DOMUS - Summer 2014

4 • DOMUS • summer 2014

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contentsi s s u e 0 8 • s u M M e R 2 0 1 4

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expressions8 art sceneDreAm COuNTrY. The vibrant colours of Calgary’s arts scene is sampled in our photo feature from some of the city’s most intriguing art galleries

37 in the cellarCHeers TO summer. Can’t judge a book by its cover, but this selection may just be as good as it looks

editor’s choice12 rhythm and soul Finding “le parti” is the central theme at Davignon martin’s homes

innovations19 eye on custom homesHIGH AND DrY. The ebb and flow of Calgary’s million-dollar market continues in riverside communities

32 lifestylesA LAsTING DesIGN. mike Holmes-approved home weathers nature’s fury

home spotlight22 The RiVeRCalgary’s poshest riverside condo

26 aRchiTecTuRal MasTeRpiece in pRiddis Drink in the magnificent views surrounding this modern family home

departments6 ediToR’s noTe

on The coVeR: “Le parti” is the guiding principle for davignon Martin, and the soul of the home is very much in evidence in this Britannia home they designed. photo courtesy davignon Martin architecture + interior design.

summer 2014 • DOMUS • 5


editor’s message

DOMUS is all about beautiful, high-end homes and the architectural firm of Davignon Martin

— the subject of our cover feature this issue — gives us so much to choose from. Their portfolio

is just chockfull of edgy contemporary residential designs, just like the Ferrier Webb residence

in Britannia that we have on the cover. Their distinctive home designs seem to capture Calgary’s

young, adventurous and vital spirit.

And that spirit seems as exuberant as ever, especially in the upscale market, which continued

to chug along at an incredible pace. First Place Realty says in a recent report that 65 properties

sold for more than $1 million or more in April this year, one better than the record set in April

last year. This comes about a year after the historic floods decimated much of the million-dollar

mansions in the inner-city.

Richard White takes a look at just exactly how the floods

had affected the million-dollar market in his Eye on Custom

Homes feature in this issue. And from all appearances,

Calgary seems to have weathered the storm, as he cites com-

munities like Britannia, Altadore, BelAire and Mayfair have

seen these seven-figure listings selling faster and at higher

prices.

Our in-house wine expert, Shelley Boettcher, gives us

some tips on the best wine and liquor gifts for spring — and

given the brutal winter we’ve suffered through, the picks

she made will certainly provide some much needed warmth.

While Aaliya Essa runs down some of the most exciting art

and art shows in Arts Scene.

Our home spotlight this issue showcases THE RIVER and Mark Milne’s listing in Priddis,

which illustrates the two growth sectors of Calgary’s million-dollar market — the inner-city and

the acreages surrounding Calgary.

THE RIVER is a great example of how the market has rebounded from last year’s disastrous

floods, as this ultra-luxury condo complex has regained its footing and is picking up its terrific

sales run from where it left off before last June’s flooding. While the Priddis property shows

how a magnificent view goes a long way in completing the ideal family home.

Calgary may still favour the traditional design of homes like Tudor or French Country, but

there is a definite move for more flat roofs and wider bands of windows like the Modern Prairie.

That’s the fun of building a custom home; you don’t rely on anyone else’s taste but your own.

We at DOMUS just want you to know the possibilities.

Architecturally yours PUBLISHER | source Media Group [email protected]

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER | Jim [email protected]

EDITOR | pepper [email protected]

ART DIRECTOR | Jean Faye [email protected]

gRAPHIC DESIgnERS

lama [email protected]

dave [email protected]

Megan [email protected]

EDITORIAL

shelley Boettcher, Karen durrie, aaliya essa, Richard White

PHOTOgRAPHY

Ken Taylor

ADVERTISIng SALES

heather [email protected]

Janice [email protected]

ACCOUnTIng | donna [email protected]

issue 08 • issn 1929-4581 (pRinT) issn 1929-459X (online)

© 2014 source media Group Corp. material cannot be reprinted in whole or in part without the expressed written permission of the publishers. source media Group agrees to advertise on behalf of the advertiser without responsibility for claims or misinformation made by the advertiser and acts only as an advertising medium. source media Group reserves the right to refuse any advertising at its sole discretion.

DOMUS™ is published four times per annum with copies available for distribution at select locations.

