A Barn House That Gives The Pleasure of Wide, Open Spaces

Classic Barn Style with a Modern Twist

This barn house in Alberta has everything a barn house needs. That classic barn style with some red incorporated on the roof, plus some beautiful stone work that brings a natural and traditional appeal. The home you see here was built for Stephen Lefebvre and his wife Johane who live just outside of Calgary, Alberta, a city that's always growing, with expansive landscapes surrounding it. The couple were visualizing their home, and they found their main inspiration to be the old homes and buildings in Quebec City, with some of them being over 400 years old. They really wanted to bring a piece of this old Quebec style to Calgary, so they brought in the elements of the buildings there like rocks, timber framing and large decks both in the front and back of the home. They sketched up their own design ideas and contacted Riverbend Timber Framing, a company building timber frame houses around the world. Their talented designers brought the couple their dream design and a structural package for their home that included their special Insulspan® Structural Insulating Panel (SIP) System and the Advantage Insulating Concrete Forming (ICF) System®. So not only did they get the traditional, old design they wanted, they also were able to bring that design to the 21st century making it energy efficient and durable.

Energy Efficiency and Comfort

They also added in some passive solar design and radiant heating which keeps the home temperature regulated no matter what the weather brings, and the winters can be pretty harsh out in the prairies of Alberta. The home ended up being 6,100 square feet, but it will cost less than $200 per month to heat which is amazing for a home that size in the prairies. Stephen worked closely with Riverbend Timber Framing on the project on the design as well as with the building. He had never had any building experience before, so this was his first project ever, and it went very smoothly thanks to the company's system. Each of the packages are cut using CAD-controlled equipment, and everything is pre-fitted in the factory to make sure that the construction on the building site goes as smooth as possible. That was one of the main reasons the couple chose Riverbend Timber Framing in the first place was their ICFs, SIPs and Timber. They also really enjoyed being able to have some hands-on experience building their home which they will remember and be proud of for years to come.

A Cozy, Welcoming Interior

Most of their homes, including this one, will earn an 86 EnerGuide Rating and in Canada, any score over 80 is beyond excellent. Anything above a 90 is considered a zero-energy home. This was possible because of Riverbend Timber Framing's energy efficient building system. The interior of the home ended up being very cozy and welcoming as well, with the exposed beams and timbers throughout the home. The open concept living area boasts high ceilings and a beautiful classic fireplace with the dining area in front of it. There are also French doors leading out to the back deck providing great access to the outdoors and the beautiful views of the property. The bedrooms are also a great size while remaining cozy, and there are 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms with an attached garage and plenty of storage within the home too. If you're considering building a timber frame or a barn style home, then Riverbend Timber Framing could be the perfect company to go with for your design. You can contact them with your design ideas or use some of their ideas to get the ball rolling on your home.