Bachman House
Custom Features
The artistic creativity of this project made it an absolute joy to build (sculptures, shells, fossils, rocks, metals, and glass are some of the materials embedded into these SIREWALLS
Healthy materials were extremely important to these clients: their daughter, who had chronic Asthma prior to moving into the house, was able to throw away her puffer within a year
Over 300 tons of mass combined with passive solar design makes this building thermally efficient
Visually reduced neighborhood impact achieved by building the home into the sloped site and allowing the landscape to run seamlessly over the house (green rooftops), blending it in with its natural environment
Radiant heat, puddled earth floors, geothermal heat pump, oxygen-treated septic, recycled beams and rafters, sustainable-harvest timbers, HRV, masonry stove, cold cellar and sod roof
Technical Details
Use of local and recycled materials greatly reduces the environmental impact of the building
Backfill depths as high as 12' with fully underground rooms receiving natural light through skylights and south-facing windows
First two story, curving, insulated rammed earth walls in the world
Awards
2000 Georgie Award Best Kitchen – New
2000 Georgie Award Best Interior Design for a Custom Home or Renovation
2000 Georgie Award Outstanding Consideration to Environmental Awareness
2000 Georgie Award Best Home Builder in BC Small Volume
2000 CARE Award Best Bathroom (New or Renovated)
2000 CARE Award Best Interior Feature (New or Renovated)
2000 CARE Award Best Interior – Residential
2000 CARE Award Project of the Year
2000 CARE Award Best Single Family Detached Home Over 3,000 sq.ft.
2000 CARE Award Best Kitchen Design (New or Renovated) More Than 250 sq.ft.
Location: Salt Spring Island, British Columbia
Architect / Designer: PVH Design
Builder: Terra Firma Builders
