Students at the University of Calgary are exploring housing alternatives in the hopes of allowing an aging population, as well as severely ill or injured citizens, the opportunity to remain independent despite physical limitations.

On Friday, students in the faculty of environmental design unveiled their Laneway Housing Project plans which will accommodate the needs of seniors. The designers researched the requirements of elderly tenants by collaborating with The Cumming School of Medicine and the faculty of nursing.

Features of the homes, which would be roughly 400 square feet in size, include towel racks that double as walking aids, built in bench seating and hidden projectors and screens to enable communication with medical professionals.

"How do we build homes that will allow people to stay at home longer rather than have to come to assisted living for example," explains Dr. Peter Sargious of the Cumming School of Medicine while discussing the purpose of the project.

Alan Tennant, CEO of the Calgary Real Estate Board, says Laneway Housing would reassure families of aging relatives.

"What families look for is things that suit them,” said Tennant. “What this really provides is that flexibility for them to make it their own in their own way."

Laneway housing, or carriage homes, would be built on lots with existing homes. The homes would allow the owner to relocate into a smaller dwelling while using their original home as an income property.

The homes have proven popular in British Columbia’s lower mainland but critics in Calgary fear additional houses would increase neighbourhood traffic and create parking issues.

Funding for the project was provided by the Alberta Real Estate Foundation and Homes by Avi.

A City of Calgary laneway pilot project is underway in Sunnyside in the alleyway between 10 Street and 10A Street Northwest.