Location: Hamilton, ON
Client: Andree-Wiebe Family
Year of Completion: 2023
Final Construction Cost: $600,000
Architect of Record: Invizij Architects
This ADU was initially designed for a couple who were looking forward to downsizing and relocating from the country to live next to their daughter and her family onto a urban lot in the west end of Hamilton. Her daughter had purposely bought a home on the extra deep lot in hopes that it could host an ADU for her parents. We were engaged to design the ADU, which was unique in that it had a full basement and was designed to be accessible on the ground floor for the parents to age in place.
The site is uniquely large for the neighbourhood at 208 ft deep x 50 ft wide with separate laneway access at the rear. The owners took the opportunity to build their dream home on the site and needed to increase the GFA (above grade) over the 75m2 allowed by the new laneway house bylaw. We assisted with the Committee of Adjustment hearing, with the resulting permission to build a 99m2 ADU (above grade GFA, not including the garage). Because the bylaw GFA requirement is for above grade floor area only, they were able to build a full basement for extended family and other guests to stay when they visit. The end result is a rather large ADU that still tucks into the neighbourhood, thanks to the lower level being mostly below grade.
The overall design was an offset double shed roof design, with clerestoreys that let in ample natural light. Construction took around eight months, and the end result is a much-loved, accessible home allowing multi-generational living on an urban lot.
