Designed by Perkins + Will Architects, the SoLo project is a standalone Mass Timber home located in the Soo Valley, nestled deep in the woods north of Whistler, BC. The remote location along with the extreme climate the region can face posed a structural challenge. The project team utilized Mass Timber construction methods to help solve the challenges of the location and climate, while also realizing the intention of Delta Land Development’s intention to create a zero emissions standalone building. This construction method allowed for a fast-tracked timeline to fit within the seasonal construction window and minimized disturbance in the surrounding area as fewer materials and equipment were needed on-site.
By employing Passive House principles, the main house was encased in 2’0” thick insulation and sits independent of the large outer roof structure and the surrounding steel platform. To maintain the large north facing window and open concept design, our team used an innovative structural system consisting of two tension-rod braced frames at each end, eliminating the need for wood shear walls. This allowed the frames to collect the seismic loads from the roof and the braced frames secured the roof, enabling unobstructed views from the large feature window.
SoLo has earned Passive House certification, verifying that SoLo meets the criteria for the PHI Low Energy Building Standard, and was the first Passive House certified building designed by Perkins + Will.