Project at a Glance

Building Type Special

Location 860 East 61st Ave

Original Build 1982

Owner Shaun St-Amour

Architect Vancouver Special Sunset Project Metis Design Build Contractor Footprint Sustainable ancouver Specials Vancouver Specials allows history of Vancouver. They Housing were designed in home buyers to renovate tell the stories of generations the early 1960s to without making structural of immigrants who arrived Use Residential (with house a burgeoning changes. Their floor plan is looking for a better life. One basement suite and immigrantV population from flexible, adapting to diverse group of immigrants for whom proposed laneway who arrived looking lifestyles. With cosmetic Vancouver Specials were a attached) for quick, inexpensive housing changes such as paint, new perfect fit was the South Asian for extended families. kitchens and bathrooms, and population. This case study Citations With their boxy shape, size the removal of non-supporting examines the renovation of engulfing almost the entire interior walls, owners are left one Vancouver Special in the Illustration (Top): lot, faux brick and decorative with a light-flooded open Sunset neighbourhood. The lions, they are sneered at by plan home. Energy efficiency Illustration provided by study focuses on the history Erick Villagomez many Vancouverites. Love upgrades to mechanical of the Sunset South Asian them or hate them, they systems, windows, appliances population and the renovation are here to stay because to and insulation adds further goals of energy efficiency and demolish 10,000 homes is not value. affordability at 860 East 61st sustainable. Vancouver Specials are part Avenue. The large floor plate of of the architectural and social Summer 2013 I McFaul I Page 27 Citations Vancouver Special History

Images (Bottom Despite South From Left): 1907 Asians being Matthew, James Skitt. legally allowed to vote in The Komagata City of Vancouver elections because they 1914Maru Incident Archives. AM54-S4-: were British subjects, the occured, when a passenger Str P119 Government of British ship from Punjab, and its Main Street and 64th Columbia denied South Asian Looking West. 1911. passengers were turned away The Municipality immigrants the right to vote from Vancouver’s harbour 1929 of South Matthew, James Skitt. in municipal, provincial, and because of their Southeast Vancouver is incorporated City of Vancouver later, federal elections.1 Asian heritage.1 into the City of Vancouver.2 Archives. AM54-S4-: Str P122. Main Street and 64th Looking North. 1911.

Unknown. City of Vancouver Archives. AM54-S4-: Str P1334 Initial Initial South Asian Fraser Street 1910development 1920development 1947immigrants gain Between 50th and in the Sunset Community begins in the South Main the right to vote in municipal 51st. 1911. (referred to then as the City area (what is later to become elections, leading to the of South Vancouver) begins, the Punjabi Market [49th and adoption of similar laws at with a small commercial Main]).2 provincial and federal levels development at South Hill soon after.1 (Fraser Street and 49th)2

Page 28 I McFaul I Summer 2013 Citations

Information for Timeline:

1Sarjeet, Singh, Jagpal. Becoming . Madeira Park. Harbour Publishing, 1994. Print.

2Macdonald, Bruce. Vancouver Vancouver ceases Phase One: Vancouver A Visual 1960 Specials begin 1985 to build new 2013 redesign of History. Vancouver: appearing on city streets3, 4 Vancouver Specials3, 4 exterior is completed Talonbooks, 1992. Print

3Pettit, Barbara Ann. Zoning and the Single-Family Landscape: Large New Houses and Neighbourhood Construction of Vancouver Phase Two: Change In Vancouver. 1982 the Vancouver 2012 Special is 2013 Renovation of the Thesis, School of Special at 860 East 61st Ave. purchased by Shaun St- rear of the Vancouver Special Community and is completed Amour. Planning, designing and construction of the Regional Planning, and renovation begins on Laneway House is underway University of . ProQuest/ phase one of the project UMI, 1993. Print.

