Todd Talbot Builds: The Passive House Project

Kick off construction with Todd and his wife, Rebecca, who face challenges on Day 1 when a windstorm blocks the road. See what architect Monty Wood and designer Ami McKay have in store for this high-tech A-frame as they begin laying the foundation.

Sweat it out as Todd and engineer Jim Mandelli bring the property’s access road up to code. Fight the temptations of summer vacation as a heat dome settles over the A-frame site and a wildfire forces head carpenter Peter Conolly to evacuate his home.

Stand by as disaster befalls a crew member just as the Talbots start working with Ami to make their design selections. See Todd button up for the winter before an atmospheric river wreaks havoc across B.C. and materials for the A-frame get delayed.

Celebrate the A-frame's progress on Todd's 50th birthday as the Talbots vow to learn from last summer's disasters. Watch the home's space-age insulation go in before Todd realizes that no contractor is willing to take on his ultra-steep roof.

Witness a miracle as a social media callout nets a roofer who can handle the steep angle. Get a shock when the special, made-in-Poland windows won't fit down the drive, then feel the satisfaction when everything comes together before winter arrives.

Buzz around as the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems go in, and marvel at the home's passive powers. Reflect on the beauty of a job well done (and on the importance of working with the right people) as the final design comes together.