Jakobsen Associates

04/13/2026

Here are some photos of a renovation we designed in Kitsilano located on Trafalgar Street near Trafalgar beach. The project was on a small undersized lot (32' by 100') and the house had no second floor. We added a second floor in the renovation (one bedroom) and also a basement suite and an AirBnB suite. The main house was renovated into a one bedroom house and its open plan made it feel like a loft space. We had a huge fight with city hall and they thought the house should not have a second floor, even though all the surrounding houses were two, three four storey houses. Fortunately we were rescued by the Board of Variance who loved the proposal.

03/26/2026

What's your view on the multiplex zoning?

Multiplexes are spreading across Vancouver as the province pushes for more housing. Supporters say it will fix the “missing middle,” but some residents argue these buildings present numerous challenges, including concerns around privacy and parking pressures. Stephen Quinn speaks to Stephanie Hu...

02/25/2026

Here are a few photos of a duplex we designed near West 2nd Avenue and Trutch Street, in the Point Grey neighbourhood of Vancouver. The zoning was and still is RT8, which has allowed duplexes and triplexes for thirty (30) years. The idea that multiplexes started last year with the new R1-1 zoning is quite ridiculous. Also multiplexes used to blend in more with neighbourhoods and required a development permit to ensure a "quality of design".

01/18/2026

Here are some photos of a renovation we designed in Kerrisdale on West 37th Avenue. The house was originally built in the 1920's by a retired British General. In the 1980's a previous owner tried to turn it into a Victorian style house with a strange Prairie grain elevator on the west side. Since the house was too electric to restore, we renovated it into a Shingle style house. The house was located on the back half of the lot, with several 100 foot tall trees in the middle/ front yard. By renovating we were able to keep the house in the existing location and save these beautiful trees. As a result the front yard feels very private and it faces south. The owners love the Shingle style and call it their "beach house" in the city. We worked with Margot Keate of Keate and Company on the interiors and the construction was done by Eyco Construction. There are 9 photos at the end that show the house before the renovation.

01/13/2026

The framing has started on our renovation on Atlantic Street in Strathcona. Sadly the house had a bad renovation in the 1980's when a real estate agent tried to turn it into a Cape Cod style. I have included a photo from 1901 which is when the house was first built. We have tried to take the house back to the original style less the decorative lace and trim. We have added a basement suite so there are two units on this 25 foot wide lot. If there was a back alley we would have included a coach house as well. Instead we have added a conservatory/greenhouse.

10/31/2025

Here are a few photos of a multiplex (5 units) we designed on Kelly Avenue in Port Coquitlam. Each unit is a three level townhouse and the project was built on a 50 foot by 125 foot single family lot that was rezoned.

08/11/2025

This house is a Pasadena style craftsman house in Kerrisdale that we renovated in 2009. The house was in rough shape and was covered in four layers of white paint (except for the klinker brick). The owner sold the house in 2019 for the price listed below as he also had a house on Bowen Island and Palm Springs. Check out the real estate video below. It's a beautiful and convivial house.

Originally built in 1922, this historic Pasadena Craftsman residence, known as the Gadd House, was extensively re-created in 2009 by renowned Vancouver archi...

07/16/2025

Here are some photos of a house we designed on the island of Roatan in the south Caribbean. The house was designed with four separate suites, a large roof deck, and a plunge pool. West Bay beach is a short walk away. The house incorporates solar energy, natural ventilation and covered terraces to keep the hot sun off the south and west walls. Roatan is famous for it’s scuba diving.

06/08/2025

Here is one of our designs for a new house on Connaught Drive near Granville Street. The house is an up down duplex for a mother and daughter. The mother who is a gardener has the lower suite which opens up to the rear yard and also has an artist suite in the garage.

08/25/2024

Here are a few photos of a house and laneway house (under construction) that we designed in Kerrisdale on West 42nd Avenue near MacDonald. The contractor is Nestworks Construction.

03/10/2024

A house we designed on Salt Spring Island in 1999.