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dReaMn By aaliya essacounTRy

“Good Vibrations”Connie Geerts was born in 1965 and raised in rural Ontario. In 1985 she moved to the West Coast where she began her art career. A passion for nature and a keen sense of colour are the guiding impulses behind Connie’s paintings. The Fauvists, Vincent Van Gogh and contemporary painter Wolf Kahn provide some of the inspiration for her brightly hued landscapes. Delicate brush work layered thinly in acrylics creates lusciously coloured paintings of unique charm. Gibson Fine Art

“Transformation”Alberta artist Peter Von Tiesenhausen has a fierce connection to the land. That connection is present in all of his work, whether it’s in a painting, mixed media, an installation, or a sculpture made of willow branches, granite, bronze, or wood. Jarvis Hall Fine Art

“Passing Through”Jana Milne grew up in Prague, though she moved here to Calgary as a young girl. She started off with watercolours, moved on to pastels, and found that she preferred working in the medium of oils and acrylics best of all. A lot of work goes into each of her pieces; the passion that unfolds before her, and shows itself in the finished piece is what she loves the most about painting. Latitude Art Gallery


art scene

“Witness.Offering”Peter von Tiesenhausen’s reluctance to take on the parameters of any one medium sets this artist apart. He utilizes what is immediate to his art practice, frequently elements from the subject itself, so he can truthfully approach each work literally from the ground up. There are many works that are experimental or in the early stages of another avenue in his oeuvre as well as a substantial body of work that speaks of being a von Tiesenhausen. Jarvis Hall Fine Art

“Sparkle and Shine”Melissa Jean, sees everything like it’s the first time, and her last chance. And this is where she begins painting, from an open-minded spirit of amazement, and a simple of gratitude. She is humbled by the silent strength of trees, moved by the motion of water, and empowered by the expansive sky. Melissa Jean has become a fast emerging professional artist. Latitude Art Gallery

“Wisdom”Jane McCloy is an inspired Canadian artist residing in Calgary. She is recognized by her vividly colourful oil paintings on large canvases. Jane interprets diverse subject matter with personalized style and dramatic details, experimenting freely with the vibrant colours, rich textures and intense energies of oil paint in order to create an exciting visual experience. Gerry Thomas Gallery


calgary’s canvas

art scene

Gibson Fine Art628 11 ave sW #102n Feature artist: BIgOUDIJune 14 - June 28

n Feature artist: JAnICE TAnTOnJuly 3 - July 19

n Feature artist: CAROLInE STAnLEYaugust 30 - september 13

newzones gallery730 11 ave sWn Colleen Philippi – “Butterfly effect” May 31 – July 5. opening Reception saturday, May 31, 1 to 4 p.m. n “Flora” – Group exhibitionJuly 5 – august 23. opening Reception saturday, July 5, 1 to 4 p.m.

n “g’ddy Up!” – Group exhibitionJuly 5 – august 23. opening Reception saturday, July 5, 1 to 4 p.m.

n Western Reflections group Show 2014, July 3- 16. a selection of gallery artists working in the western spirit, including: andy petterson, Gregory hardy, harold Town, and more…

n group Show 2014, July 17- august 6. abstraction: Then and now. This exhibition features a cross section of abstraction starting with Western canadian forbearers of the movement, The Regina Five through to modern day renegades.

n Blue Skies group Show 2014, august 7 - 27. celebrating our bright blue skies with new works that have arrived by gallery artists, including: Joice M hall, Jim stokes, sylvain louis-seize, Robert Marchessault, Gregory hardy, and more…

Webster galleries812 11 ave sWn Annual Landscape Show. June 28-august 31. artists: various gallery artists.

Stephen Lowe Art gallerysuite 251-255 5 ave sW and suite 509-1851 sirocco dr sWn “The great Escape” June 9-21 artist: cameron Bird/lorna dockstader. downtown, Bow Valley square location. artists will be in attendance

n Artist Meet & greet: June 9th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. cameron Bird, portal peak light - Bow lake. lorna dockstader

Wallace galleriessuite a-500 5 ave sWn group Show 2014, June 5 - 18. new works that have arrived by gallery artists, including: simon andrew, Joice M hall, david newkirk, and more…

n Summer Solstice group Show 2014, June 19 - July 2. This exhibition features works by gallery artists: erin Mcsavaney, sylvain louis-seize, leslie poole, and more…

“Moments I Hold Dear” At just 27 years of age, Sheila Kernan has already been named an active member of Federation of Canadian Artists, been granted full membership into the Alberta Society of Artists, named to the Heritage Property Corporations Art Exhibition and honoured with the Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour’s Julias Griffith Memorial Award. Proof she’s as Calgarian as they come, however, Sheila has been a featured artist in the Stampede Rotary Dream home and had her work showcased in the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede Western Showcase. Gibson Fine Art

