Affordable Housing in Vancouver and the Olympic Village Model.

We have all read the News about the difficult Housing situation in places like Vancouver. 

As prices climb,  more and more people are unable to afford to buy a house, condo or anything else in and around Vancouver.  

Obviously something needs to be done.  An affordable and sustainable housing strategy needs to be developed: an Architecture  that can house low income families and young people entering the housing Market.

Something like a new Low cost, Affordable housing Village ..... Similar to the Olympic Village but "Affordable". Is it possible to build a large scale village where 2 and 3  bedroom apartments can be purchased for less than $100,000 ?   If done with low cost, recycled, and re-used materials the answer is YES !

The Tiny House and Offgrid Community are experts at creating spaces from almost nothing. Working with recycled, reused and repurposed materials, it is possible to build  low cost housing on a massive scale. Unfinished ceilings, floors, walls, small spaces, multi-function rooms and furniture. This is the Sustainable Architecture we have been waiting for.


Located in Southeast False Creek, the Olympic Village was built for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, to house athletes and Olympic officials coming from across the world.

After the Olympics, the Olympic accommodation became residential housing. The development aligns with the City's goals, addressing environmental, economic, and social issues.

The Olympic Village, developed by the Millennium Development Group, is one of the greenest communities in the world, making Vancouver a leader in sustainable development.

In keeping with Vancouver's Greenest City targets, the Olympic Village uses innovative energy efficiency and sustainability systems like solar heating and green roofs.

The Olympic Village is a mixed-use community, with approximately 1,100 residential units, area parks, and a growing number of retail and service outlets.

The Village, which is North America’s first LEED Platinum community, was designed, developed and constructed by the Millennium Development Group led by Peter and Sharam Malek. The project was achieved in a record 30 months from commencement of construction to the opening of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

Situated on a former industrial site, it has been a catalyst for the revitalization of the surrounding neighbourhood and has recently been awarded the 2013 Urban Land Institute award for urban open spaces.  http://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/olympic-village.aspx

International builders soak up the Vancouver model: 

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/home-and-garden/real-estate/international-builders-soak-up-the-vancouver-model/article17933284/