“Over the next year, the Province will lead a discussion on enabling single-egress stairs in the BC Building Code.” - Hon. Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing.
AIRstudio is very excited to hear the news in prioritizing this topic, as it pertains to the emerging middle housing.
This is a big step forward in re-thinking the way we build and how it impacts health and well-being.
Read more here: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2023HOUS0167-001923
We are particularly moved by this as earlier this year, our office led a petition urging the BC government to “recommend that the building code be changed to enable single stair buildings (with additional fire and life safety conditions) as a measure to address affordability and the balanced supply of housing.”
Addressed to the Hon. Ravi Kahlon, BC’s Housing Minister, this petition was signed by dozens of architects and industry professionals who believe in the catalyst effect that single egress can have on the delivery of missing middle housing.
Hand-delivered at an event to discuss housing affordability, development & construction on May 23rd, this petition was strengthened by every co-signer and has contributed to making single-egress discussions possible.
We continue pushing for this code change to get implemented by prototyping a six-storey prefabricated apartment building with a courtyard layout.
In this project, the single-egress design unlocks livability in the small-lot, emerging middle typology by allowing for cross-ventilated units that get natural light from two sides.
Having a single stair opens up precious floor plate area that residents can benefit from by having spontaneous interactions in the outdoor corridor centered around the courtyard.