Nestled into the undulating landscape of Mulmur, Ontario, +House sits on the edge of a natural pond and treads lightly on the land. Designed for a client with environmental sensitivities, the home is a graceful manifestation of a deeply sustainable approach to building and wellness.

Extensive 14-foot glazing offers expansive views from every room and opens onto a wide cedar deck that runs the length of the house. Bedrooms are located on opposite ends of the rectangular plan, bookending the open living spaces.

Achieving a healthy house for both our clients and the environment meant conducting in-depth research into a wide range of products and locally produced materials suited to the climate. The result is a thoroughly environmental house that features a wealth of high-performance materials and furnishings that promote wellness and longevity. Built from inert cementitious blocks that inhibit the growth of fungi and molds, the walls are finished with a natural clay plaster that requires no paint finish. A soy-based sealer was used for the concrete floors and counters, and the curtains are all made from untreated silk and hemp fabric.

With a green roof, heat-mirror triple glazing, solar shading, ample passive ventilation and daylighting, and a geothermal system, +House earned LEED Gold certification — an ambitious designation for residential architecture that testifies to the project’s environmental stewardship at every turn.

Images: Shai Gil