Storage solutions are the key to modern living in a Vancouver Special
In the 1960s and 70s, narrow front-gabled houses started appearing across Greater Vancouver. Known as “Vancouver specials,” these unique properties were constructed as a low cost solution to the housing shortage that was facing major cities in Canada at the time. They circumvented Vancouver’s strict building bylaws by using a small building envelope. Berated at the time for their boxy design and lack of storage space, Vancouver specials now have vintage glamour, especially those that have survived without significant modification or modernization.
Living in a Vancouver special has a definite kudos in 2024. However, it demands a flexible mindset. The lack of conventional storage space can be a significant challenge. But there are solutions. Let’s find out more.
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Driveway storage is a practical solution
Typically, when indoor storage space is at a premium, homeowners in Canada use a garage or outbuilding to store belongings so that they are out of the way but within easy reach. Owners of Vancouver specials often make use of driveway storage container rental to facilitate clutter-free living. This is because these properties typically have a small amount of driveway space, but no room to construct a permanent outdoor store room.
These containers measure eight feet high by eight feet wide by 16 feet long, so are almost as wide as a single garage, but designed to fit comfortably on a driveway. They are designed to protect belongings from the elements all year round, even in the harsh Canadian winter climate. Although people typically use these containers for short term storage, the container rental companies in Canada are typically flexible and can meet individual needs – such as a more long-term rental arrangement.
Secure rented storage is a useful option
When Vancouver Specials were being constructed back in the 1960s and 70s, around one in four households did not own a car. This ratio was closer to 50 percent among the lower income families at whom these homes were aimed, so off-street parking was not always a feature. While most surviving homes have paved over their front gardens to make a driveway of sorts, some remain in their original format and residents simply park on the street.
This rules out the possibility of using driveway storage. However, rented storage at an off-site location is a viable alternative. There has been a general shift towards smaller homes, not just in Vancouver but also in other major Canadian cities like Toronto and Montreal, due to escalating real estate prices, which have gone up by 30 percent over the past four years. A consequence of this trend is greater demand for off site storage, so there are secure facilities across Canada’s most populous regions, especially in Toronto and Vancouver.
This means that people living in a Vancouver Special can find an offsite storage facility within easy reach so they can place items that are not in everyday use in storage, safe in the knowledge that they can retrieve them quickly and easily. The other advantage of this type of storage is the wide range of sizes available, ranging from the equivalent of a walk-in closet right up to a unit the size of a double garage.
Life in a Vancouver Special
Vancouver Specials are a unique part of Vancouver’s architectural history. For years, they have been dismissed as somewhat utilitarian and simple. However, today, the ones that remain are starting to get the appreciation they deserve. Their spacious, open-plan interiors are ideal for those who enjoy a minimalist lifestyle or for anyone with mobility difficulties. Their simplicity also makes it easy to update interiors with contemporary kitchen and bathroom facilities.
The only real downside is the lack of spare space due to the restrictions of the building envelope. But this can easily be overcome by using either driveway storage or an off site storage facility in the nearby vicinity.
