East 3rd House

In a city where detached home ownership has transitioned from a local norm to a global investment vehicle, this East Vancouver duplex reclaims the essential qualities of West Coast Modernism for the “new norm” of shared housing. The design challenges the compromise often found in basement suites and lane houses by prioritizing the core elements of livable density: abundant daylight, cross-ventilation, and private connections to both front and rear gardens. By optimizing a standard infill lot, the project achieves the spatial generosity of a 1950s open plan while addressing the economic realities of the Pacific Rim. The result is a resilient, dual-unit home that proves high-quality architectural features—views, air, and landscape—can be successfully uncoupled from the luxury of a single-family estate.