Go Green

A unique, modern passive and net-zero home

ishot.ca photography

HAVAN member Naikoon Contracting Ltd — in partnership with BattersbyHowat — has designed and built West Vancouver’s first Certified Passive House and first Net Zero Energy Home. Their client, a forward-thinking family of four, had a vision to build an innovative, architecturally beautiful, resilient home with a light footprint, to help minimize impact on the environment.

It was constructed using cross-laminated timber (CLT), a wood product that allows for higher efficiencies. The CLT structure was assembled onsite in just five days, allowing for a reduction in waste and greenhouse gases (GHGs.) Ultimately, the design flexibility allowed for architectural freedom and the home’s unique, modern style is a standout.  

South-facing and nestled into the property, the house features strategically placed triple-glazed, floor-to-ceiling windows that capture the spectacular water views, but eliminate virtually any solar gain. The large, hemlock-clad overhangs allow passive cooling within the home, ensuring a comfortable climate, even on the hottest days.

The exterior of the house is designed with six inches of insulation over the CLT timber. There are four inches on the interior. The result is top-notch insulating and sound-proofing of the house, so the homeowners will never have to worry about disturbing their neighbours.

The homeowners love a good bottle of wine and are proud of their extensive collection, so the builders carved a wine cellar into the bedrock — this provided a natural cooling system to keep the wine at its best.

They also also created a custom, backlit LED bar. Like the rest of the home, the entertaining areas have only non-toxic finishes.

The interior showcases clean lines throughout with a large open floor plan, including an expansive kitchen and living areas on the main — and the perfect setting to enjoy views from every room. The juxtaposition of the custom-built, open-steel-and-wood staircase with vertical wood screening, flooded by natural light from a 22-foot-tall window, brings interest and balance to the living room’s anchor — a striking, wood-burning fireplace with a steel and concrete hearth for added warmth in the winter months.

Located on the upper level, the open-concept master suite is poised to indulge the owners with a custom-built walk-through closet and wet room, plus a private deck featuring a 180-degree water and nature view. 

On the lower level, a hidden door leads into the garage, which has a Tesla Powerwall to charge electric vehicles and provide back-up power for the home. 

With above-average green standards on every project, Naikoon Contracting Ltd. is one of the most experienced and accredited high-performance homebuilders in the country. Those wanting to source a builder can connect with HAVAN members at various events this spring, including the BC Home & Garden Show, Homebuying Forum and the Home Reno Show. To access these events and search for builders online, visit havan.ca.