Comparing Apt/Lofts In Vancouver

Posted on: July 6th, 2010 | 31 Comments

This is Day 168 of the Slow Home Project and we need you to join us in our quest to evaluate the design quality of houses in nine North American cities in nine months. This week we are working on apartment/lofts in Vancouver and today we have another edition of “Which House Should I Buy?”

For today’s “Which House Should I Buy?” episode, we need you to decide which of the two apartment/ loft projects short-listed would be the best real estate purchase for Wu Chen, a young and single physician who plans to marry in three years.

He works in a local hospital that is very close by to the “Mantra“, condominiums just outside of downtown Vancouver – close to Granville Island. The first option is “Unit A” which is a 669 sq ft, 1 bedroom, 2 bathroom unit.

The second option is “Unit B” which is 678 sq ft and has one bedroom and one bathroom plus a den – so there are some differences between the two units despite their similar sizes.

Have a look at the floor plans and then make your choice as to which of the two units you would recommend that Wu Chen purchase and tell us why by leaving a comment on the site. We look forward to seeing what you think!

When you are ready, you can watch John and Matthew’s review of these two units and which one they would choose by clicking on the player below!

See you tomorrow for our Wednesday edition of the Design Project where we will need your help to transform a fast apartment/ loft plan into a Slow Home!

  • Mid America Mom

    Before I choose I wanted to say these kitchens are not ideal. That stove is huge and there is a wasteful wall oven and wine cooler. It needs more counter space not appliances.

    I would suggest Unit B. The living and dining is larger and easier to furnish. Here we have storage and Den. The Den has all this natural light and it is shallow enough to allow some to the bedroom. Another clue this is better perhaps? The photo gallery has the majority of their pictures from THIS unit .

    Mid America Mom

  • nicole

    Unit B would be my choice
    I would rather have a good sized living space, as I would probably spend more awake time in the living area than the bedroom.
    BUT What if there was ever a fire? The internal window may not be so helpful in a rescue.
    Also, the trek to the washroom would lead through the kitchen- not ideal either.

  • Paul C

    [img]masstudy.jpg[/img]

    My choice would be unit B. Both units have drawbacks however, I think the living space in unit B works better. I have posted images from the projects website which depicts Unit B’s master/study relationship.

    One change I would suggest (if at all possible) for this area would be to look at a different finish/material for the sliding doors between the master and study. That may help reduce the sense of two distinct spaces.

  • MJ

    I would go with unit A. The terrace is way better and give access to the outdoor from the living room and the bedroom. Perhaps there would be a way to reconfigure the kitchen so that it’s less in the way. I don’t know if it’s feasible but swapping the kitchen and the living room could help get rid of that weird nook.

  • Therese

    I would go with Unit B. Though I like the idea of the powder room and the more easily accessible bathroom from the bedroom in Unit A, the odd nook to the entrance of the bedroom gets in the way of furnishing the living room properly. I don’t see a feasible way to get any decent amount of lounge furniture in to that area with a dining table behind without cramping the flow of movement all around the back half of the apartment. Unfortunately, both units have their drawbacks, but I think Unit B would allow better circulation around all areas of the apartment.

  • Franco

    After much contemplation, I would personally recommend unit A. The ensuite off the main and the direct access to the terrace are both pros in this unit. I also like that in unit A, there is a bit of an acoustic damper for the bedroom from the dinning/living are(s).
    Both units have their own limitations, however I think that the two bathrooms, direct bedroom access to the terrace and a front closet sway my recommendation towards unit A.

  • Tiffany

    This was a really tough decision, but I think that I would have to say unit A. I agree with John that the indirect access to the window would be a real problem for me. Also, though I am not really pro the 2 bathrooms, I think that the single bath in Unit B would be frustrating to have to always navigate through the kitchen. I agree that the living/dining area is really small, but being a young doctor one has to wonder how much time he will spend at home anyways. The main selling feature for me though was the front hall closet, I could not imagine not having one, especially in a climate like Vancouver.

