When Maria and Kamiar started developing their Carroll Gardens townhouse, they weren't lifelong building nerds — they were young developers who did their research, saw the commercial case for Passive House certification, and decided the incremental cost was a no-brainer for what they'd get in return. In this video, architect Michael walks through the finished home floor by floor, showing how Passive House principles quietly enabled design moves that wouldn't have been possible otherwise: north-facing glass walls that perform without penalty, no radiators or bulky ductwork cluttering the living spaces, and a garden floor dug down to create real ceiling height in what would have been a crawl space. You'll see how the Stego wrap vapor barrier runs continuously from below grade all the way up to the envelope, how the Zehnder ERV tucks behind an access panel in the laundry room, and how Ikon triple-pane windows open effortlessly onto private outdoor terraces on every level. The developers sum it up well: last summer's wildfire smoke drove home exactly why filtered, continuously fresh air matters — and why they can't wait to raise a family here. If you've ever wondered whether you have to trade design quality for building performance, this house is your answer.
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