The Vancouver founder of design startup SCHTAUSS Daniil Aron-Mokhov has designed and developed a modular, sustainable outdoor space. (Courtesy: Daniil Aron-Mokhov)
A Vancouver designer is gaining attention in the architectural field with a new outdoor modular building aimed at addressing the city's ongoing housing crisis.
Daniil Aron-Mokhov, the founder of the design startup SCHTAUSS, has created a prefabricated, multifunctional structure that serves as both an office and a garden shed. Built in the backyard of his mother’s home in Kitsilano, the Modular Shed Office is made from timber and features an indoor space with three hinged hatchways, plus a rooftop patio accessed by a ladder. The design prioritizes sustainability, using leftover materials from a previous home renovation, along with locally sourced scraps from Vancouver's FabLab and other community organizations.
At just 22 years old, Aron-Mokhov brings a unique background to his work. After studying economics at Queen's University in Kingston, he later studied architecture in Barcelona, Spain. His innovative design has already caught the attention of prominent magazines and sparked interest from homeowners across British Columbia.
“I’ve had several people reach out, especially in Squamish, asking if we could collaborate on something similar for their properties,” Aron-Mokhov said.
The entire project took only four days of laser cutting and fabrication, followed by just two days of installation in the garden. Aron-Mokhov sees his design as a quick, affordable, and eco-friendly solution to Vancouver's housing shortage. "The housing problem in Canada is undeniable, with the market flooded with high-end luxury buildings," he said. “There’s been a lot of discussion about how to make cities denser, and this type of modular design could help, especially since expanding your home is so expensive right now."
The key to this design's efficiency is its modular structure. Since it is under 15 square meters, it requires less paperwork to add to a home. Aron-Mokhov views this as a "loophole" that could help alleviate housing shortages in the city.
“The future of architecture lies in modular buildings,” he said. “These sheds can serve as additional living or working spaces—whether as offices or playrooms—and offer a more cost-effective alternative to expensive home renovations.”
Though his startup is only a month old and the Modular Shed Office is its first project, Aron-Mokhov is already looking ahead. He hopes to expand by creating more shed spaces for backyards across the province and eventually take his designs to South America, where he aims to help build affordable housing for remote communities.