4Unknown. The Vancouver Special Competition. Vancouver. Alcan, 1988. Print

Summer 2013 I McFaul I Page 29 Vancouver Special Sunset Citations

Images (Bottom From Left Page 25): he Sunset Community from a British colony), to religion, food, dress etc. Dundas, Todd. is the home to denying them the right to was not only permitted, but Vancouver Public one of ’s immigrate at all (Komagata celebrated. These customs Library. VPL_2051 largest South Asian Maru) and denying them were eventually integrated Imperial Cannery - Tcommunities. Prior to the opportunity to fairly into Canadian culture, but Unloading Fish. 1913. the 1960s, South Asians participate in much of what it was during the years of Artay. Vancouver Public immigrating to Canada faced defines Canadian culture, racism that places like the Library. 80809. extreme racism occuring the South Asian population Sunset community sprouted Exterior Vancouver both socially and legally. has faced racism. As a result, up. Sikh Temple 194*. From denying South Asian this community tended to Timms, Phillip. populations the right to band together into smaller Vancouver Public vote (despite immigrating ethnic enclaves, where similar Library. VPL_7641. Sikh Sawmill Workers. 190*.

Images (Top Page 25):

Matthew, James Skitt. City of Vancouver Archives. AM54-S4-: Str P1567 Main Street Looking North Between 50th and 51st. 1911.

Page 30 I McFaul I Summer 2013 Citations

Text (Page 26):

Sarjeet, Singh, Jagpal. Becoming Canadians. Madeira Park. Harbour Publishing, 1994. Print.

Macdonald, Bruce. Vancouver A Visual History. Vancouver: Talonbooks, 1992. Print

1 Higgins, Keith. How to Look at a Vancouver Special. Vancouver. Publication Studio. 2005. Print.

2 Macdonald, Chris. “Many people felt that Asian community inhabiting their needs of cheap, large “The Vancouver Special the houses were ugly and them. These communities homes. A high concentration Redux” The Canadian Architect. 49 (2004). worthless.” grew considerably, but they of Vancouver Specials were would only continue to grow built in the Sunset Area, 22 - 26. Web. Thurs. July 18th 2013. Print - Keith Higgins1 if the residents had access our case study being one of to cheap housing. One them. The houses facilitated Image (Top Left): t was not until the 1970s solution was the Vancouver the growth of a concentrated Iand 1980s that South Special. Due to the ease of ethnic enclave, which in turn Unknown. Vancouver Asian immigration began to construction (a slab with no stimulated the growth of the Public Library. 86540. basement, single structural Punjabi Market. Without the Sikh Religious Parade. rapdily increase. Between 1905. 1970 and 1980, over 60,000 wall etc.), adaptable design Vancouver Special, the South immigrants from South (“the interiors permitted Asian community would have arrived in Canada, many customization through a been unable to expand in 2 settling on the west coast kind of modularity” ) and such close proximity to the (Vancouver in particular). The affordability (by renting out centre of Vancouver, in turn locations chosen to settle the bottom floor), these new meaning that the Punjabi were the neighbourhoods immigrants to Canada found Market would not likely exist Summer 2013 I McFaul I Page 31 that already had a South a large home that suited today. 1. 2. 3. Legend

1 - South Asian Population/Census Tract:

<2% 2% - 4% 4% - 6% 6% - 8% 8% - 10% Map Below: >10% Below is the same map in the black dots. Notice the 2 - Percentage of Total showing South Asian correlation between the high South Asian Vancouver population density per km2 density South Asian census Population: as the 3rd map located to the tracts and the situation of <7% above right. On top of this the pocket of Vancouver 7% - 14% map is Keith Higgins’ map of Specials which 860 East 14% - 21% the Vancouver Specials he has 61st sits. 21% - 28% photographed to date, shown 28% - 35% >35% 3 - South Asian Population Density/km2:

<499 500 - 999 1000 - 1499 1500 - 1999 2000 - 2499 >2500

The map above is showing South Asian population density per census tract in the Page 32 I McFaul I Summer 2013 Sunset neighbourhood. Sunset Community Citations

Located in South Vancouver, Original Photo Sunset contains two major (Left): commercial corridors: Fraser Street and Main Street. Matthew, James Skitt. We are discussing the City of Vancouver Archives. AM54-S4-: LP development of Main Street 153.2 because the residents of Vancouver Oblique these Vancouver Specials View North. 1948. were of predominantly South Asian descent. Population Maps (Page 30): 1: 41st Street Higgins, Keith. “Vancouver Special 1 2: 49th Street Map.” Vancouver Special. n.d. Web. July 3 2 4 3: South Hill Market 18th 2013.

