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Residential | Single Family Home

British Columbia, Canada

Project Type
Residential | Single Family < 3000 sf

Year Completed
2021

Project Size
2000 sq ft

SIPS Used
6″ GPS Walls & 8″ GPS Roof

Sustainable Features
Passive Certified

Environmental Certifications
Passive/PHIUS

Awards
BEA, Canada Home Builder Association Best Detached 2022, Haven Awards Canada Best High Performance Home

Architect
Nick Bray Architecture

Contractor
WestEco SIPS & JDL Homes Inc

Project Overview

This modern residence, with its soaring ceilings, massive windows and natural light is easy on the eyes and easy on the energy bills! This project showcases a high-performance and innovative home that is exceptionally sustainable, a Certified Passive House, and is part of the joint City of Vancouver / Passive House Canada’s Near Zero project that showcases the future of Vancouver BC’s Architecture. Professionals all throughout North American took notice as the project won a multitude of awards including:

  • Canada Home Builder’s Association: 2022 Best Detached Custom Home
  • SIPA – BEA: Residential High Performance under 3K sf Winner
  • Havan (Home Builders Association of Vancouver) Awards Canada for Housing Excellence: Best Custom Home, Best High-Performance Home, Excellence in Building Science Innovation
  • Green Initiative Georgie Awards: Best Custom Home, Best Environmental Initiative
  • NAHB Building Systems Council, Jerry Rouleau Housing Innovation Award

Built by JDL Homes in collaboration with Nick Bray Architecture, Project Mint Development, and WestEco SIPS, this highly sustainable “home for the future” was designed to European longevity standards—at least 100 years—on a narrow 25-foot-wide lot in East Vancouver that many considered unbuildable. The peat bog site, with soft soil and a high water table, required advanced shoring, piling, and structural engineering, along with added fire-spread protection. The team addressed these challenges using structural rigid insulation and a high-performance foundation system that provided both thermal efficiency and structural stability. Energy performance was prioritized from the ground up, with below-grade insulation and a SIP (Structural Insulated Panel) building envelope to create an airtight structure with minimal thermal bridging. Prefabricated panels supplied through WestEco SIPS allowed for fast, efficient installation despite the tight site constraints.

Beyond its technical achievements, the home offers a spacious and flexible modern layout for a growing family. Currently configured as a three-bedroom main home over a two-bedroom garden suite, it can also function as a four-bedroom home with a one-bedroom legal suite. The main floor features an open-plan kitchen, dining, and flex space with a south-facing living area and 12-foot ceilings, while the upper level includes three generous bedrooms and two bathrooms. The lower level can remain connected to the home or operate as a private suite with its own entrance. Complete with a garage, back garden, and rooftop deck overlooking the North Shore Mountains, the home combines durability, adaptability, and architectural distinction.