Narrow Passive House - Vancouver, BC

Narrow Passive House by One SEED (www.oneseed.ca) The aesthetic is a purity of form. It expresses the concept of dwelling as a juxtaposition of shelter from the elements and warmth of home. The tough and durable exterior materials, including the off-white fibre-cement panels and the charcoal coloured horizontal ribbed cladding, have a cooling and calming effect. In contrast, warm vertical bands of clear stained cedar accent the front and rear elevations at the fenestration and doors as an inviting allusion to the family inside. The simple form includes two rectilinear masses, a larger one for bedrooms and living, and a smaller one containing service elements such as the stairs, washrooms, and mechanical rooms. The smaller mass is stepped back from the front and back elevations of the house to provide a sense of entrance. In addition, this allows the larger mass, which is located to the south, to have corner windows with improved views to the north-west mountains. The smaller volume is also the environmental heart of the home with a south facing glazed elevation above the green roof and full-height CMU block walls which feed the passive heating and cooling system within the house.