“Alegria X”Susana Espinoza. The exploration of color is the driver behind Susana’s painting. While dynamic shapes and the power of proportion provide the canvas for this interplay, her work is more about the hot and cold, the warm and cool and how they relate and communicate with one another. In her work, Susana pushes color pigments to near perfection by relying on her intuitive knowledge of colour therapy along with a complex application of mediums and supports. Gibson Fine Art

“Pink”Terri McKenny. Known for her unique and contemporary work with glass, Terri’s glass art is an original addition to any art collection. She is fascinated with the colour, texture, and the endless possibilities glass presents. Since 2006, Terri has worked out of her home-based studio in Calgary called Striking Glass.


Finding “le parti” is the central theme at Davignon

Martin’s homes

editor’s choice

n By peppeR RodRiGuez

There are dreamers and then there are builders. One can imagine and the other can create. An architect, to be successful, has to be a bit of both. After all, one doesn’t

just build a house; a home has to have soul, too.Calgary’s Richard Davignon, founder of Da-

vignon Martin Architecture + Interior Design firm, has long recognized this truth and has embraced it as the guiding principle for his company. Davignon, along with his partner, Doris Martin, imbues each of their creations with a singular and undeniable character of their own, which Davignon calls “le parti.”

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The phrase comes from the French Prendre parti meaning “to make a decision.” It is also often referred to as the big idea, and Davignon defines this as the “chief organizing thought or decision behind an architect’s design” presented in the form of a basic diagram or a even just a simple statement.

He says “le parti” unfolds the potential of a project by “manifesting beauty, giving structure to things that are hidden or subconscious,” and bringing what was once an intangible idea into reality.

This soul is immediately apparent in the range of commercial and hospitality/retail projects they have created, but nowhere else does it shine as brightly as in their residential developments.

Davignon, originally from Montreal, has been impressed by the exciting growth and diversity in design of custom homes that he has seen first-hand in Calgary. “There’s more of a willingness to try something new here, I find, it’s a very progressive-thinking city.”

His adventurous sense of residential design has certainly found a home here, as Davignon Mar-tin has created some of the most elegant inner-city residences.

“Calgary is such a young, vibrant city, and it was one of the things that attracted me to establish

The Ferrier Webb residence davignon Martin designed is

one of the most impressive in their portfolio.


it’s getting to know each other; we want to find out about their likes and dislikes to inform our design.”

Getting to know their customer is just the first step in the design equation. A big part is the actual site where the home will be built.

“We take a lot of inspiration from the actual site, each one has its individual properties that we can use to find the nature, and the soul, of the home,” Davignon says.

He cites an example of a home they are building by the banks of the Elbow River. “It backs right on the river, and the way the water has slowly formed the banks is what we took as inspiration for the way the house was built.

“It show how the home responds to its lo-cation,” he says, with the design following the contour of the landscape and opening up the back with plenty of windows and outdoor liv-ing spaces to give the owners every opportu-nity to enjoy the scenery.

The Ferrier Webb residence Davignon Mar-tin designed is one of the most impressive in their portfolio.

The 6,358 square-foot (above grade) home in Britannia draws inspiration from the over-all site, the dark staircase elevates upwards from the main floor, supported by a custom made metal handrail. Architectural interest is achieved for the exterior through the di-rectional use of materials and the contrast of warm wood with cool concrete.

By getting to know the lifestyle of the cli-ents, Davignon Martin were able to create timeless architecture as an ideal backdrop for the client’s art collection and furniture.

editor’s choice

»

my practice here,” Davignon says. He moved to Calgary in 1993 and shortly after earning his masters in architecture at the University of Calgary, started the company in 2001.

Martin, who is from Edmonton, joined in 2008, and brings her expertise in interior design to the table. “Richard was always designing something that challenges creativity, which I immediately liked. You hardly find yourself repeat-ing yourself creatively, and that freshness is something we strive for.”

Together, they work with their clients to find the core character of each home they design. It can be a painstaking effort that involves “not just talking to clients, but listening to them,” Davignon says. “It’s not just a business meeting,

Architectural interest is achieved for the exterior through the directional use of materials and the contrast of warm wood with cool concrete.

The 6,358 square-foot (above grade) home in Britannia draws inspiration from the overall site, the dark staircase elevates upwards from the main floor, supported by a custom made metal handrail.

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editor’s choice

to affect sustainability in Calgary, by building homes that last.”

