The District of Squamish is pleased to announce the winners of its Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) design competition. The competition was launched in March to help increase the supply of small-scale housing options in Squamish as part of the Squamish Housing Action Plan, funded by the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation Housing Accelerator Fund. The winning designs are now online at squamish.ca/adu-design-competition.

“Accessory Dwelling Units have the ability to expand housing supply and diversity in existing neighbourhoods and the results of this competition will help Squamish residents build these types of homes faster and more easily,” says District of Squamish Mayor Armand Hurford. “The response and calibre of submissions received from designers, architects and creatives was truly impressive and we are grateful to everyone who took part in the design competition.”

A total of 41 submissions were received with the winning designs selected by members of the District of Squamish Advisory Design Panel who sought to recognize innovative and creative designs that exemplify sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and adaptability across three design categories – carriage houses, elevated cottages, and front yard ADUs.

"Addressing the housing crisis requires all governments working together and doing things differently,” says Patrick Weiler, Member of Parliament for West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country. “Through support from the Housing Accelerator Fund, the District of Squamish launched the unique Accessory Dwelling Unit Design Competition to inspire homeowners with creative and innovative examples of how this kind of housing can improve affordability. Thank you to all those who shared their brilliant ideas and participated in the competition.”

Residents who wish to build the winning designs on their property will be able to purchase the Pre-Reviewed Plans directly from the architects and design firms listed below. Building permit applications that are submitted for the Pre-Reviewed Plans will be placed in a priority sequence. Please note building permit applications will still be required to meet all site-specific requirements as outlined in the Zoning Bylaw, Building Bylaw, Official Community Plan, Subdivision and Development Control Bylaw, Soils Management Bylaw, and Floodplain Management Bylaw.

District of Squamish Accessory Dwelling Unit Design Competition Winners:

Category 1: Carriage House

1^st Place:

Leckie Studio Architecture + Design Inc. - Bento
Leckie Studio Architecture + Design Inc.
Submission ID: 1-11

2^nd Place:

Paula Alejandro Vazquez - Peak(aboo) Lookout
TAG Panels Ltd.
Submission ID: 1-07

3^rd Place:

Sideyard Architecture – Thuja
Sideyard Architecture
Submission ID: 1-03

Category 2: Elevated Cottage

1^st Place:

Paula Alejandro Vazquez - Kâmwâtan (a quiet place)
TAG Panels Ltd.
Submission ID: 2-12

2^nd Place:

Tony Osborn - Kingfisher Cabin
Tony Osborn Architecture + Design Inc.
Submission ID: 2-10

3^rd Place:

Sideyard Architecture - Tsuga
Sideyard Architecture
Submission ID: 2-03

Category 3: Front Yard ADU

1^st Place:

Daichi Yamashita - Little Peak
Bobo Architecture
Submission ID: 3-04

2^nd Place:

Soheil Kermani
Soheil Khosravi Kermani Architecture
Submission ID: 3-06

3^rd Place

Caila Harvey-Martin - The Nook
Caila Jessie Designs
Submission ID: 3-03

The winning designs can be viewed here.

Residents can learn everything they need to know about building an ADU here.