“It was challenging in a non-typical way for us. “This project proved to be a bit of a learning curve for us,” says Andre D’Elia, a principal at Superkül and lead architect. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The pond is part of a connected stream system that flows to the Pine River, so it meant getting a raft of approvals from the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority and the Niagara Escarpment Commission. There is a sharply rising hill to the north of the home that sheds large amounts of water during rains and the spring thaw the far shore of a large pond acts as the southern boundary.
Building at the top of the hill would have destroyed the relationship of the house to the pond, so it was built on the site of the existing house.
The property rises steeply about 20 metres above the pond. The site itself imposed significant constraints. “Building healthy, which was our mandate to everyone, is primarily about the materials, although design can contribute to the overall health of the living environment,” he adds. In addition, every trade had to read the portion of the book that pertained to their area. “We insisted that they and Wilson Project Management, our builder, read and adhere to the guidance in Prescriptions for a Healthy House: A Practical Guide for Architects, Builders and Homeowners,” Mr. To shape the über-healthy abode they needed, the Tudhopes commissioned award-winning Toronto architectural firm Superkül. Mulmur has the rolling hills, clean air, abundant fresh water and lack of industrial activity that we were looking for.” And it was those attributes that led them to pick this picturesque spot, a well-treed, 11-acre property with a two-acre pond, for their summer residence for five months of the year. “After I moved to Dallas to marry Barbara, we spent part of our summer vacations in the Creemore area, visiting friends and playing golf at Mad River Golf Club. “But both can have serious acute and chronic health consequences for someone like Barbara, and, in truth, for almost anyone.” The sixtysomething couple divide their time between Mulmur and their other residence in Dallas, Tex. “Almost all construction and renovation uses building materials that off-gas volatile organic compounds, and contractors generally pay little attention to electrical and magnetic fields in the homes they build,” says Mr. As such, construction protocols for their one-storey, 2,150-sq.-ft., two-bedroom, two-bathroom home in Mulmur, near the Niagara Escarpment, dictated that no solvents, no gas-fuelled tools, and no combustion heaters be used in the building process. “Barbara was making gains in her health after enduring years when her immune system was so compromised by toxic chemicals and poor function that it attacked almost everything in her body,” her husband, Hilton Tudhope says. Because Barbara Tudhope has severe allergies and acute sensitivities to dust, pollen, electromagnetic radiation (EMF) and a long list of construction materials, the couple designed their home to foster an environment that doesn’t cause her any adverse reaction. Each material had to be sniff-tested and touched to gauge the reaction. That’s why the Tudhopes tested every block and board built into their new home. It’s a problem not many builders think about, but it can be of huge concern to allergy sufferers. Article contentįor those with allergies, just about anything in a house can be a source of irritation. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected.