Francisco-like earthquake land and soil movements. As there is a lot of built in modularity in this kind of housing design, it is assumed that relatively inexpensive earthquake remediation measures could be taken to increase this kind of housing architecture's ability to withstand earth movement without disintegration. Evolution Vancouver Specials evolved into what were frequently derided as "monster homes" in the 1990s that many critics claimed were ruining the aesthetic character of their neighbourhoods. However, the change in house size in the Greater Vancouver area is more closely bound to the rising house prices, and property speculation. Vancouver house prices had increased year-on-year more than many other similarly sized Canadian cities (and regions) in the previous 25 years. In contrast to the earlier Vancouver Specials, monster homes were appearing in wealthier areas of the city, and critics were sometimes charged with being concerned as much about immigrants invading their exclusive neighbourhoods as they were about the aesthetics of the neighbourhoods. Cultural references The much maligned Vancouver Special, however, may yet see its bad reputation improve. Some indications include a locally produced music compilation compact disc in 2000, "Vancouver Special," which features several examples of the house design on the cover, and a renovated Vancouver Special that won the Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia's Innovation Award for Architecture in 2005. A home design store on Main Street bears the name "Vancouver Special" and Arsenal Pulp Press of Vancouver published Vancouver Special, a book of essays about the city by Charles Demers, in November 2009, showing that the reputation of the homes may have now gained a certain vintage glamour. Local brewery, R&B Brewing, offers a West Coast IPA named after the Vancouver Special. See also McMansion Vancouverism Dingbat (building) References External links and sources Home Improvements, by David Carrigg, Vancouver Courier (5 November 2004) Vancouver Special Redux, by Christopher MacDonald, Canadian Architect (July 2004) Vancouverspecial.com, a gallery and location-map of Vancouver Special houses Vancouver Special by Arsenal Pulp Press (November, 2009) Flickr set of examples Architectural styles House types House styles Buildings and structures in Greater Vancouver Canadian architectural styles