4: Punjabi Market Statistics Canada. 2012. GeoSearch. 5 5: Moberly Park 2011 Census. Statistics 6 Canada Catalogue no. 6: 860 East 61st Ave. 92-142-XWE. Ottawa, Ontario. Data updated 8 7 7: Fraser Street October 24, 2012.

8: Main Street

Summer 2013 I McFaul I Page 33 Further Reading

Maps and Graph (Right Page 30 and 31):

The maps on the top of the pages are depicting the commercial growth in the Sunset Neighborhood as well as depicting the relative number and location of Vancouver Specials. On the bottom is a graph depicting the total number of South Asian immigrants into Canada from 1930 to 1980. Citations Legend: Maps (Right Page Relative Locations of 30 and 31): Vancouver Specials Commercial Development Macdonald, Bruce. Vancouver A Visual History. Vancouver: Low South South Asian The South Main Talonbooks, 1992. Asian immigrant immigrant commercial strip Print. 1930 1940 1950 population due to social and population remains low and does not grow considerably, institutional racism. Initial the South Main commercial nor does the South Asian development in Sunset begins strip continues to grow. immigrant community. with a small commercial development on Main and 49th (as well as Fraser Street). Page 34 I McFaul I Summer 2013 Citations

Vancouver Special Maps (Left):

Higgins, Keith. “Vancouver Special Map.” Vancouver Special. n.d. Web. July 18th 2013.

Graph (Centre Left Page 30 and 31):

Statistics Canada. 2012. GeoSearch. 2011 Census. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 92-142-XWE. Ottawa, Ontario. Data updated October 24, 2012.

60,000 Southeast 40,000 Asian Canadian 20,000 Immigrant 0 Population

As South Asian Immigration and South Asian 1960immigration 1970the number of 1980immigration begins to grow, the Vancouver Specials continues remains high and the Vancouver Specials begin to grow in the 70s. The construction of new mass development. The small term the ‘Punjabi Market’ is Vancouver Specials declines. community of the South Asian commonly used and many of The Punjabi Market is fully enclave (originally Sikh) grows the market’s older buildings established as an ethnic considerably. are replaced. enclave. Summer 2013 I McFaul I Page 35 St-Amours Further Vancouver Special Reading “This house is a model do. The dream is to renovate is quite the opposite with Footprint this special including the Shaun naming affordability as Sustainable for what is possible for Vancouver Specials” - construction of a laneway one of his major goals. What Housing house, creating a model was done on this Special can Shaun St-Amour, Owner “Step gently, Build for other renovations. As easily be transferred to others Well” and Contractor a business strategy, this as most Vancouver Specials house serves not only as are built almost the same The motto says it all. haun St- Amour, home for Shaun and his (two floors, gradually peaked Footprint Sustainable his wife and two family, but as an example of roof and one structural Housing is brothers daughters had bought Shaun and Richard what can be achieved with interior wall). This project and thier father Steve the Vancouver Special Vancouver Specials. In terms serves as a prime example Sat 860 East 61st with a St-Amour’s contracting of affordability, the project for DIY homeowners and firm. They work massive amount of work to is not elaborate, instead it professionals alike. closely as a family to achieve the goal of sustainable, energy efficient housing and construction.

