But if you were allowed to/worked out a deal to paint those side walls, that could be a really cool looking space.
I remember some of my favourite spaces in the city I lived in where narrow valleys between buildings like this. The trick for light (enough for a great garden) was to hang cheap mirrors on the top part of each side wall.
I was thinking whitewash and mirrors! If the owners of the buildings either side even allowed it that is.
If i remember correctly most had a deal along the lines of they will maintain the wall exterior (paint, looking for damage ect.) as the tall building really did not have easy access to their outter wall.
Reminds me of the Edith Macefield house, in Ballard (Seattle, WA).
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If you're ever in Ballard, I highly recommend the excellent cocktail bar Hazelwood, which pays tribute to her with a namesake cocktail (the Edith Macefield).
I think if the house was first then that’d be sad, yes. But if someone bought the lot and managed to get a house in there legally (or just got away with it) then that’s pretty rad. Like a brilliantly yellow dandelion forcing itself through a crack in an otherwise seamless, lifeless and bland sidewalk.
I think the house being there first is the more likely scenario. I like your optimism though!
I don't know if that is the most likely scenario, I think those building on ether side would have side windows if that was the case. I think you only build walls like this if you are right up to the next building.
Do you happen to have the original ad? I am kinda interested in how this is set up and where.
This is what we call a shoebox house in Montreal. There are quite a few in my neighbourhood. See more in this article. Mind you, these are pictures of the pretty ones, they are not all as cute, but not many are as far recessed from the street either.
The earliest source I can find is a Tumblr post from Dec 2015, but I could not locate the address. You may be able to get in touch with that account, though it's a long shot given the age of the post.
Sorry, most of these are ancient. You could try reverse image search but I don’t suspect you won’t find much more info.
You could try reverse image search but I don’t suspect you won’t find much more info.
No joy but I did find this remarkably similarly sited building. It may be quite common. Apparently part of a class of buildings the Chinese call nail houses.
I am used to seeing this sort of thing a a back yard in old cities, but not the front like this. If I was living in city this would be what I would want to rock.
Ah too bad. I kinda want to find more like it. You could put up a facade on the street and have like a secret home. Might be a good option in some decaying citys.
Someone posted one above: https://lemmy.world/comment/2377576 In this thread @Emperor found some similar ones too.
ngl i would love living there, both as a child and adult. there's still plenty of space, and the walls could facilitate a lot of new games. also, as someone else said, if you could paint them it would be even better
Here's another good one (open street view):
https://maps.app.goo.gl/HCphMRzqQxdPPmg28
Was for sale for 300k cad not that long ago if I recall correctly.
Those are what's called shoebox houses. We find a lot of them in Montréal, Québec.
I don't know, shelter and a sizable yard aren't so bad. but it could do with some decorating
It’s not the house itself that makes me sad - it’s kinda cute and I dream of a private garden. But I suspect this house was here before the (presumably) commercial buildings either side and that makes me sad. Like Chinese nail houses.