Even their process in building a custom home is much different than the norm. Davignon compares their process to ordering at a tapas restaurant. “In the old days, you order all your food at the beginning of dinner and there’s no chance to alter the order once it’s placed. We have a less rigid process that can accommodate a client’s changing wishes,” he says.

clean lines, simple designs and durable functionality define this trend — think Mad Men sets.

The Mott residence is another fine example of the firm’s adventurous design spirit. It is a synthesis of a traditional “Edwardian-style” vertical house, Davignon says. Further de-scribing this residence as an “evolution in a se-ries that explores the formal reduction of the iconographic ‘home’ using familiar materials, massing, and type.”

Davignon says he has no favourites among his creations, he says it will be too much like picking a favourite child. “It’s enough that the client is happy, and that we find the soul of the home.”

Martin says she has noticed a trend for Mid-Century Modern design, which has helped them create timeless homes. Clean lines, sim-ple designs and durable functionality define this trend — think Mad Men sets. “We put our own spin to this design, and call it New Centu-ry Modern that we see as combining modern, minimalist elements with a more traditional approach that softens the edges.”

With all the talk about sustainability in home building that the industry talks about, what Davignon Martin truly excels at is creat-ing “socially sustainable homes.”

“That means a home that you will live in for a long time, after all how sustainable is a home even with all these green features when you tear it down after a few years to build some-thing new?” Davignon asks. “I come from Mon-treal where homes were handed down to the next generation, and that is the how we want

There are different circumstances in building each home, but Davignon Martin says design-ing a home usually takes six to eight months, and building it ranges from 12 to 15 months. Building a custom home with them starts in the $1.2 million range.

“Building a home for a client is a life-long bond, we start the relationship as business partners, but in the end, we become friends,” Davignon says. D

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The ebb and flow of Calgary’s million-dollar market continues in riverside communities

hiGh and dRyn By RichaRd WhiTe

A s we approach the first year anniversary of the great flood of 2013, I thought it would be interesting to see what impact it had on inner-city luxury home design and the housing market in the upscale communi-ties that were impacted.

The most obvious changes in house design has been to raise the elevations of the entire basement, higher concrete window wells at ground level, water proof all window barriers, move all electrical systems and panels to the main floor or to the garage. Nothing too exciting or earth shattering, but logical changes (more later).

We have also seen a bit of a shift in where luxury homebuy-ers are looking. Communities like Altadore have broken the two million dollar barrier as buyers are moving to higher ground. Britannia, BelAir and Mayfair have seen their listings sell faster and at higher prices, also as the lower Elbow Park, Glencoe and Roxboro buyers moved up Elbow Drive, but not past the dreaded Glenmore Trail barrier.

In chatting with Ross Aitken at RE/MAx, his observation is that West Hillhurst and Hillhurst have never seen more interest from today’s lux-ury homebuyer. These two communities did not flood and their proximity to the river pathways, downtown, Kensington, SAIT, ACAD, University of Calgary and Mount Royal, as well as both the Foothills and Children’s Hospitals making them a very attractive choice for urban professionals. He pointed out that the 22 one-million-dollar-plus home sales in these two communities since the flood is more than Altadore and Elbow Park.

Aitken also pointed out to me that in the 10 months prior to the flood only 20 per-cent of the million-dollar plus homes sold in Calgary were

eye on custom homes

»

Some residents of Riverdale avenue sW, beside stanley park, one of the hardest hit areas in last year’s flood, have taken a different approach to potential flooding in 2014. We’ve nicknamed this homeowner ‘noah’.

in the N.W. quadrant, but that number has risen to 28 per cent for the 10 months since the flood. While the upscale homebuyer, especially the oil patch execu-tives have always preferred the S.W., perhaps that is changing.

One might think the inner-city luxury homebuyer might have moved out of the city entirely, but that is not the case. Westside acreages in communities like Elbow Valley and Stone Pine are not moving quickly, in fact their sales have stagnated and prices are being reduced significantly to get a sale. One theory is that today’s homebuyer is more “amenity conscious” and while living on an acreage has its advantages, it might not be enough anymore for the young hip GABESTER families (geologist, accountants, bankers, brokers and


n Richard White is the urban strategist at Ground3 landscape architects and has written about urban design, living and development for over 25 years. you can follow him on twitter @everydaytourist or his blog at www.everydaytourist.ca.

eye on custom homes

prone area to create an expensive home theatre space in the basement with lots of high-end built-ins like a bar and or vintage wine cellar. Have we seen the last of the walk-out base-ment to the river?

