that came out of it. I wish more people would take the time to redo these Specials. They're ugly, but they've got a lot of potential with those high ceilings and spacious layout.
I think it's a great idea to reinvent something, much better than it knocking down. Creativity is more important than ever with the financial and environmental problems that the world faces today.
Vancouver Specials are hideous but unbelievably spacious inside. ONe of the big things is that their ground floors are also dark. If they can be reinvented, then why not?
re: raising the ground floor: many people in Vancouver can only 'own' their homes if they have basement trolls - poorer people who pay rent that helps prop up the mortgage. One way of making those basement apartments a bit more livable is to raise the main floor. However, that doesn't change the fact that the rich folk (the only people actually *able* to fork over over 1.2 million for a house), use the poorer people who will never be able to afford a house in the city, to pay their mortgage. Many of these basement suites aren't cheap: you're still paying 800-1000 for one. In some instances, that's over 30% of the monthly mortgage payment...
Bitter? yes, perhaps. But I was one of those basement dwellers and I know many others who were (and are) and I know how much 'owners' rely on them, but how little they're really interested in doing to make it work for the folks that are making it possible for them to live like kings (and queens), and how hard it is for those who live on the poorer end of society to find decent housing in Vancouver.
wc_canuck, I too was a basement dweller in Kerrisdale for a short time. We'd given up a gorgeous walk-up apartment in South Granville because I had a job offer...which fell through. We ended up rented a horrible suite. I hate to even think about it years later. When our landlord's MIL came to visit from India, they were furious we wouldn't agree to let her use our bathtub everyday.
yeah, vancouver's home prices make even the most apocalyptic bubble in the US look like child's play. $1.2 million for a bungalow is absolutely normal there.
figures the people who "bought" this house could afford to change it like that.
Vancouver architecture is nothing to write home about, unfortunately. Yes, the era of the Vancouver Special is over, but all the new houses look the EXACT same anyways. I wish the city would encourage a bit more diversity in terms of housing exteriors.
The other Vancouverites are right though, the extent of these renos is not really practical at all (although it's great to see the potential the Vancouver Special has!). Most people who could buy a house in Vancouver would probably have a budget about 1/10th of what that couple did.
As a Vancouverite, I'll tell you this makeover of the Special is very rare. I think there are 2 in the whole city and one or the other are frequently written about in magazines.
People in Vancouver want the Craftsman style, so it's more cost-effective for developers to knock down the Vancouver Special and put up a triplex or fourplex.
Also, we're in such a bubble right now that even a basement suite doesn't make a house affordable.
Yes, it really sucks.