For More Information Go To:

www. homesbyfootprint. com

Page 36 I McFaul I Summer 2013 Further Reading

Metis Design Build

Established in 2000, by founder Erick Villagomez (B. Arch. Sci., M.Arch), Metis Design Build offers both design and construction services to clients who desired creating environmentally sensitive homes on tight budgets. It covers anything from small scale residential work to urban design to illustration. “We had wanted to the School of Architecture wanted to make only a few work on a project for and Landscape Architecture subtle changes to enhance For More quite a while and this at UBC and writer for not only the interior but Information Go To: magazines, newspapers and the street facing facade. just seemed the natural websites alike, worked with Aesthetically, they chose www.metisdb.com fit” - Erick Villagomez, Shaun to lay out a series a modern design that was Architect of principals to guide the simple, clean and functional. design from the onset. They Functionally, they chose rick Villagomez and chose to go with a series a design that correlates Shaun St-Amour had, of simple design decisions with the needs of a young for a long time, been that implemented their idea Vancouver family in 2013. trying to find a project of frugality and simplicity Ethey could tackle together as into the built form. They a builder and designer team. wanted to preserve as much Erick, founder of Vancouver as possible, and keep intact based firm Metis Design the positive aspects of the Summer 2013 I McFaul I Page 37 Build, associate professor at Vancouver Special. They Citations Vancouver Special Design

The Bar: Removal of The images on the nonstructural wall bottom of page 35 are describing what Erick and Shaun refer to as ‘the bar’. With a lower ceiling, higher counter and dimmer lights, the bar offers a unique dynamic to a residential home and separates the kitchen from the hall.

Page 38 I McFaul I Summer 2013 “We made a series of small surgical incisions” Further - Erick Villagomez, Architect Reading

hrough a series of The Garage: Tsmall surgical incisions, The next major step in the interior of the second the renovation of the floor was opened up to Vancouver Special is allow for better air flow, converting this garage communication and light. (seen left) into a sunken living room. This will This Vancouver Special add considerable space consists of a bisected plan (a to the bottom floor main structural interior wall suite. The distance that running up the centre). This the garage projects wall makes the house easy from the rear of the house will change with and affordable to build, and the finalization of the in terms of usable space, design for the laneway it divides the interior of house. the building in half. In an attempt to get around this, all non structural elements of this wall were removed, opening up the interior to light, conversation and ventilation.

Summer 2013 I McFaul I Page 39 Citations

Text:

Pettit, Barbara Ann. Zoning and the Single-Family Landscape: Large New Houses and Neighborhood Change In Vancouver. Thesis, School of Community and Regional Planning, University of British Columbia. ProQuest/ UMI, 1993. Print.

“The reuse of the windows was both an aesthetic and functional decision” - Shaun St-Amour, Owner and Contractor he project pressure and temperature original exterior windows implemented a within the building in colder on the interior, to allow the series of sustainable months. This is done to air to flow right through design decisions (On minimize heat loss, but still the building, cooling it and TDemand Hot Water, Dual allow for air circulation in negating the ‘air tight’ seal Flush toilets etc.), but most the winter. This is ideal for during the hot summer notable is the Heat Recovery the colder winter months, months. But, just as these Ventilation System (HRV) but during the summer, the windows could be opened, system for circulating air. The buildings needs an efficient they could also be shut, majority of the building has way of cooling itself. restoring the seal in the Page 40 I McFaul I Summer 2013 been ‘air sealed’ to maintain The solution was to use the winter. Citations

Text (Left):

Designer’s Guide to Ceiling-Based Air Diffusion, Rock and Zhu, ASHRAE, Inc., New York, USA, 2002 Balcony Removal Box Out Gabled Roof Removal Images and Quotes “It served no function” “West Coast Modern” “Functional and Aesthetic” (Top From Left):

The balcony was too small to The window where the porch Removal of the peak allowed All images and quotes have any functional use so it once stood was boxed out to for a more modern aesthetic provided by Shaun was removed dropping the achieve a west coast modern and a more efficient roof St-Amour window by a foot. design aesthetic. drainage.

