Combining evolving technology with past traditions for a modern lifestyle, the 2017 Future Dream Home™ by Probuilt Design + Build, for the first time, is an actual design and build project for a Toronto client. The 2,700 square foot home will be built on location at the National Home Show presented by RE/MAX and co-located with Canada Blooms taking place at Toronto’s Enercare Centre, where it will be available for the public to tour from March 10-19, 2017 before being re-built on the homeowner’s land. For additional information, please visit www.futuredreamhome.ca.

«In response to the global challenge of creating a more sustainable society, the Future Dream Home is a celebration of luxurious architecture and design that combines innovative building techniques and products fused with integrated smart-home technologies,» states Michael Upshall, founder/builder Probuilt Design + Build. «It responds to lifestyle expectations and environmentally conscious design principles by embracing experimentation, innovation and nature.»

The building incorporates modular and panelized systems that are factory-built and shipped to the site for assembly. The precision of this process means less construction waste and a tighter, stronger and more cost-effective building. Constructing the modules and panels in a climate-controlled facility helps to prevent warping, mold, and other damage caused by weather. The panels also take less time to raise, reducing on-site construction time and cost.

The Future Dream Home features:
• Traditional building techniques (post and beam construction)
• Sustainable technology
• Energy efficiency
• Recycled materials
• Healthy lifestyle
• Luxurious architectural design
• Landscape integration

The exterior of the Future Dream Home features Permacon Be On Stone and the new flush mount Trespa Pura natural fibre core siding, featuring an unparalleled UV stable and virtually maintenance free finish. Permacon Provence slab creates the look of natural stone pathways.

«Cut-away educational areas throughout the Future Dream Home showcase the building products and installation methods,» says Upshall. «For the first time, the lighting is dimmed to provide soft lighting in the landscape and on the Future Dream Home to replicate an evening setting.»

LUXURIOUS INTERIORS BY BEDFORD BROOKS DESIGN

When Bedford Brooks Design was asked to design the interior of the Future Dream Home, their challenge was to showcase the latest and greatest design elements seamlessly tied together to inspire visitors to the National Home Show with innovative and beautiful design while at the same time creating an impeccably designed home for a real-life family with a wish list including simplicity, function and Feng Shui design principles.

«Design is about being challenged and the constant need to bring something new, innovative and unique to every project,» says Peter Brooks, principal designer, Bedford Brooks Design. «Working with partners like Probuilt, Perola Kitchens, Fisher and Paykel, Tessera and Carrocel truly inspired the creative process for the entire design team as we were able to create a design story inspired by the beauty and uniqueness of new natural and raw materials, customizable design solutions and unique applications of various products.»

Perola’s kitchen is a show stopper with its exotic African veneers, Brazilian stainless steel and Vicostone quartz slab counter-tops. The use of this new mixed media is taken to another level with the incredible craftsmanship by Perola. State-of-the-art appliances from Fisher and Paykel include the revolutionary DishDrawer™ Dishwasher, the latest technology induction cooktop and the CoolDrawer™, designed to change from a refrigerator to a freezer at the touch of a button. Tessera has transformed Vicostone quartz into crafted tile mosaics in the foyer and powder room.

The jaw-dropping interior features a finely curated selection of one-of-a kind custom furnishings and accessories from Carrocel. Custom drapery, bedding and pillows from Amazing Window Fashions provide the perfect accents to every room. On the technology front, Panasonic’s latest innovations not only in the A/V arena, but also their amazing line-up of interior doors and closet organizers, will be showcased. Art from Jim Connelly brings the rooms to life. Benjamin Moore’s «Shadow» palette is featured throughout.

The Future Dream Home team has sourced specific furniture pieces from the Furniture Bank that creative artist Jim Connelly has transformed using custom art and paint finishes. These repurposed pieces will be found throughout the home and will be auctioned off, with all proceeds going to the Furniture Bank.

TRANQUIL ZEN GARDENS BY EDEN TREE DESIGN

The Future Dream Home has been designed around the lifestyle of the family who will eventually live in it. As a result, the Eden Tree Design team met with the future owners to bring their wish list to life. They wanted a Feng Shui or Zen garden to reflect their very balanced and simple lifestyle. Their basic requirements included a fire pit, outdoor dining, a place to meditate or practice Tai Chi and the ability to immerse themselves into the landscape.

«Working with these requests, we married traditional design styles of Zen Gardens with a clean modern simplicity to achieve a balance through the surrounding landscape and complement the architecture of the Future Dream Home,» states Scott McCuaig, principal, Eden Tree Design. «The modern angular lines and various layers and levels of the home’s façade are balanced with circular organic lines in the landscape to soften its presence. In the Chinese philosophy of Ying and Yang these two opposites or contrary forces become complimentary and interconnected giving rise to each other as they balance each other out.»

Miniature landscapes incorporate the traditional Zen practices of garden design. This is achieved by symbolic representation of mountains in the use of stone boulders, ripples of water in the use of raked gravel beds, organic runs of river stone resemble river beds, bonsai plantings represent large trees and moss plantings amongst the gravel as islands. The miniature landscape can be seen from several rooms in the home and become a calming and tranquil vista that is just as important to the interior as it is to the exterior. The Zen rock garden on a raised dasso. XTR bamboo deck in the rear yard can be used for mediation or Tai Chi.

The fire pit lounge area adjacent the Zen rock garden is a secondary area in the garden. This feature becomes a smaller circular area in the landscape with a round Corten fire bowl, circular seating, a custom curved bench and a curved Corten sculpture screen as a back drop.

«We have introduced the elements of fire, water, earth and wood into the design through simple focal points and features of the gardens,» adds McCuaig. «The most important concept for the Future Dream Home design team was to ensure a strong flow or connection of interior and exterior by bringing exterior finishes inside and vice versa.»

The deck area has two access points from the main living area and is surrounded on three sides by the Future Dream Home’s exterior walls creating a cozy courtyard featuring a round dining table, a round spa, a Bob Grillson barbecue that can be controlled from a smart phone as well as a green wall with an inset weather proof television. A simple pergola structure with an automated awning allows for shade and protection from the elements.

The choice of plant material strengthens the Zen garden theme by incorporating meaningful and symbolic plants such as the cherry blossom for fragility and beauty. A pine tree which symbolizes masculinity and power or longevity, youth, and virtue, introduces the philosophy of Ying and Yang for balance. Many other symbolic plants including flowering dogwood, rhododendron, fern, moss, and birch have been selected to surround the home with simple beauty.

SOURCE: National Home Show

* * *