True sustainability deals with the 'three pillars', which include the environmental, but also include the social and economical. The Passive Narrow House responds to each tenet with an understated elegance. This eco-conscious home is designed to take advantage of the earth's never-ending capacity to heat, cool, and ventilate, while using materials and building systems which are durable and tread lightly on the environment. Social sustainability is incorporated by promoting a culture of minimalism, social awareness, and environmentalism. In a city like Vancouver, owning property is a daunting financial prospect for most, building a custom home is attainable only for a lucky few, and sustainability has become something that only the wealthy dare to add to their wish list. Passive Narrow House sets out to change this approach to single family housing with its environmental responsiveness and affordability.

The clients are a young and visionary couple, pregnant with their first child, who were willing to do something different. Their budget meant they needed the flexibility to maximize rental income with a secondary suite now, but also accommodate a growing family of unknown numbers down the road. Beyond a requirement for five bedrooms, the clients trusted the architect with full reign on style and how to achieve green within their budget.