  • JPod

    Simply for the bedroom window alone, and only that, would I recommend unit A. I think unit B has a better living space, but if he is living alone, it shouldn’t really matter much about things being a bit cramped or not having a lot of space for furniture or a proper dining room.

  • Terri

    I’d say to take A and get them to not build in the entertainment alcove into the living room. I like the direct access to the light from bedroom/living and dining (in B, it’s just a little further back to bedroom and dining). A TV could easily go on that window wall.

    The option of leaving one bathroom a bit messy (on the go kind of guy, I’m imagining) while having another for guests seems good. And the dining area has lots of room for a table and bookcase.

  • Kyle B

    I personally would choose Unit A.

    The only major difference in Unit B is the inclusion of a den which, I think, negatively affects the organization of the apartment. By including a den between the bedroom and exterior wall the ensuite bathroom is eliminated thus making the powder room the main bathroom. This would be fine except that there is no easy connection from the bedroom to the bathroom.

  • Tayler

    I’m going to have to choose B. A man living alone, whom holds a very busy position will not need two bathrooms. Also, it’s easier to furnish Unit B in regards to the living/dining room. You have to walk through the living room awkwardly to get to the bedrooms. The study would also be nice, which creates a more workable area than using the bedroom/living room as a work area.

  • Matthew North

    Paul C – thanks for posting the images from the actual unit – it strengthens my argument as to why Unit B should be chosen!

  • sdokter

    I would personally choose Unit A for the client.

    It offers more space between the living and dining room, which allows for efficient utilization of the rooms. The placement of the living and dining room to the terrace also offers excellent space usage. It allows the owner to pass through to the terrace with lots of room.
    I personally love the en-suite bathroom and closet connected to the bedroom. This is a perfect addition to the apartment layout.

  • Paul C

    Matthew, scanning the votes/comments thus far, not sure if it is making a difference :-)

    That said, I still choose B as well.

  • Matthew North

    Its a pretty tight race between A and B today – not a runaway by any means! But just so everyone is clear, Unit B is the correct choice and Unit A is the incorrect choice :) Haha!

  • Joshua

    I’m going to be a little bit harder on these apartments. First off I will give Plan ‘a’ a 16/20 losing point on: Entry, which has the closet behind the opening door making it annoying and awkward when entering and trying to put something in the closet. Kitchen, losing a point, simply because of the large triangle, with that fridge across the hall from the rest of the kitchen. Indoor living, a point off as well because of the issues that the living room causes to the connection to the rest of the house. (gets in the way of access to the bedroom). Study loses the last point as it doesn’t have one when the compared apartment does.

    Plan ‘B’ on the other hand got a 18/20 with the kitchen still not being my favorite because of the fridge, and losing a point on the bathroom because of the long trek from the bedroom to the bathroom. The entry almost lost a point because it doesn’t have a closet, but with the storage being right there when you enter, you could easily have a closet in there perfectly accessible.

    All in all I would get ‘B’ as much for what it has as opposed to what it doesn’t have. The living room and bedroom/study are well designed and very livable spaces where he will probably spend most of his time.

  • BradW

    [img]168planamantra1.jpg[/img]

    Plan A – wide unit = better light, reverse living and dining location as shown in image, ensuite a nice advantage for resale, possibly enough room in bedroom for desk…

    Plan B – narrow unit = compromised light, in my mind the den is an extension of the bedroom, the large terrace on level 2 would definitely favour this unit

    Overall, I favour the shape of Plan A and that would be my choice…

  • Amanda

    Unit A: 1)3,2)2,3)2,4)2,5)1,6)1,7)1,8)1,9)1,10)1,11)0,12)0,13)0,14)1
    Total score=17 (Slow)

    Marks were deducted for bathrooms, study and laundry. I think that only one bathroom is needed, the other just takes up space. Also, I don’t like the fact that you have to walk through the closet to get to the master bathroom. There was no study but I don’t think a study is necessary because the client will probably be spending more time at work than at home working. If he needs to work he can do it from the dining area or his room. The room has lots of space and so he should be able to fit a desk in there against the window to give him natural light. I don’t like the placement of the laundry area because it is in the bathroom and makes laundry a difficult task.

