This 1,400 square foot, 2-storey suite incorporates a 1-bedroom rental above plus a garage and guest room below in a unified building mass that responds to its unique laneway context, and it’s neighbouring laneway suite. The homeowner sought to construct a premium one-bedroom rental unit which is exemplified by a well appointed kitchen, bathroom and light-filled common area. Below, the suite offers an oversized single-car garage with dedicated storage in addition to a bedroom suite that can become an extension of the unit above, or remain demised to provide housing flexibility for the main house tenant. The building’s material palette aims to compliment the existing neighbouring building while ensuring a unique aesthetic identity. Robust masonry is accented with plank-clad recesses that define planes and openings, creating depth in the facade while maximizing the usable area within.
The Hillcrest Laneway Suite demonstrates how a future-oriented vision and skillful planning can supplement family income, add lasting value to a property, and provide long-term housing flexibility. This unit, alongside it’s neighbouring Cedarvale Laneway Suite offers an exciting glimpse into how the laneway suite typology can breathe new life into underutilized areas of our city, creating dynamic, responsibly densified residential neighbourhoods.