LAST WORD The impact of the flood of 2013 is not over and mitigation discussions are sure to continue for years.

In March, homeowners in Elbow Park, El-boya, Ramsay, Erlton, Mission and Rideau-Roxboro area concerned about riverbank repairs, a new berm and flood barrier work cur-rently underway at Stampede Park questioned what impact redirected flood water might have on their homes. This is just the beginning of what is sure to be long and heated debates on the impact, cost and value of proposed flood mitigation projects.

The demand for homes in Calgary’s Elbow River communities continue to be strong. There has not been a mass exodus from these communities as one might have expected. In

engineers) who want to be close to live music and theatre venues, spin class/yoga studios, Calgary’s growing café/patio culture and hav-ing the option to cycle or walk to work.

You might think the luxury buyers would be looking at the Bow River’s northside ridge communities of Crescent Heights, Rosedale, Houndview Heights, Briar Hill and St. Andrew Heights. However, the new magnificent man-sions on the ridge in St. Andrew’s heights are struggling to sell. The impact of the flood on prices and sales in the other Bow River ridge homes has been more or less neutral.

Recently, the City of Calgary passed tougher new rules for rebuilding homes in flood-prone areas. Things like all new homes and buildings in the flood fringe and overland flow areas must be 60-metres from the edge of the Bow River and 30-metres from the Elbow, Nose Creek or West Nose Creek.

All new homes must also be constructed at a minimum of 0.3 metres above the highest grade existing on the street abutting the par-cel of land that contains the building and all electrical and mechanical equipment must be located at or above the first floor.

Paul Battistella, whose inner-city home was flooded and is General Manager of Battistella Developments builders of new condos in the Beltline, East Village and Hillhurst agrees with the changes. He would add that new homes in flood prone areas should also be installing large sump pumps in the basement with porta-ble back-up generators in case of power failure and thicker basement slabs and waterproofing of foundation to avoid ground water issues, which was a big part of the flooding problem last year.

Battistella indicated the City has to proceed with caution regarding how it applies the new rules to existing homeowners so as not to be punitive to those wanting to do modest reno-vations and additions to existing homes.

Some are even questioning the wisdom of using the basement as a living space at all. It is probably not the best idea if you are in a flood

many ways it is business as usual for luxury home and condo sales in 2014. The sale of luxury homes (over one million dollars) for the first four months of 2014 is up 12.8 per cent from the same period in 2013. When one looks at two million plus sales, the numbers are almost identical in 2014 and 2013 for the January to April period in the flood-affected communities.

Another sign the flood has not deterred Cal-gary’s luxury home owners from investing and living along the river is the commencement of construction since the flood of the uber chic THE RIVER condo located on the bank of the Elbow River in Mission.

Indeed, Calgarians love living near their riv-ers “come hell or high water!” D

The city of calgary passed tougher new rules for rebuilding homes in flood-prone areas. Things like all new homes and buildings in the flood fringe and overland flow areas must be 60-metres from the edge of the Bow River and 30 metres from the elbow.


home spotlight

Luxurious oasis

(above) The RIVER’s dreamy gourmet kitchen is the envy of every chef and features elegant caesarstone countertops and the most modern appliances, including Wolf Ranges and subzero refrigerators.

(opposite page) The RIVER has 38 residences including 12 Riverhomes and 26 Towerhomes in the 15-storey tower. construction is to be completed by the summer of 2015.

THE RIVER

The same ultra-luxurious finish, the same

heavenly riverside lifestyle, but with a flood-

mitigation game plan that has been kicked up

several notches — THe RIVER is proving to be as

resilient as the community it is going up in, and

as irresistible to Calgary’s high-end buyers as it

ever was.

A year after Calgary’s historic floods, the

riverside community of mission is back on its feet

and is as lively and vibrant as ever. And although

the floods may have pushed construction back

a few months, THe RIVER is now back on track

and, ultimately, may be even better for it.

The ultra-luxury condo being built by an

affiliate of Ledcor Properties on the banks of the

elbow river in mission is already back to making

waves in Calgary’s high-end residential market

and sales seem to have picked up right where it

left off before the flood.

Key to getting their game back on was the

redesign the developers did to better cope

with any future potential flooding.

“Our ground floor has been raised so that it

is now above the highest watermark recorded

at the site during the June floods,” THe RIVER’s

Anne Clarke says. All electrical and mechanical

systems are also located above grade to offer

great protection.

THe RIVER promises to be the premiere

upscale condo development in the city, and had

set records for highest priced condos sold in

Calgary. It has sold 28 of its 38 homes, including

a 5,626 square-feet penthouse in its 15-storey

tower that went for $8.99 million.

