Bryn Davidson - Lanefab
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lanefab.com
Bryn Davidson - Lanefab
@lanefab.com
Vancouver, BC
Co-owner & Lead Designer
Lanefab Design/Build
B.Eng M.Arch

Build beautiful.
Build for a livable climate.

www.Lanefab.com

#ThickWallsAreSexy / #SingleStair / #ElectrifyEverything / #Passivhaus / #NetPositive
Pinned
A short thread on going beyond #NetZero to build projects that are #NetPositive

First, I like to talk about "Projects" vs "Buildings".

It's an important distinction, because its not just about the physical artifact, but also:

where it is located?
what does it replace?
#SingleStair floorplate study, with 2, 4 or 6 units per floor.
November 11, 2025 at 12:31 AM
So, remind me again, why we are paying 3x per capita for policing in Vancouver?

Must be all the rogue toddlers roaming the streets because they couldn't get in to a swim lesson...
November 10, 2025 at 9:34 PM
If you prefer paper vs screens,
you can see Lanefab homes and ideas in these books

(a thread)

"Prefabulous: Small Houses" by Sheri Koones
November 10, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Multiplexes are bigger than bungalows

(And that’s ok)
November 10, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Went to tonight’s book launch for “Life after cars” by the nyc podcasters behind @waroncars.bsky.social - great to see @lucymaloney.bsky.social @tomflood.bsky.social and an intro by @uytaelee.bsky.social - combining humour, insight and a bit of fire
November 9, 2025 at 5:46 AM
I signed up to speak next wed when city council will discuss the budget (including proposed layoff plans)

You can sign up too:
council.vancouver.ca/20251112/spe...
November 8, 2025 at 12:13 AM
Further exploration of single-stair stacked flats, with external stair.

77x122 Lot. 30 Homes. 6 Storeys.
Roughly 2.0 FSR. 90% Efficient.
18 small units and 12 larger units.
All units are "corner" units.

In this version we're exploring wrapping the stair around a CLT elevator core.
November 7, 2025 at 11:46 PM
“When Monopoly was invented at the turn of the 20th century, landowners in the US could win the capitalism game without much effort, which is still true today. If you are lucky enough to buy land in a place gaining population and popularity, you can make a fortune without lifting a finger.
November 7, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Walking the dog and checking out the latest iterations in the neighborhood.
November 7, 2025 at 5:17 AM
Gutting the planning and sustainability depts and freezing the permitting dept - wtf.

Those jobs are the fulcrum for our development, innovation, and int’l reputation.

“Back to basics” just means going backward.

Even our more dysfunctional past councils didn’t try to pull this #%^.
Leaked memo says Vancouver's 'back to basics' budget will mean slashing 400 jobs vancouversun.com/opinion/colu...
November 6, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Here are stacked flats, 6 storey single stair, combined with 3 lane fronting townhouse units to make a courtyard space.

70'x122' lot.

We're trying to see if this approach can compete with the typical Vancouver RM-4 building that would completely fill the lot and have more units.
November 6, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Imagine Vancouver having a mayor this popular…
Not enough people are talking about how Michelle Wu is so popular in Boston, her general election opponent just stopped campaigning after the primary. That’s wild.
November 6, 2025 at 4:29 PM
No cuts until the next election.

This is crazy city management. If you have an election mandate for cuts, then fine, but tagging this on now - seemingly on a whim - is trumpian in it's wanton destruction.
November 6, 2025 at 12:57 AM
Reposted by Bryn Davidson - Lanefab
Every single county in Virginia shifted Blue.
November 5, 2025 at 1:35 AM
Vancouver recently adopted a plan to create simplified apartment zones in parts of the city (broadway and cambie mostly).

We've started looking at what might be possible with single-stair buildings.

Here's an R3 zoned site comprised of two 33x100 lots.
The zoning allows ~2.2FSR and six storeys.
November 5, 2025 at 8:18 PM
As a zoning rule to manage floor plate depth I’d suggest: “There shall be no interior point less than 7m (23’) from an exterior wall that is not a party wall.”

The language would have to be massaged, but in theory this would allow a range of floor plans with a max plate depth of ~46’.
November 5, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Reposted by Bryn Davidson - Lanefab
😎😎😎😎 GOOD THINGS CAN STILL HAPPEN 😎😎😎😎
November 5, 2025 at 5:22 AM
50% melt in 2 months … that’s a tad disturbing
November 5, 2025 at 1:18 AM
The second egress stair in modern missing-middle housing is like your appendix;
It's a remnant from long ago that no longer serves a purpose and sometimes creates real problems.
Fire departments also argue against some #roadsafety improvements that would slow down cars and make our neighbourhoods safer. Why? Because they like their big trucks and don't want to replace them with smaller trucks. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
November 4, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Reposted by Bryn Davidson - Lanefab
The second egress stair in modern missing-middle housing is like your appendix;
It's a remnant from long ago that no longer serves a purpose and sometimes creates real problems.
November 3, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Moonrise and skytrain on the walk home
November 4, 2025 at 1:02 AM
Reposted by Bryn Davidson - Lanefab
in q&a, the kelsey's allie cannington mentions they are excited about single stair and elevator reform - and mention how it can help get elevators into smaller projects.

wow.

cc @edmendoza.bsky.social @stephenjacobsmith.com @markasaurus.bsky.social

thekelsey.org/learn-center...
Single-Stair Reform and People with Disabilities - The Kelsey
Single-stair reform can increase housing supply, reduce construction costs, and improve accessibility for people with disabilities. Learn why cities across the U.S. are adopting this approach to creat...
thekelsey.org
November 4, 2025 at 12:45 AM
So, we need our political leaders and planners to take the lead.

I know it's difficult moving upstream against the status quo, but that's what we need if we want to make a dent in the housing and climate crisis, and create green, accessible cities in the process.
November 3, 2025 at 7:25 PM
The second egress stair in modern missing-middle housing is like your appendix;
It's a remnant from long ago that no longer serves a purpose and sometimes creates real problems.
November 3, 2025 at 6:05 PM