Project Specs

Location: Nakusp, British Columbia
Climate Zone: Cool-Temperate
Building Type: Multi-Unit Residential
Project Phase: Certified
Certification Type: Passive House Classic
Year of Construction: 2017
Gross Floor Area (m2): 1145
Treated Floor Area (m2): 343.9
PHPP Verification: Download

Project Description

The certified Bell Nakusp Passive House triplex is nominated for a 2018 BC Wood Design Award in the Multi-unit Residential Wood Design category.

The project is a series of three Passive House row houses, with a coach house of conventional construction. Designed to facilitate aging in place, it is intended that the three Passive Hosue suites will be supported by the caretakers suite in the coach house. The location, on the banks of the Columbia River, is adjacent to a beautiful boardwalk, offering access to a spectacular landscape, amazing views and plentiful sun.
The suites are arranged to provide a feeling of community while offering sufficient privacy. Each suite has a detached garage to the north.

Between the suites and the garage is a protected space that acts like a courtyard, offering shady refuge from the summer sun and intermittent wind. Each suite also has a south-facing covered patio. The suites have been offset from each other to allow each patio to have unobstructed views of the mountains and river, while being separated enough from the neighbor to feel like you are out in the country.
The construction system is a triple stud frame, insulated with cellulose. The roofs are parallel cords trusses. The cladding combines corrugated steel and local cedar.

The architectural design is a collaboration between Lukas Armstrong of Cover Architectural Collaborative Inc, J. Molly Bell (the client), and Dave Madden, of Madden Timber Construction (the builder). Passive House design was provided by Cover Architectural Collaborative Inc, of Nelson, BC. Energy Consulting was provided by Andre Harrmann, of Harrmann Consulting. Third-party certification was provided by Peel Passive House Consulting from Ontario.


Thermal Envelope

Exterior Wall: Triple layer, wood stud frame
U-value = 0.119 W/(m2K)
Basement Floor/Floor Slab: Suspended wood I-joist.
U-value = 0.097 W/(m2K)
Roof: Parallel cord wood truss
U-value = 0.047 W/(m2K)
Window: SANCO SILVERSTAR EN2plus
U g-value = 0.55 W/(m2K)
g -value = 53 %

Mechanical System

Ventilation: Zehnder, ComfoAir350
Continuous fresh air supply - Heat Recovery Ventilator
Heating/Cooling: Electric resistance wall panels and under tile electric mat.
Domestic Hot Water: Electric Tank