But what speaks volumes for the development

is that all of THe RIVER’s buyers continue to

be excited about the project. “All our buyers

are philanthropists whose main concern is

giving back to the community. It has been such

a pleasure working with such a kind-hearted

group,” Clarke says.

she feels THe RIVER’s success is assured.

“many Calgarians still want the wonderful

experience of waterfront living,” Clarke says. “Our

design enhancement offers our residents peace

of mind and our purchasers are thrilled.”


THE RIVER

home spotlight

(right) its sleek and stylish master ensuite has just the amount of sophistication and polish that makes THE RIVER a luxury development unlike any calgary has seen before with features like italian marble flooring, heavy-gauge glass shower stalls and a heavenly stand-alone soaker tub.

(below) homes here are designed to encompass all the great features of an estate home such as size, privacy and exclusivity, but with the convenience of a condo lifestyle. Engineered hardwood flooring and enormous amount of custom built-ins make it as luxuriously comfortable as any acreage mansion.


home spotlight

southern Alberta’s acreages have long been the stronghold of

traditional home designs, Arts & Crafts and Tudor elevations with

pitched roof lines have dominated the landscape, reflecting a love

for the conventional. But that idyllic landscape is changing. more

and more homes in the areas surrounding Calgary are sporting a

more sophisticated, modern feel. This 3,007-square-foot family

home in Priddis reflects this emerging contemporary style best.

The rolling foothills serves as the perfect backdrop for this

two-storey, five-bedroom home with fully developed lower level.

It is designed with the distinct characteristics of the Prairie

style popularized Frank Lloyd Wright, like shallow, sloping roofs

and clean sky lines with long, oversized windows that allow a

connection between the interior and nature outside.

But though it may be contemporary in appearance, its charm is

in the functionality found inside that still adheres to the notions of

traditional family values Albertans hold dear.

Perched high on a hill overlooking a pond with breath taking

panoramic views of the rocky mountains, this mark milne listing

sits over a three-acre site that was designed as a family getaway

with easy access for weekends or even weekdays.

Modern prairie

aRchiTecTuRal MasTeRpiece in pRiddis

(opposite page, top) The timeless exterior is composed of engineered wood with a standing seam metal roof. Three beautiful lexan glass garage doors add a lasting architectural flourish. It also has a fully developed lower level with two more guest rooms and bath, as well as a theatre area and billiards room.

(opposite page, bottom) The sleek kitchen is finished in flat panel cherry with the best of appliances including names such as Bosch and dacor. Quartz counters and simple tile work makes this area very refreshing.

(below) The living area features two walls of windows and a contemporary danish fireplace that adds to the modern European feel of the home. The exquisite natural scenery of priddis provides a scenic, idyllic background.


aRchiTecTuRal MasTeRpiece in pRiddis

home spotlight

(opposite page, below) The home’s simple, modern lines are mirrored in the master ensuite which provides a relaxing, boutique-hotel feel. Quartz countertops, oversized glass standing shower and heated tile flooring give it a look of executive comfort.

(opposite page, top) This home on 224093 148 avenue West, priddis, is listed at $1.689 million and is equipped with some of the latest sustainable features, including pella gas filled windows, Toto low flush toilets, sound rough-ins and a high tech septic field.

(right) The oversized triple garage is 12-feet high, which can accommodate a car lift or ample overhead storage. It is heated for additional comfort and the perfect escape for car enthusiasts. it also comes with internet and cable connections, a central vac system, work benches and storage shelving.

(right) The upper floor features two secondary bedrooms, a full bath, oversize laundry area with a wall of storage cabinets. But the grand master suite is it’s most distinguishing feature with a ceiling that vaults to 13 feet with wrap around glass windows. The view from this vantage point can’t be put into words.


Mike Holmes-approved home weathers nature’s fury

a lasTinG

sToRy By KaRen duRRie n phoToGRaphy By Ken TayloR

lifestyle

Jon and Jennifer Conquergood spent a lot of time designing a sustainable house that would last a long time and would contain built-in efficiencies that would reduce their family’s environmental footprint — a bit of a gift to Mother Nature, if you will.

But not long after it was finished, Mother Nature ironi-cally served up a heavy blow to the home when last June’s flood forced a sewage backup into the basement of the Elboya-area house. The Elbow River is just across the street from it.

About four feet of sewage invaded the beautifully finished basement of the 6,800 square-foot (including 2,500 square-foot basement), three-story home.

