Photo credit: Ema Peter Photography


Project Specs

Location: Pemberton, British Columbia
Climate Zone: Cool-Temperate
Building Type: Single Family Residential
Project Phase: Certified
Passive House Type: Passive House Premium
Year of Construction: 2025
Treated Floor Area (m2): 275

Project Description

Set into a hill and cantilevered over a slope, our 4,000 sq ft retreat in Pemberton, BC offers sweeping views of Mt. Currie. From the outset, this project became more than a chance to create a striking living space. It also marked a significant step in our commitment to sustainable design. The retreat is our first certified Passive House Premium project, an advanced energy standard that allows the home to produce more energy than it uses.

To reach this level of performance, we integrated several innovative systems. On the roof, a solar array captures the sun’s energy to power the home. For heating and hot water, we introduced a combined system that reduces overall energy use. In addition, Energy Recovery Ventilators bring in fresh air and improve interior climate control. Any excess heat from the system supports the lap pool, keeping it warm throughout the year.

One of the home’s defining elements is its cantilever. This gesture extends the building over the slope and creates shaded outdoor areas that work year‑round. These spaces include a lap pool with a custom sliding deck cover and a sunken outdoor kitchen. Both areas support family gatherings and quiet retreat. To further anchor the building to its site, we angled the supporting columns to echo the nearby trees. We also selected galvanized steel to withstand Pemberton’s climate. For durability and craft, the lower floor and soffits use Equitone cladding, while the upper level features angled, custom‑bent metal panels.

We installed certified Passive House floor‑to‑ceiling windows throughout the home. These openings frame panoramic views and reduce heat loss, strengthening the building’s energy performance.

Inside, our interior team shaped a tranquil and cohesive environment. Custom millwork and an oak‑accented kitchen create warmth and a sense of calm. Integrated lighting highlights key details and lifts the overall atmosphere.

Taken together, this retreat embodies our belief in building spaces that feel both refined and sustainable. With its advanced energy systems, confident cantilever form, and thoughtful material palette, the home offers clarity, comfort, and peace of mind. More than a building project, it became an opportunity to show how innovative design and environmental responsibility can work as one.


Thermal Envelope

Exterior Wall: Lower Level ICF wall: Exterior to interior side
Cladding on rainscreen
51mm XPS insulation
67mm EPS insulation
203mm Concrete
67mm EPS insulation
13mm Spray Foam insulation
38mm Wood framing filled with spray foam
13mm Drywall
U-value: 0.144 W/(m2K)

Upper Level Timber framed wall: Exterior to interior side
Cladding on rainscreen
152mm Mineral wool board insulation
13mm Plywood sheathing
184mm Wood framing filled with 7.25” Mineral wool batt insulation
38mm Wood framing service cavity
13mm Drywall
U-value: 0.135 W/(m2K)

U-value = 0.132 W/(m2K)
Basement Floor/Floor Slab: 178mm Concrete slab
305mm XPS insulation

U-value = 0.96 W/(m2K)
Roof: Roofing membrane on roof cover board
238mm Polyisocyanurate sloped insulation package
19mm plywood sheathing
302mm (11-7/8”) TJI wood joists filled with Knauf Jetstream insulation
13mm plywood sheathing
152mm Mineral wool batt insulation
140mm wood framing service cavity

U-value = 0.46 W/(m2K)
Window: Glastrosch Freisinger
Triple glazed unit, argon filled, with two low-e-coatings.

U g-value = 0.52 W/(m2K)
g -value = 52 %

Mechanical System

Ventilation: Zehnder , ComfoAir Q450 SI TR ERV.
Heat recovery efficiency: 0.83
Humidity recovery efficiency: 0.71
Heating/Cooling: Radiant hydronic under-floor. Hydronic Brine to Water Geothermal Heat Pump.
Product: WaterFurnace Envision NSW-025-*-1-0-RN-SSO-AA
Used for heating and cooling.
Domestic Hot Water: Water-source Heat Pump.