The family’s priority was to connect as much as possible to nature while living in the city. They wanted immediate access to the outdoors through doors and decks, but they also wanted to make the Northwest’s mutable grey light a key feature inside. The new house is 30% smaller than what zoning permitted: part of a strategy to create a compact, efficient and economical house. This also allows 50% of the site to be vegetated including 25 new trees. In addition to energy conservation measures and sustainable materials, all electricity will be provided by an array of solar panels on the roof.