Laneway house
Encyclopedia
A laneway house is a form of housing that is gaining popularity on the west coast of Canada
, especially in the Metro Vancouver area. These homes are typically built into pre-existing lots, usually in the backyard and opening onto the back lane
. The introduction of this form of housing was part of an initiative by Sam Sullivan
as part of the EcoDensity movement to increase the density in pre-existing neighborhoods while retaining the single-family feel of the neighborhood. Most laneway houses are small, though public concern has been raised in some communities due to the impact that larger forms of this type of housing have on privacy.
In the case of Vancouver
, the average laneway house is 550 square feet (51.1 m²), usually 1½ storeys, with one or two bedrooms. Typical regulations require that the laneway home is built in the back half of a traditional lot in the space that is normally reserved for a garage.
Similar housing was appearing in other dense Canadian cities, such as Toronto, until in 2006 staff reviewed the impact on services and safety.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, especially in the Metro Vancouver area. These homes are typically built into pre-existing lots, usually in the backyard and opening onto the back lane
Back lane
A back lane is a roadway often found in a planned medieval village running parallel to the main street at the other end of the Burgage plots. There may be a back lane on each side of the main street which together with the main street itself provide a rectangular framework for the development of...
. The introduction of this form of housing was part of an initiative by Sam Sullivan
Sam Sullivan
Sam Sullivan, CM served as the 38th mayor of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and has been invested as a Member of the Order of Canada, the country's highest civilian award...
as part of the EcoDensity movement to increase the density in pre-existing neighborhoods while retaining the single-family feel of the neighborhood. Most laneway houses are small, though public concern has been raised in some communities due to the impact that larger forms of this type of housing have on privacy.
In the case of Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, the average laneway house is 550 square feet (51.1 m²), usually 1½ storeys, with one or two bedrooms. Typical regulations require that the laneway home is built in the back half of a traditional lot in the space that is normally reserved for a garage.
Similar housing was appearing in other dense Canadian cities, such as Toronto, until in 2006 staff reviewed the impact on services and safety.