From surmounting the complexities of Toronto鈥檚 planning rules and fond memories of the lunar landing, comes Pocket Laneway House, a tribute to determination and ingenuity.
Former 海角社区官网Star food and travel editor Jennifer Bain, now working as a freelance travel writer, purchased a one-and-a-half storey detached house in 鈥The Pocket,鈥 a micro-neighbourhood, south of Danforth, as a single mother in 2007. 鈥淎s my family grew to a husband, three kids, plus two cats, we needed more space.鈥
鈥淭he visual character of the building began to assert itself鈥攍ightweight, elevated, and metallic. At that point we recognized a resemblance to the lunar landing module 鈥 a suspended, efficient pod, sitting lightly on the ground,” says architect Kevin Weiss.
Birdhouse MediaThey knocked down the house in June 2020 and built a new one during the pandemic. And hoped to build the laneway at the same time, but, because of permit delays, had to build right after.
Indeed, the design for the laneway house evolved during a building permit saga, Bain says. 鈥淭he long and the short of it is that we got a building permit for a conventional two-storey laneway suite set against the back of the yard.鈥 However, the city鈥檚 Urban Forestry Management department wouldn鈥檛 let them remove and replace an adjacent oak tree.
High clerestory windows were used in the living area to create privacy.聽
David WhittakerSo, architect Kevin Weiss, of Weiss Architecture and Urbanism Limited, came up with a design that worked around the tree. 鈥淲orking closely with our structural engineer, we developed a foundation strategy using helical piers 鈥 essentially large metal screws that are driven into the ground until they reach the required resistance to support the structure. This minimized excavation and root disruption. All structural loads are carried through a single, expressive V-column, which supports the entire second-storey volume,鈥 says Weiss.
Homeowner Jennifer Bain and her son chill out in the living area.
R.J. Johnston 海角社区官网StarAfter addressing privacy and proximity issues for the city, came another major hurdle when the Committee of Adjustment denied the application. Weiss says, 鈥淭his is where Jennifer stepped in and truly became the project’s champion. She was David to the City鈥檚 Goliath 鈥 and she won. Her advocacy was nothing short of extraordinary. Jennifer鈥檚 superpower throughout this project was her unyielding determination.鈥
Owner Jennifer Bain says, 鈥淎nother thing I love is the 鈥榞rape鈥 coloured glass tiles for the kitchen backsplash.聽
David WhittakerSays Weiss: 鈥淥nce these pragmatic decisions were in place, the visual character of the building began to assert itself 鈥 lightweight, elevated, and metallic. At that point, we recognized a resemblance to the lunar landing module 鈥 a suspended, efficient pod sitting lightly on the ground. The use of galvalume (coated steel) cladding reinforced this association 鈥 its soft sheen and industrial, weathering-resistant character felt appropriate for a structure that appears both grounded and weightless.鈥
“It’s really wonderful to have a separate space for friends and family to stay in when they visit,鈥 says Bain.
David WhittakerIts out-of-this-world design was inspired by a fascination Weiss developed in his childhood. 鈥淎s a five-year- old in 1969, I was transfixed with the moon-landing events. I had moon-landing wallpaper and a matching bedspread. So, perhaps the form of the house lurked up from my deep memory subconsciously.鈥
Its out-of-this-world design was inspired by a fascination architect Kevin Weiss聽developed in his childhood. 鈥淎s a five-year-old in 1969, I was transfixed with the moon-landing events. I had moon-landing wall paper and a matching bedspread. So, perhaps the form of the house lurked up from my deep memory subconsciously.鈥
R.J. Johnston 海角社区官网StarNow, the lunar-looking laneway home functions as a spare living area for the family鈥檚 visitors.
And for Martians to land, when they call in, of course.
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