Building Casa Spiritus Sancti

One day in a meditation the idea of Casa Spiritus Sancti (Sancti) came to light. I took the leap of faith and jumped in heart first.

Sancti (house, gardens and studio) are designed using a whole systems approach. Harmonizing work and living to promote sustainability. Creating a space to connect with the Divine spark in each of us. I did not design or build this house alone. I had many helpers along the way and I am thankful for their support.

The help of my friend, retired architect Bill Reid. Over Saturday morning coffee at the local Yellowknife bistro Bill inspired me to dream and draw until the initial design was created. Harmonizing the house with the land, sun and wind. Learning to admire what mother nature offered. Bringing into light a place to share. A place to regenerate and rejuvenate. Encouraging me to trust myself and my inspiration.

Local Kelowna based architect, Brett Sichello, Principal of NIDO https://www.nido.design who provided insight into the wall, window,roof and floor systems to achieve high energy efficiency house. To quote Brett "Great buildings are more than just a pretty picture, they are system of components expertly put together to enrich lives."

Kelowna architect, Randy Fox https://www.foxarchitecture.ca/about talked me through passive cooling and his newly designed radon guard works silently under my floor slab.

James Zelnick, Jazel Homes of West Kelowna https://www.jazelhomes.com/ who worked with my ideas and made the house materialize. His staff and contractors respected my choices throughout the process from non-toxic finishes to saving the old 5000 gallon rain water cistern and cast iron tub. Restoring, reusing and re-purposing where feasible.

My family. Marcy my mother who let me stay with her for the last 6 months of the project. My co-financier and spouse Wade. He graciously let me run the project, lived at my mothers for several weeks and only lost his sense of humour a reasonable number of times. Okay times up.

And finally my intuitive vision and trust that lead me down the garden path, through the garden gate, past the veils of uncertainty and finally home.

Sancti's design and build were guided by intersecting ideas, an ecosystem approach to health and wellbeing.

Aging in Place https://www.nahb.org/en/learn/designations/certified-aging-in-place-specialist/related-resources/aging-in-place-remodeling-checklist.asp So that we can keep on living, working and gardening well into our 80's and beyond.....yes we do have quite a few years to go.

Food/Water Security. Sancti is landscaped with vegetables, herbs, berries, fruit and nut trees. It's xeriscaped (low water) with perennials even over the septic system to attract pollinators and satisfy my aromatherapy passions. My plants on the septic are just for the pollinators.....one never knows what might be percolating given the amount of company we entertain.

Yes there is a pool. For our family it's a fiberglass salty appetizer that feeds the soul on hot days. In permaculture design the pool and the rain water cistern are backup water sources in the event of forest fires. Since Peachland's had forest fire evacuation notices/orders 2 years in a row and nasty smoke, my pool man spouse was right to want one. No I'm not drinking the salt water ....at least not intentionally. The cistern rain water also nourishes the plant life at Sancti.

Healthy House https://www.ukgbc.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Healthy-Homes-Full-Report.pdf. We spend a lot of time in our homes living and sleeping and in buildings working. Lets make them healthy, breathable and beautiful. Finishes, paint, adhesives, sealants and flooring are non-toxic. The polished concrete floor is the color of the lake. Our Zehnder comfoair 350 air handling system gives us fresh air and kept the smoky air out of the house during the summer fire season. We have efficient sealed gas fireplaces and a humidity indicator. Yup I like the humidity at about 30% for my respiratory health.

Permaculture ethics and 12 design principles https://permacultureprinciples.com/principles/ indicating we are interconnected and must consider all around us including the wind, water, bear, deer and even that pesky raccoon if our ecosystem is to be efficient and feed us. Because we have a pool we have a fence. A smart idea given the amount of wildlife on the property. We fenced so as not to disturb the natural animal trails. So far the deer and bear are cooperating. I left them some nice white clover to munch on in the courtyard. I consider this the art of distraction.

Passive House https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/build-a-passive-house.aspx

One of the higher standards for energy efficiency going beyond the building code to produce a sustainable home that will last for many years. Thick rock wool insulated walls with separate utility service channels Euroline 4700 series windows, Energy Star appliances, fireplaces, systems, LED lights, in-floor heating under thick cement slab floor that manages the temperature....polished to perfection. For the summer a cupola for passive night cooling when you open the windows. Air conditioning for when it's not feasible to open windows like on smoky days.

Moving Day

We moved into Sancti on December 23rd, 2016. Since moving in we have been happily entertaining, working, and creating the food gardens. What did I learn? To trust in others and in the process. To set aside extra money because building your dream costs. To never give up on your dream if you want it to materialize. In 2017 the town of Peachland graciously awarded me their first Green Citizen of the year award. This honours those who helped birth Sancti, and to them I am filled with gratitude and awe.

Sancti studio, house and gardens

This blog is dedicated to my friend and architect Bill Reid who passed away in Yellowknife in December 2018. Missed but not forgotten. You inspired me to vision and create my dream. Your generous spirit will walk with me always.