As it’s being renovated, the rest of the house has become a de facto storage area. Dozens of rescued bottles of wine from the basement wine fridge line the counter of the butler’s pantry. Camping gear is stacked in the attached greenhouse.

The Conquergoods are remarkably Zen about the situation, but then it’s easier to be calm when you’re sitting inside a custom-designed space that is visually soothing and infused with what could be some of the cleanest air in town.

The journey to the completion of the Conquergoods’ dream home has been a fascinating one that started with a tiny 1951 bungalow located where their mansion now sits, and ended with the involvement of a famous Canadian contractor and TV host.

The Conquergoods have lived on the lot since 1999, when Jon pur-chased the bungalow from his best friends’ mother.

“I always planned to build something large on it,” Jon says.The bungalow was on a 50-foot lot. When another 50-foot lot came

up for sale two doors down from him, Jon paired up with his neighbour to purchase it, and the pair split their three lots into two 75-foot-wide packages, on which each would build new homes.

But Jon didn’t want to build unless he could get home improvement guru Mike Holmes to do it.

The host of Holmes on Holmes was going to be in Okotoks working on his new, energy-efficient Wind Walk community, and Jon, a mechanical engineer, fired off an e-mail to the

desiGn


Mike holmes. photo courtesy

Jon conquergood

“…we wanted to maximize the light coming in so even with the cold and snow in the winter, we’d have a lot of sun.”

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show asking if the house that he wanted to de-sign could act as a testing ground for trades-people who would be used at Wind Walk.

The producers took him up on his proposition. Holmes researched Calgary builders, and se-lected Taradar Fine Homes to build the house. Seth Atkins, director of the Holmes Approved Homes program, is the architect that designed the house, which is built to exacting Holmes standards.

“We spent a year working on design, and two years of construction,” Jon said.

Jon and Jennifer spent time melding their particular wants and needs — Jennifer has more traditional tastes, and Jon enjoys con-temporary design.

Both wanted the house to be energy efficient and to take full advantage of the beautiful view of the city skyline and the vista of the river.

“We had just come back from living in the Caribbean for two years, and we wanted to maximize the light coming in so even with the cold and snow in the winter, we’d have a lot of sun,” Jennifer says.

And light it is, with triple-pane windows on all sides of the home, open spaces, high ceil-ings, and well-placed LED lighting throughout.

The house’s green factor is top-notch.

The exterior features Parklex, a resin-impregnated wood that is resis-tant to staining, moulding and fading. Underneath, the house is con-structed from Blu-Wood, a pest, fungus and moisture-resistant treated wood. Double-thick exterior walls are packed with spray foam insula-tion. And any areas featuring water — from kitchen to bathrooms to laundry room — are wrapped with waterproof membrane and have moisture sensors.


Low VOC paint and finishes help reduce tox-ic emissions from solvents. Solar panels on the roof and solar water heating reduce electricity bills. The house’s impressive fireplaces have no chimneys; they burn clean with denatured al-cohol.

And the noticeably pure air in the home is thanks to a commercial air handler with three different types of filters.

The air is also oxygenated by a magnificent living wall, which wends from the open stair-well in the basement up to the top floor of the house, and features bright red bromeliads, lush arrowheads and other greenery.

Every area of the house has been carefully considered as to how to best meet the family’s needs.

The couple’s children, Nathan, 15, Jack, 13, and Jane, 10, plus dog Gypsy and cat Stan all have special spaces. Gypsy even has her own locker in the home’s mudroom.

Jane’s room is as girly as it gets, with hot pink, flocked damask wallpaper from England a pink chandelier, and floral-print bedding and bathroom linens.

Jennifer is a big fan of organization and appropriate storage, and has seen to it that there’s plenty of cabinetry to hide clutter. Cus-tom Poliform closets feature in the bedrooms and around the home.

The basement is currently being renovated to its former glory, and shut-off valves have been installed to prevent any similar disaster in the future.

The air is also oxygenated by a magnificent living wall, which wends from the open stairwell in the basement up to the top floor of the house.


The media room will once again feature a 500-lb sliding “barn” door that effectively si-lences noise from TV, stereo, or video games.

The main floor kitchen features a massive is-land topped with a single piece of granite, and a tidy butler’s pantry with slide-out racks and drawers. A steam oven, built-in Miele coffee machine, and a hydroponic fridge for growing herbs are also found in the pantry.

The view of the backyard from the kitchen and living room includes a mature poplar tree, wide expanse of patio with a pizza oven, and the detached garage, whose green roof blooms with native wildflowers and grasses in warmer months.

