Ciao Laneway

A light-filled laneway home designed to balance openness, privacy, and urban living.

 
 

Location Kensington, Calgary

Size 800 sq ft

Status Proposed

Situated on a quiet mid-block lot, Ciao Laneway transforms a narrow footprint into a generous and light-filled home. The plan is organized to amplify moments of discovery and delight.

Inside, the layout is shaped around two key gestures: a stair that intersects the main floor to create a moment of pause and anticipation, and a clerestory that draws light deep into the plan. These moves bring a sense of rhythm and openness to the interior, allowing the home to unfold gradually and with intention.

Ciao Laneway is a quiet study in light and space, designed to feel generous within a small footprint, and connected to the daily rhythms of the family who lives there.

Interior view of a minimalist staircase with wooden steps leading upward, adjacent to a textured wall with vertical lines, a small wooden bench, and a sliding glass door to the outside garden.
Minimalist kitchen with white perforated railing, black faucet, light wood upper cabinets, stainless steel refrigerator, and small plant shelf
Interior view of a modern, minimalistic upstairs area of a house with a staircase, large windows, a sitting area, and a ceiling skylight.

The entry sequence balances openness and privacy with perforated materials that offer glimpses of light and movement. As you ascend the stairs, the home suddenly reveals itself, creating a thoughtful sense of arrival.

A key gesture in the design is how the stair intersects with the dining area, not just as circulation, but as a spatial event. The vertical volume of the stair breaks into the main floor, creating a pause, an anticipatory threshold that frames the living space. As you move through the space, the stair orchestrates a sense of unveiling, inviting you further in.

Clerestory windows and a skylight bring in natural light, making the space feel bright and open while maintaining privacy from the dense context. Shifting light throughout the day adds depth and warmth to the interior.

Bright, modern living room with a gray sofa, a round coffee table with a potted plant, a small gray armchair, a built-in wooden shelf, a large window, and a skylight in the ceiling.
A modern kitchen with a white countertop, three wooden bar stools, a bowl of fruit, a small gray sofa with a yellow pillow, a window behind the counter, and a skylight in the ceiling.
View through a doorway into a bright, minimalistic kitchen with wooden stools at a white counter and a small window, featuring a skylight and wooden flooring.

The bedroom and bathroom are light-filled and tranquil, designed for comfort and relaxation. Soft materials and framed views create a quiet escape within the home.

A minimalistic bedroom with a bed, beige bedding, two wall-mounted lights, and a partially open door revealing a bathroom.
Modern bathroom with white double sink vanity, black faucets, large mirror, open rain shower with black fixtures, bathroom towels hanging, and a door leading to a bedroom with wooden floors and bed.
Minimalist bathroom with a white countertop, vessel sink, black wall-mounted faucet, round mirror, potted plant, small window, and modern lighting with a spherical ceiling light.

Main Level

Second Level

Modern two-story house with white exterior, black framed windows, small front yard with green grass and purple flowers, surrounded by a light wood fence, and a staircase with glass railing on the right.
Modern house with a white sloped exterior wall, three small windows, and a black lower section with a glass door. Shadows of tree branches cast across the house, and there is a small garden with plants and a chair with flowers at the front.
Interior view of a modern home featuring a wooden staircase leading to the upper floor, a sliding glass door on the left, a small wooden bench, and a wall with vertical striped paneling.
Modern kitchen with white perforated divider, light wood cabinetry, black faucet, stainless steel refrigerator, and small plant shelf, illuminated by natural sunlight.
Modern kitchen with white island, wooden stools, stainless steel refrigerator, oven, and light-colored walls and floors, with a ceiling skylight and windows allowing natural light.
Interior of a modern, minimalist home with a staircase leading to an open second floor, featuring light-colored walls, natural wood accents, a skylight, and large windows letting in daylight. The space includes a kitchen with a white countertop, a si
Bright kitchen interior with a white countertop and three wooden stools, a gray sofa with a yellow pillow, two square windows, and a ceiling skylight with a wooden frame.
Bright living room with beige walls, hardwood floors, a large window, a gray sofa with orange pillows, a round coffee table with a potted plant, and a skylight.
View through a doorway into a bright, minimalist kitchen with a breakfast bar and wooden stools, natural light streaming in from a small window.
Sunlit bedroom with a bed featuring beige bedding, two throw pillows, and built-in side tables, with sunlight casting shadows on the wall.
Minimalist bedroom with a bed, wooden floor, and sliding glass door leading to a balcony with a view of neighboring houses.
Minimalist bathroom with white double sink vanity, black faucets, large mirror, and a walk-in shower with black fixtures, adjacent to a bedroom with a bed and window, in a modern home.
Minimalist bathroom with a floating wooden vanity, a white vessel sink, a black wall-mounted mirror, a potted plant, a towel, and a ceiling light against a cream-colored wall and ceiling.
A cross-section of a modern two-story house showing living room, bedroom, basement with a garage, and outdoor patio with a person standing and holding a bike, and a person sitting inside.
Cross section of a two-story modern house with a family engaging in various activities. The top floor shows a woman with plants, a man sitting on a counter with a child nearby, and a black cat. The staircase in the middle connects the floors. The out
Cross-section illustration of a modern home with multiple levels, showing a kitchen, living space, office, and garage. The house has a sloped roof, and the scene includes interior residents, a dog, a bicycle, and outdoor greenery.

Design Hayden Pattullo, Holly Mills

Representation Rebecca Boone