Intro:
This is the second thought-balloon in a series of three to encourage an energetic lane-house movement in Nelson. What with the need for (affordable) housing, this idea has been one of two floated - the other is feasible basement suites - but floated only: City Hall is dithering.
Only with a strong public! infusion was the Airbnb situation handled quickly - quite naturally incentives for lane houses and basement suites should be next: with equally strong public! input.
All material of this series is to be found in/through:
Dezeen's top 10 biggest architecture and design stories of 2016
Dezeen (Daily), 25 Dec, 2016
Some information not relevant within an urban context has been omitted here.
Module
Tiny/Lane Houses:
Flat-packed cabin concept allows tiny houses to be assembled like IKEA furniture
James Brillon - Dezeen, 20 Nov, 2016
A Vancouver BC start-up's conceptual design for flat-packed recreational cabins would allow users to (theoretically) build for themselves, making the wilderness more readily accessible.
The Backcountry Hut Company is an off-shoot of the interdisciplinary design-firm Leckie Studio. Its goal is to facilitate the process of building cabins for a variety of uses.
"The Backcountry Hut Company is inspired by the idea of IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad of providing affordable well-designed products for all," said the studio's founder Michael Leckie.
Similarly to the Swedish company's furniture, the huts are provided in pieces that can be efficiently packed flat and assembled on-site. Rather than being built by professional craftspeople, the cabins can be put together by a small (at least moderately experienced/qualified - regulations permitting -) group working together.
The simple geometric cabins encompass two floors. The ground level contains public areas that vary according to individual preferences. (In the Back-Country Cabins) Sleeping quarters are located above and accessed using a ladder.
For urban application, Front-Country Cabins feature a higher degree of comfort and more amenities. "The system affords the opportunity to furnish the modular prefabricated shell with an interior that supports full-time residential occupation," explains the Studio.
"The assembly involves minimal site-work, and the design is modular and scalable," the Studio explained. This flexibility allows the design to be used in different ways.
The buildings are anchored to the ground with piling holes. Concrete is then poured into sono-tubes to form the piles for the foundation.
The metal-clad huts are part of a larger trend towards building small modular dwellings. "The cabin works as a small structure that can be understood as part of the Tiny House Movement," according to the company.
"We're interested in positioning this simple cabin project within the larger scope of principles and methodologies that allow for 'lay people' to have more agency in building their own housing, and, ultimately, having more responsibility in shaping their communities. While the back-country application is more for recreational use, the ideas that form the project play into a bigger picture of community-based building that goes beyond what any one schema, or any one architect for that matter, can do," said Michael Leckie.
Local Focus:
Clearly - application of the Front-Country Cabin in an urban setting - Nelson - would necessitate previously established-by-rules involvement of City Hall. While the last paragraph in the article is interesting in terms of the individual's hands-on responsibility within the growing-up process of a community.
A home-grown company - Nelson Tiny Houses - may have a voice to convince in this.
A learning-curve for City Hall - surely involving concessions, revisiting old rules - and the public: how both can establish a joint approach together. An opportunity to put the visions of Councillor Purcell's "Greater Co-op" and Councillor Warmington's "common ground/good" in action - walking the talk.
Now - thus for the future!
Architectural Images:
Leckie Studio/Dezeen
www.nelsontinyhouses.com
Mayor Deb Kozak
dkozak@nelson.ca
Nelson City Council
nelsoncouncil@nelson.ca
Pam Mierau, Manager of Development Services
pmierau@nelson.ca
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