The Inspired Intermedia digital book collection
Issue link: https://inspired.uberflip.com/i/860803
D E S I G N B U I L D 117 TOP RIGHT: An open floorplan and the warm yellow cedar ceilings that run throughout the Gabriola Passive House residence make it a sight to see. Custom-fit ceilings, with no additional trim, offer each space a clean, modern look, while natural materials offer warmth and comfort. Photograph by Dirk Heydemann, Heydemann Art of Photography MIDDLE RIGHT: The firm highlighted views surrounding the Hillside House by installing windows without trim in each room. Minimalist details, like the neutral color palette and the unstained concrete floors, draw even more attention to the landscape outside. Photograph by Sean Fenzl BOTTOM RIGHT AND FACING PAGE BOTTOM: Local Douglas Fir stair treads over a locally-made steel beam stringer create the illusion of floating stairs. Finished in sleek, contemporary glass, the stairway of the Gabriola Passive House project remains clean and fresh. The façade of the house features high-performance windows and doors, and structural panels for the exterior walls built onsite. In an example of the great lengths the firm goes to in order to create these high- performance homes, the Irish-made windows and doors had to be transported via the Panama Canal to preserve the air- tight seal, as the elevation change in the Rocky Mountains in overland transportation would have compromised it. Photographs by Dirk Heydemann, Heydemann Art of Photography FACING PAGE TOP: Mermaid Manor is a nostalgic piece of Canadiana. With local Western Red Cedar decking, shingles, and soffits, the deck is cozy year-round. Local Vancouver Island Sandstone faces the outdoor fireplace, and driftwood recovered by the homeowners creates a rustic bench for additional seating or food service. Photograph by Tony Puerzer, Bright Idea Photography "Comfort is key. If a space is not comfortable, people won't use it." –Jason Schmidt