What is a Vancouver special?
Sometimes polarizing, the Vancouver Special is undoubtedly one of the most iconic and instantly recognizable house styles in Metro Vancouver. Developed locally and rarely seen elsewhere, these homes were built primarily between the 1960s and 1980s. To this day you can often find rows of these homes scattered across the streets of Vancouver and other lower mainland municipalities.
Developed to meet the local zoning rules of the time, they were often called bland, boxy and utilitarian. The design was made to take advantage of the fact that basements often didn't count toward floor space limits during the period they were built. Although a simple home design, they were mass-produced because they maximized living space on narrow city lots. This design was so successful, it was used over and over again throughout the city. As a result, these iconic homes helped meet the housing needs of growing immigrant communities and multi-generational families for decades.
Identifying a Vancouver special
There are many key features that are a dead giveaway for a Vancouver special. If you think you might own one, look for these characteristics:
1. A simple boxy two story rectangular home at ground level with no clearly visible crawl space. The home nearly spans the entire width of a 33 foot wide lot.
2. An almost flat roof with a shallow pitch that maximizes interior space. Sometimes with split roofline but always a street facing gable.
3. A second floor front balcony which is very shallow with aluminum railings. The balcony will have large sliding glass doors, with large picture framed windows.
4. The front door is offset to one side of the home with a foyer right inside the door. This makes it easy to split the home into an upper and lower suite that use the same entrance. It' won't be a raised entry or only a couple of steps up to the front door.
5. Originally these homes had stucco and brick or stone facades, with all brick or all stucco also a possibility.
6. Often at the rear of the home there is a flat concrete slab with a carport and large sundeck.
Where can I find a Vancouver special?
All over Vancouver, especially in East Vancouver, sometimes in Burnaby and other suburbs. In Vancouver, Renfrew-Collingwood and Kensington-Cedar College are a great place to look. You likely have one on your street or right around the corner. Many of these homes are receiving updates and renovations given their age, but look closely and you may recognize one. They can usually be spotted by many of the unique design characteristics above.
How can I learn more?
If you want to know more about the history of Vancouver specials and other home styles in Vancouver, checkout the Vancouver Heritage Foundation at https://www.vancouverheritagefoundation.org/house-styles/vancouver-special/
Vancouver specials are a great candidate for custom renovations, multi-generational living or mortgage helper suites. These onetime utilitarian homes can be updated and transformed into beautiful, functional spaces. With a versatile design and simple layout, they can be made to suit families of all sizes. If you have a Vancouver special and want to transform it into a magnificent home for you and your future generations, contact us here for a free consultation today.
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