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Vancouver designers among finalists for futuristic garage design challenge (PHOTOS)

The New Garage challenge tasks designers to reimagine the often-neglected space
Cameron Thomson
Cameron Thomson

Two Vancouver design companies are in the running to win Volvo’s New Garage challenge with futuristic-looking renderings challenging the way we think garages can look. 

Vancouver’s Bla Design Group, the winner of 2019’s MICROHOME architectural design competition is among the finalists along with Haeccity Studio Architecture, winner of 2018's ‘missing middle’ housing competition. The Bla Design Group, founded by Jerry Liu and Jesse Basran, submitted a design which features a three-car garage with separate compartments for each vehicle. Each of the three garages has a folding door, an adjustable window/skylight and sliding panels that run along the side of the garage granting access to the other compartments. 

Haeccity's design depicts a garage with space enough for two cars to be parked side by side and still more room for wall-mounted bike racks.

The New Garage challenge was created after a recent study showing that 40 per cent of Canadians reported wanting to create more livable spaces in their homes. The goal of the challenge was to inspire designs re-thinking garage spaces into more livable, innovative and sustainable areas.

Some common themes emerged from the designs submitted including sustainability, energy efficiency solutions, and functionality.

According to Volvo, the challenge is designed to get all Canadians to re-imagine the garage space. The challenge page calls the garage an “often-neglected” space which, following stay-at-home conditions, has become a new frontier in design. 

The challenge is also framed around Volvo’s launch of the XC40 Recharge – Volvo’s first pure electric compact SUV. 

Winners of the New Garage challenge will receive a $2,500 cash prize and a promotion in House & Home and Maison & Demeure Magazines. The winning design will also be showcased by Volvo Car Canada Ltd. at the 2021 Toronto Interior Design Show.