Residential · Renfrew–Collingwood, Vancouver

A Family
Duplex

Location Vancouver, BC
Status In Progress · 2025
Type Multi-generational Duplex
Scope Interior Design

Same structure,
two different lives

This project starts with a deceptively simple constraint: two brothers and their mother, one building, equal floor area on each side. The challenge is that equal isn't the same as identical — each household has fundamentally different needs, rhythms, and relationships to space.

The design honours the structural equality of the duplex while allowing each unit to express a completely different way of living. One side is built for creativity, colour, and social energy. The other is designed around a mother's comfort and a son's need for quiet focus.

"Two households, entirely their own — designed with equal intention."

The Challenge

Equal in area and structure, but shaped around two households with entirely their own ways of living. The design had to honour both with equal intention.

Scope

Full interior architecture across three floors, two units. Material palette, spatial planning, custom millwork, and lighting design throughout.

Neighbourhood

Renfrew–Collingwood, Vancouver — an established residential neighbourhood with a strong community character and a mix of family housing.

Each side, its own world

01

The Creative Household

Brother One · Main, Second + Third Floor

A home built around a lively, expressive way of living. The main floor is designed for entertaining — open, colourful, social. The second floor provides flexible work spaces that can convert to bedrooms as life changes. The third floor is a private primary suite sanctuary, quiet and considered.

Lively colour palette throughout Main floor optimised for entertaining Flexible work/bedroom spaces, second floor Primary suite sanctuary, third floor Dedicated dog wash area Sun patios for cats
02

The Family Household

Mother + Brother Two · Main, Second + Third Floor

Designed around a mother's comfort and daily life. The living areas receive the best natural light and most private backyard views — the spaces she uses most are given priority. Her son's sleep and work zone is carved into the third floor, keeping both generations comfortably connected but independently autonomous.

Living areas in prime light + privacy position Best backyard views from main living space Third floor zone for son — sleep and work Shared and independent spaces balanced

Three principles that guided every decision

01

Equality without uniformity

The two units share identical structural bones — same floor area, same volumes. But the design reads each household's needs independently, allowing the interiors to diverge completely in palette, mood, and spatial priority.

02

Vertical living, considered

Three floors means three distinct registers of life. Each unit layers public to private from bottom to top — but the transition points are designed differently for each household, reflecting how each family actually moves through a day.

03

The non-human residents

A dog wash station and dedicated cat sun terraces aren't afterthoughts — they're first-class spatial decisions. The people who live here made that clear, and the design took it seriously.

Project credits

Interior Design Utopian Standard · Denise Liu
Residential Design Repertoire Projects · Sandy Wang
Category Residential · Duplex
Location Renfrew–Collingwood, Vancouver
Status In Progress · 2025
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