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I got back from a trip to Calgary recently and was surprised by the number of newer-looking homes that looked like a huge garage with a house hiding behind it.
What's up with this thing? Is this only a recent phenomenon or do Canadians like to enter their house through the garage door?
This is very common in the newer suburbs of quite a few American cities as well. Because of small lot sizes, they try and fit a double garage onto there, which leaves little room from a true façade.
That said, while you saw this 10-20 years ago, a lot of people starting recoiling at this look and so they have since become far less common.
I visit friends in Ottawa and in the east end (Orleans ) of the town they have thousands of houses just like this one, hideous, what was the architect thinking?
I visit friends in Ottawa and in the east end (Orleans ) of the town they have thousands of houses just like this one, hideous, what was the architect thinking?
That is exactly what I had in mind! I have friends who live in Orleans in houses like that as well.
It's a hideous look which is why it's becoming less popular, but the reasons for the design are pragmatic. Because the garage is attached to the house, the house keeps the temperature in the garage above zero. Thus, when someone parks their car in the garage they can exit into a nice warm garage in the winter instead of the freezing cold. The can then leisurely procede into their house without having to worry about the elements or slipping on ice and hurting themselves, something especially useful if a family member is older and in danger of breaking a hip. What's more, keeping the garage warm means that when ones car is all caked in ice and snow, they can leave it in the garage over night and let it thaw out. In the long winters, this is really the only way to get rid of all that ice and packed in snow that accumulates over time under the car, in the wheels, and on other parts of the car, especially after an ice storm. It's also nice to have somewhere warm to work on the car if it needs repairs or a toon up of some sort.
People just don't want to give up their two-car garages. When you think it is typically 20-24 feet wide, and with the required spacing between detached houses, on a 35-foot wide lot (increasingly common for new houses in many Canadian cities) that doesn't leave much room to squeeze it in.
What's more, keeping the garage warm means that when ones car is all caked in ice and snow, they can leave it in the garage over night and let it thaw out. In the long winters, this is really the only way to get rid of all that ice and packed in snow that accumulates over time under the car, in the wheels, and on other parts of the car, especially after an ice storm..
Actually having your car thaw out every night is not a great idea as all that salty slush gets really active when its thawing.The people i know with houses like that keep their garages unheated,however its a definite bonus after a snow storm when you dont have to clean the car or dig it out from street parking.
Actually having your car thaw out every night is not a great idea as all that salty slush gets really active when its thawing.The people i know with houses like that keep their garages unheated,however its a definite bonus after a snow storm when you dont have to clean the car or dig it out from street parking.
Considering the benefits of a garage for people who choose to be motorists, but the obvious aesthetic horror show that is houses with that look, I think the obvious solution is to make more neighbourhoods with laneways. Why urban planning departments and subdivision builders ever stopped building that suburban form is beyond me.
Hideous as those houses look i sometimes wish i had one as street parking can sometimes be a pain as in the morning i;ll have to dig my little Toyota Echo out,usually with a few added feet of snow from passing plows.
I hardly ever see this hideous design except in Canada. I think it is to save space. We have so much space in Canada, I don't get it.
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