2016
Great Gulf’s Active House Centennial Park
activehouse.ca
Inspired by Active House movement first pioneered in Europe, Great Gulf’s Active House Centennial Park is designed to improve the comfort and well-being of its occupants, while ensuring minimal negative impact to the environment. The house is a result of a highly process-driven approach to homebuilding, evaluated against stringent specifications for indoor comfort, energy efficiency, and environmental consideration.
More than anything, it is the strategic use of natural daylighting that defines the true character of Active House Centennial Park – in this home, little to no artificial lighting is required during the day. And that holds advantages beyond mere energy saving. Natural daylight has proven benefits to humans’ well-being, which includes boosting concentration, efficiency and mood. What’s more, the amount of natural light enjoyed inside Centennial Park can help improve sleeping patterns, by regulating the circadian rhythms of its occupants – something particularly important during the winter months when daylight is already in short supply. The ground-floor living room, dining area, and kitchen are laid out in an open plan with no barriers to obstruct daylight. Even the fireplace separating the dining and living room areas is see-through. Triple-glazed windows enhance thermal comfort, while carefully selected surfaces and colours further reflect light throughout the interior. Double-height spaces visually connect the main-level living areas with the upstairs spaces, such as the family room on the second floor. This strategy of maintaining strong visual connections also ensures a continual connection to the outdoors from almost every room in the home, without sacrificing privacy. The holistic design approach taken for Active House Centennial Park helps create not only a harmony of structure and systems within the home, but also a feeling of harmony throughout the home. There’s just something about clean air, natural, ample space and a thoughtful layout that helps calm the mind and sustain the spirit. In short: people love living here. And as the first certified Active House in the world, this truly is a home that gives more than it takes.
greatgulf.com
LEED SCORE CARD - SILVER Sustainable Sites Location and Linkages Water Efficiency Energy & Atmosphere Materials & Resources Indoor Environmental Quality Innovation and Design Process Awareness and Education Total
8.5/22 9/10 6/15 25/38 9.5/16 12/21 3/11 0/3 73/136
sabMag - SPRING 2017
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