Starting in 2019 the City of Toronto enacted a new by-law permitting secondary dwelling units to be constructed on properties with laneway access. Our Little Barn house was one of our first projects to demonstrate this new form of housing in our city. The project, an adaptive reuse of an existing garage structure, explored innovations in small space design, along with social and sustainable issues connected to densification, community, energy efficiency, the reduction of waste, and reuse of valuable material.

The existing building, originally built as a garage, was to be converted into a one-bedroom apartment to serve as our client’s pied-à-terre while in Toronto running his on-site design studio. The building occupied a prominent location on the corner of the lane and main street. The original structure, although rundown, was a well-loved structure that made an outsized impact on the neighbourhood’s collective memory.

Coupled with our client’s desire to provide a serene, calming space for him to relax after a long flight or intense meeting, was our desire to maintain the quaintness of the century old structure and its nostalgic contribution to the community. Balancing these two objectives established the design constraints that allowed us to explore innovative design solutions for the new interior whilst improving the existing façade and openings without significantly altering the buildings image.

As is the case for most small space design the elimination of circulation and single function spaces was prioritized wherever possible. The extensive implementation of built-in cabinetry was leveraged to advance our goal of maximizing the utility of every square inch to create a livable interior space.

The establishment of a minimalist aesthetic was instrumental in setting the tone for a meticulously crafted, yet subdued interior. Integrating typically unsightly services and utilities into custom cabinetry increased the overall sense of simplicity and allowed support spaces, such as the bathroom and mechanical closet, to be seamlessly introduced without disrupting the delicate spatial balance.

The introduction of large expanses of glass through doors and windows elevates the relatively tiny home to create a lofty feeling of openness and captures the exterior spaces of the street and garden extending the feeling of spaciousness in the occupant’s mind.

The Little Barn House is an exercise in minimizing waste. Highly insulated wall cavities and efficient heating systems, reusing and recycling much of the existing structure, and a healthy respect for the value of urban space results in a dwelling that enhances the quality of its community without the unnecessary use of its most valuable resources.