The neutral palette of the home reflects the Conquergoods’ natural and organic tastes. Limestone flooring, granite, wood, and a beachy, pebbled floor in Jennifer’s sunken meditation corner in the pair’s master bedroom all reflect their green ideals.

The house’s final price tag is one which the pair decline to put on the record. They contend it’s a good investment for what they plan to be their forever home.

In trademark Conquergood forward thinking, they have ensured all liv-ing spaces will be accessible should they develop mobility issues, and there is an elevator that goes from the basement to the top floor.

“We wanted a high-quality build, low maintenance, that won’t degrade for at least 50 years,” Jon says.

And not only did the couple get their coveted Holmes home, Jon got a job out of the experience. He’s now a business development officer for Holmes Approve Homes and is helping the company expand across Canada. D

lifestyle


Can’t judge a book by its cover, but this selection may just be as good as it looks

in the cellar

cheeRs To

suMMeRn By shelley BoeTTcheR

Looks aren’t everything, of course, whether we’re talking about wine, books, cars, food or people. But they certainly have an effect on how we look at things.

Take the following list of wines and spirits, for instance. Their packaging ranges from clear glass hockey sticks to crystal decanters, as unique and interesting as the products they contain.

Some, obviously, are more rare than others. This year, Albertans have the opportunity to acquire a couple of unusual, limited-edition tawny Ports from Taylor Fladgate. Seek them out at finer wine shops if they pique your interest. They won’t last long, even at these prices.

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Taylor Fladgate 1964 Very Old Single Harvest Port (Douro, Portugal)Here’s an impressive gift for anyone turning 50 years old, or anyone celebrating a 50th wedding anniversa-ry. Or, really, for just anyone you want to give a rather magical and rare tawny Port. Considering its age, it’s still fresh and well-balanced, with almond, candied lemon peel, spice and warm caramel notes. The finish just goes on and on. Packaged in a simple yet beauti-ful beechwood box. Suggested retail price: $249


in the cellar

Alen Bibich, R6 (Dalmatia, Croatia)Hotshot young winemaker Alen Bibich makes wines on the Croatian coast, just across the Adriatic Sea from Italy. His wines aren’t expensive — yet — but they’re incredibly good, with a focus on indigenous varietals, dry farming (no irrigation) and old vines. Celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain is a big fan — I’d repeat what he had to say about the wines, but in true Bourdain style, it con-tains a cuss word or two.

R6 is a red blend made from hand-harvested Babic, Plavin and Lasin grapes, all found pri-marily in Croatia. One for fans of Pinot Noir, it has notes of tart cherries and mint. It’s drinking beautifully now, but it can also cellar for a while. Suggested retail price: $29

Taylor Fladgate 1863 Single Harvest Port (Douro, Portugal)One of the founding Port houses, Taylor Fladgate was established in 1652 and has been influencing the world’s Port fans ever since. This unique cask-aged tawny spent more than 150 years in oak before being bottled in its handcrafted crystal decanter. (The bottle has then been encased in a sexy maple burl veneer box.) Very few bottles

have been made, and even fewer will make their way to Canada. Taylor Fladgate’s CEO, Adrian Bridge, perhaps sums this beauty up best: “It’s a fascinating

glimpse into the past.” Indeed. Suggested retail price: $3,995

n Shelley Boettcher is a national cBc wine columnist and an award-winning food and wine writer. The third edition of her book, uncorked: The definitive Guide to alberta’s Best Wines $25 and under, is in stores now.

glen Spey, Limited Edition 21-Year-Old (Spreyside, Scotland)Glen Spey was founded in 1884 in an old oatmeal mill in the town of Rothes, in Northeastern Scotland, near the Spey River. Most of the distillery’s production goes to-ward the popular, and less-expensive J&B blends. Single-malt fans, however, will want to check out this very special smooth-tast-ing amber-hued beauty. Expect notes of marzipan, coconut, caramel and vanilla. Suggested retail price: About $375

High Stick Vodka(Edmonton, Alberta)You’re forgiven if you buy High Stick Vodka because of the packaging. After all, we’re Canadian and it isn’t exactly every day that we see a hand-blown glass “bottle” that pays hom-age to our favourite sport. But the vodka inside is premium, filtered 18 times, and made from Canadian wheat at a distill-

ery in Kelowna. (The company behind it, however, is from Ed-monton). Serve it, of course, with ice; shouldn’t all good hockey sticks see some ice time? Sug-gested retail price: $100

DOMUS - Summer 2014

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