    Unit B: 1)3,2)2,3)2,4)2,5)0,6)1,7)1,8)1,9)1,10)0,11)1,12)1,13)0,14)1
    Total score=17 (Slow)

    Marks were deducted for entry, bedrooms and laundry. The entry is missing a closet which I think is defiantly needed especially when you have guests. The bedroom should be against the windows however I did see the picture that Paul posted and the lighting through the den window is not bad. Once again the laundry area should not be in the bathroom it should maybe be in the storage area.

    Overall, I think that the decision would have to be made based on whether the study is important to have or not, becasue they both received the same score. I would personally choose Unit B because I like the organization better and the bedroom still receives enough light through the study. I also like the terrance in addition to the deck. Also the storage room can be used as the closet as well as a storage area.

  • JessicaC

    I think for the young doctor I’d suggest Mantra Unit ‘A’–the principle distinctions between the flats are, for me, both the geometry of the living space (Unit A is larger, less corridor-like) and the fact that it has both a private en suite and bathroom off the living space.

  • Dan M

    This is a tough one, but I would recommend unit b, with the only caveat being that the client go for the level 2 terrace. This allows the terrace to be a great outdoor living space, there are days when it isn’t raining in Vancouver I’m sure. The inclusion of this outdoor area will allow the smaller living/dining compromise to be less of a sacrifice. I also like the den (I too see it as a bedroom extension), it could be used as a small office to allow for working on paperwork at home. I think that the bathroom location can work for a single/newlywed.

  • Kcull

    My thoughts about the two designs are similar to John. Although it is a personal opinion, I can’t imagine not having a window in my bedroom. The other interesting decision about the first unit is why two bathrooms are needed in a unit that is that size; I think a single bathroom with two access points (bedroom + Living space) would be adequate and allow for additional space in the television area. I would prefer plan A strictly due to the window issue, although it only narrowly edges out the second plan which has a better layout in terms of space and usability.

  • Alison G

    I am going with Unit B. If I am reading the plan correctly, the Den maximizes window space creating a quasi-solarium area, a welcome feature in grey Vancouver. I also like that unit B has one only one washroom, and the organization of the unit is better with no awkward wasted spaces.

  • ReneP

    This was a tough choice as I saw deficiencies in both plans. For Plan A I came up with a score of 16/20 with marks deducted for: Kitchen – the triangle is broken by the traffic lane from entrance into living area; Living – not enough space – I especially dislike the stuffy entrance into the bedroom – poor circulation; the lack of study area; and of course the redundancy of having two bathrooms.
    For Plan B I came up with a score of 17/20. Marks here were deducted for: Bedroom – no window directly to the outside; Bathroom – down the hall and far from bedroom; Kitchen – for the same reason as Plan A – the triangle interferes with the hallway. (Note- I also let this closet-less entry design pass with the storage right next to it).
    In the end, I would recommend that Wu Chen purchase Plan B – with a further suggestion that he purchase the 2nd floor apartment with the large terrace. Plan B simply has a better living space, and the connection between the bedroom and the study effectively make it one room. That, and the big terrace on the 2nd level unit, make this the better buy.

  • Grace Coulter

    I am going to go with unit A. Although the living space is tight I think the bedroom with the view is much more important. For a temporary pad you are going to want to resale you can’t have strange features like that bedroom that might deter buyers. Clever furniture arrangement can easily overcome tight living spaces. Just takes a bit more work to find good custom pieces. My two cents.

