VURBS is not just where we live — it’s how we live together.

Origin Story: From MURBs to VURBS — Rethinking How We Build Communities

Where “VURBS” Began

Back in the late ’70s, during a conversation with industry peers, the idea that sparked VURBS was born.
We were discussing the two-dimensional nature of MURBs — the lack of imagination, the absence of real “village life” — and it became clear that we needed to upgrade the idea.

So we coined a term: VURBS — Village Urban Renewal Builds

We took the M from MURBs, turned it into a V for “Village,” and reimagined what these developments could be — living, breathing communities built around connection, creativity, and sustainability.

In the late 1970s, the federal government introduced a building concept known as MURBs — Multi-Unit Residential Buildings — as part of an effort to modernize urban housing. MURBs were defined as low-rise, multi-family buildings (2 to 100 units) designed to increase housing density and energy efficiency under Canada’s building and energy codes.

These developments helped shape a generation of affordable, compact living — but they also revealed something missing: human connection.
MURBs were engineered for efficiency, not creativity. They maximized space and minimized cost, but often overlooked what truly makes a neighbourhood thrive — the social fabric, shared spaces, and sense of belonging.

From Policy to Purpose

While Canada’s Greener Homes Initiative continues to promote MURBs as efficient housing solutions, VURBS expands that vision.
We believe that energy efficiency and environmental sustainability must go hand-in-hand with social renewal — walkable streets, mixed-use spaces, gardens, mentorship programs, and intergenerational collaboration.

VURBS is not just where we live — it’s how we live together.

A New Play on an Old Saying

For decades, people talked about “moving to the suburbs.”
Today, we’re saying:

🌿 “It’s time to move to the VURBS.”