The benefits of passive design are numerous. This project takes it all to new heights by combining the right location, new materials and incredible design. Here, Dwell takes a tour of the home that is located in Vancouver.
James Dean believes his 4,000 net-zero-energy home is the future of construction. Situated on the southern slope of the mountains along English Bay, with three stories of wall-to-wall glass, it gathers effusive sunlight during the cooler months, reducing the need for heating. Terraces flow from each level, blocking direct sun during the hot summer months.
Outdoor, Horizontal Fences, Wall, Back Yard, Grass, Small Patio, Porch, Deck, Concrete Patio, Porch, Deck, Walkways, Wood Fences, Wall, and Trees The three-story structure designed by BattersbyHowat Architects gets nearly wall-to-wall exposure to the south, and the terraces block sunlight when the sun is highest during the hottest months.
The three-story structure designed by BattersbyHowat Architects gets nearly wall-to-wall exposure to the south, and the terraces block sunlight when the sun is highest during the hottest months.
"It’s the perfect place to build a net-zero energy or passive home," says James. "It’s basically floor-to-ceiling glass on all three levels. In Passive House they talk about the proper orientation of the home, and on the north shore of Vancouver, all of the homes are on the side of the mountain facing south, so it’s the perfect place to take advantage of the sun."
Built of four-and-a-half-inch prefabricated cross-laminated timbers, the structure was erected in a few weeks rather than months, reducing construction costs and exposure to rain. And the volume is insulated by 17-inch walls, which retain heat and virtually eliminate thermal bridging—the conduction of heat through the building envelope—to maximize comfort.
"In Vancouver, we get a lot of rain in the wintertime, and we didn’t want to have guys outside banging nails in the pouring rain," he says. "All this wood that’s behind these membranes would be soaking wet—versus building in a climate-controlled environment, getting it up super quick, and getting it all wrapped up so it’s not wet."
