Vacation rental attracts bike-loving tourists with cyclists’ dream shed
Design

Vacation rental attracts bike-loving tourists with cyclists’ dream shed
BY Sarah Brown. Photos: Gordon King
POSTED August 22, 2017 8:25 am

The tiny neighbourhood of Val-Tétreau is a cyclists’ paradise. Located just minutes from Gatineau Park, it sits at the edge of the Voyageurs Pathway, a scenic 30-kilometre trail that hugs the Ottawa River, offering spectacular views of the capital. In 2014, architect Isabelle Bradbury, who had been offering the granny flat attached to her house as a vacation rental for a couple of years, decided to make cyclists the cornerstone of her business.

Because the bikes get hung on the wall, the floor space is left free. During the summer months, that space becomes a drop-off spot for an organic farm in Wakefield, which leaves its CSA (community supported agriculture) baskets for Gatineau-area subscribers. Photo: Gordon King
Because the bikes get hung on the wall, the floor space is left free. During the summer months, that space becomes a drop-off spot for an organic farm in Wakefield, which leaves its CSA (community supported agriculture) baskets for Gatineau-area subscribers. Photo: Gordon King
When architect Isabelle Bradbury decided to make cyclists the cornerstone of her vacation rental business, she knew a bike shed was a must-have. The huge roll-up doors make it easy for cyclists to get in and out, while the wall hooks boost storage capacity. A car-charging station looks to a future when electric cars will rule the roads. Photo: Gordon King
When architect Isabelle Bradbury decided to make cyclists the cornerstone of her vacation rental business, she knew a bike shed was a must-have. The huge roll-up doors make it easy for cyclists to get in and out, while the wall hooks boost storage capacity. A car-charging station looks to a future when electric cars will rule the roads. Photo: Gordon King

Build it and they will come, she thought, as she set about designing and constructing a combination bike shed and car-charging station at the back of her carport. Her decision led to immediate success, attracting the attention of seniors on cycling tours, triathletes, and cycling clubs. “My renters are a most fun-loving and energetic bunch,” says Bradbury, noting that a house that can sleep 10 and a shed that can hold 10 bicycles is a rare find. It’s a bonus that the roomy carport in front of the shed provides the perfect spot for cyclists to congregate, hang out, and tune up bikes on rainy days.

A sloped polycarbonate roof keeps the rain out and allows light to flow in during daylight hours. The space above the garage doors is intentionally left open to the elements to allow air to circulate. Photo: Gordon King
A sloped polycarbonate roof keeps the rain out and allows light to flow in during daylight hours. The space above the garage doors is intentionally left open to the elements to allow air to circulate. Photo: Gordon King

The shed is a fairly simple structure, with a wood frame, corrugated-metal exterior, and plywood interior. A sloped polycarbonate roof keeps the rain out and allows light to flow into the space during daylight hours. Because the space above the garage doors is open to the elements, air can circulate, ensuring that the shed never gets overheated.
Bradbury says she always designs with the idea that a space will have multiple uses. In this case, the shed is used mainly by cyclists who rent her place during the area’s snow-free seasons. But during the summer months, the shelter also becomes a drop-off spot for produce coming out of Ferme Lève-tôt, a Wakefield-based organic farm. “They have a key to the shed, so they can drop off their CSA [community supported agriculture] baskets for Gatineau-area subscribers,” explains Bradbury. “It’s great for me — I get my basket delivered to my door — but it also supports a local business that I believe in.”

And in the future? Bradbury says she’s always looking for new ways to use the shed and carport. “Right now it’s bikes and vegetables, but when you design a space with the idea that it will be mixed-use, the possibilities are endless.”