Current Condition Material Choices

Painted Tongue Cedar

Exposed Tongue Cedar

Painted Original Brick Summer 2013 I McFaul I Page 41 Vancouver Special Light Further Reading enables more natural light to To maximize natural light, Illustration (Below): “We needed to open up the interior” - Erick reach the main living area, they opened up the eastern Axonometric Drawing Villagomez, Architect which was a specific decision bisect allowing more free flow of the Van Special for Vancouver’s low light of light, cut the nonstructural weather. The problem Shaun portions of the centre wall ne of the great and Erick found was that this to brighten the interior things about Vancouver Special had a very with indirect light and and Vancouver Specials compartmentalized bisected added larger windows on the is that the main plan, limiting access to light south face of the buiding to Oliving quarters are located on (meaning the building was maxmize southern exposure the second floor upstairs. This split down the middle and to direct light. is done for many reasons, the sides were further broken one of which is because it down into small rooms).

Page 42 I McFaul I Summer 2013 Further Reading

NNN Diagrams (Left):

Diagrams depicting areas of direct sunlight from 8:00am to 4:00pm on June 21st:

8:00am June 21

12:00pm June 21

4:00pm June 21

North Arrow

Summer 2013 I McFaul I Page 43 Lanehome Topography Citations

Text: “The saving grace is and neighbouring properties, the main factors that allowed Hamilton, Janet. In My the topography” - Erick not only is the amazing view for its approval was the fact Back Yard: A Back Villagomez, Architect of Richmond and South that it is sunk down into the Lane Approach To Vancouver preserved for natural topography. The Zoning And Density. the St-Amours, but for their two storey design allows the Thesis, School of uilding the lanehome Architecture Landscape neighbours on both sides lanehome to create a cascade to fit the natural Architecture, University as well. This lanehome is from one neighbours deck of British Columbia. topography was tall in comparison to many to the next without causing ProQuest/UMI, 2006. both a deliberate lanehomes across the city. visual disturbance. This Print. Baesthetic decision as well Usually lanehomes are one lanehome will be exciting to as an explicit functional City of Vancouver. storey (12ft - 15ft approx see when completed and will decision. By fitting the unique Laneway Housing height of a garage) while this make a beautiful addition to a - How-to Guide. topography of the property is an 18ft structure. One of beautiful Vancouver Special. City of Vancouver. COV Online. www. vancouver.ca/home- property-development/ laneway-houses-and- secondary-suites.aspx. Updated: June 2013. Web. July 29th 2013.

Illustrations (Page 41 Bottom Right):

Illustrations provided by Erick Villagomez

Page 44 I McFaul I Summer 2013 Further Reading

Illustration (Below):

Axonometric Drawing of the Lanehome

Summer 2013 I McFaul I Page 45 Further Reading

South Asian Population Across Greater Vancouver:

Surrey has the highest concentration of South Asian immigrants in all of Greater Vancouver. In order, the next three municipalities with the highest percentage of foreign born of South Asian origin are Vancouver (4.8%), Richmond (4.3%) and (3.5%).

Citations hen the St- and Sunset in particular. Vancouver Special and adding Amours bought Immigrants arriving from India the lanehome behind serve Text (Above and this Vancouver made up 41.9% of all foreign as an example to current and Right): Special, they born newcomers in Surrey. In potential homeowners, but it Whad purchased it from a a municipality where 38.3% helps to revitalize the Sunset Statistics Canada. 2012. GeoSearch. South Asian couple who, in of the total population of community that he and his 2011 Census. Statistics turn, had purchased it from 392,500 was foreign-born, family are a part of. This Canada Catalogue no. the South Asian builders of this translates to a significant revitalization serves to both 92-142-XWE. Ottawa, Ontario. Data updated the house. The South Asian portion (16.07%) of Surrey’s attract new immigrants to the October 24, 2012. community is still very strong population. Meanwhile in Sunset neighbourhood, where in Sunset, however, a major Vancouver, only 2.19% of the ethnicity and diversity are shift is occuring in the in this population are foreign born celebrated and, perhaps in Community. South Asian and originating from India. the future, bring South Asian immigrants to Vancouver, This makes Shaun’s work on Canadians back to the streets and Canada, are settling his Vancouver Special all the that historically defined their predominantly in Surrey as more important. Not only identity as Vancouverites and Page 46 I McFaul I Summer 2013 compared to South Vancouver does renovating this old Canadians.