  • Andrew

    Although these are both great apartments and quite similar in many ways, I would have to choose Plan B for Mr. Chen. For a professional the walk-in-closet is certainly a plus as well as the den which would be very useful as an office or general work area. The bedroom in plan A has a great view of the exterior but judging from the photos on the Mantra website it looks the bedroom in plan B has a great view as well. Even though the den is between the terrace and the bedroom in plan B, the glass sliding doors to the den open up wide and allow for a direct visual connection to the outside from the bedroom. Plus, the plan B terrace has a shape that allows it to be a bit more flexible on level 2.

  • Marco

    I would have to say that Plan A was my personal favorite and I gave it a rating of 18/20. For Mr. Chen I also believe that Plan A would be the best fit mainly due to the awkward placement of the den in Plan B. Plan B’s entire feel was almost ruined by the placement of the den, even though Mr. Chen would possibly benefit from a den, the dining room table could also suffice.
    Plan A really stuck out for me because of the two bathrooms and amazing view the bedroom and living area will have. I would actually prefer the two bathrooms because I think that the master bedroom should be sealed off from the rest of the loft. By having only one bathroom you would have to design a two entry bathroom with one entrance from the master bed and the other entrance from the loft’s entry. The main thing that I disliked about both Plan’s was the small kitchen. I think the kitchen could have been much larger in both loft’s. I feel that the kitchen is one of the most important parts to any condo/town house/single family home. The kitchen is the center piece to the loft and should be on of the largest rooms ready to accomadate lots of people

  • Jamie L

    I would recomend Plan B for Mr.Chen. Although both of apartment has at least one weak part, I think two bathroom for 669 sq ft unit seems not reasonable. If Mr.Chen demand a bathroom for master bedroom I’ll definitely go with Plan A, but other than that it has small living room and it’s kind difficult to furnishing too. I would give high score for Plan B for the location of den and the bedroom. In Vancourver it would be nice to have den right beside the bedroom for such nice weathers. I think Plan B simply has a better living space.

  • Ashley P

    After putting both units to the test I would choose Unit B. It not only got a higher Slow Score for me but I feel as though the main drawbacks of Unit A were important areas for the client. It would make more sense for a small apartment’s floor space to be used for a study rather than an additional bathroom in a one bedroom unit especially considering the client’s profession. Although this does create the need for a bathroom that is separated from the bedroom it seems more functional. Even though Unit B doesn’t have access to as much natural lighting as Unit A, the study is well lit which is important.

  • John

    The outboard den in front of the bedroom is a “Vancouver” condition because it technically isn’t a den, but rather an enclosed balcony which is treated differently under the zoning. Enclosed balconies are more common in projects located on busy streets as their placement offers some buffering from the road noise.

  • John

    Calling it a “den” instead of an enclosed balcony by local convention means the developer adds it to the saleable square footage of the unit.

  • Daniela M

    I would recommend that Wu Chen would purchase Unit A. Although both seemed to be fairly Slow Houses and received similar scores, I believe the differentiating features relate mostly to the client’s personal characteristics. I chose Unit A for the following reasons:

    - The layout of the master bedroom in Unit B is very poor, as the master bedroom is enclosed. Given that especially Mr. Chen would likely spend most of his time at home sleeping given his career, it is vital that this area is properly designed to make it the most useful for the homeowner.

    - Although the doors in Unit A are quite inconviently spaced (ex. the front door and the entry closet door intersect each other, the doors of the entertainment unit in the living room), with only one occupant, I don’t believe these would often be issues. As Mr. Chen will only be using one area of his apartment at any time, the confines of these doors would not often present an issue.

    - Although having two bathrooms in a 679 sq. foot condo does not seem like the best use of space, I believe that having a den that encloses the bedroom as in Unit B is more detrimental to the utility of this property. In addition, giving Mr. Chen’s specific characteristics, I don’t think he would often use a Den and given that he would be the only occupant in the house, he would not need a study area to segregate himself away from the other areas.