Smallworks: Breaking new ground

Jake Fry builds small studios and laneway houses, but he is developing plenty of big ideas. Hammering together buzzwords such as “EcoDensity” and “livability,” the Vancouver builder sounds more like a seasoned politician – one who actually understands our city’s needs.

Indeed, when it comes to forward thinking, Fry and business partner Aaron Rosensweet are already way ahead of the curve. Their company, Smallworks, has already built 17 studios and laneway homes in Vancouver. A fully kitted out laneway home, which at around 600 square feet takes up the same space as a typical two-car garage (or starter condo), will set back prospective homeowners an affordable $150,000, or approximately $250 a square foot.
Rather than build sky-high condo towers or squat low-rises, Fry would like to see neighbourhoods densify with two to three laneway houses on each block. “I’ve been on a lot of construction sites, and I would say that we could make four houses for less waste than the typical Vancouver renovation generates for one home,” he notes.

Last summer, Vancouver city council officially adopted its EcoDensity Charter, and the discussion of laneway housing options is now a priority. But while the city continues shuffle paper, Fry and crew will continue to push the envelope and build the smart homes of our future, complete with green roofs, solar panels and low-voltage lighting.

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