Every type of architecture from cutesy cabin to modernist mansion can be seen while house-gazing around Sun Peaks. Although styles are always changing, there are some fundamentals that most prospective ski town homeowners look for.
Ski-in and ski-out access, view-maximizing orientation and sloping roofs are some of the initial prerequisites. Many architects reflect the unique mountain setting with a connection to the landscape, choosing organic building materials which are also resistant to fluctuations in temperature, sun, wind and snow.
Within the home, effective insulation and heating are absolute musts, but have to be balanced with the trend for expansive windows, patio doors and outside entertaining spaces. Increasingly, heated boot racks are topping many wish lists, as well as lock-up storage and garages with ski and bike racks.
Then there are the luxuries such as games rooms, home theatres and gyms. And, of course, wow factor features – a grand entrance, custom staircase, dramatic fireplace or artisan woodwork.
One way to ensure the perfect mountain home, tailored to specific requirements is to build it yourself – but this is not for the faint-hearted or DIY dabblers. After sitting the owner builder exam in 2016, Dan Hollyer embarked on his ambitious build on Bella Vista in July 2017. With a BSc in construction and 30 years of contract and project management experience as a Chartered Builder in the UK, he had the right pedigree.
Helped by his son-in-law, Anthony Van Vliet’s company 3 Point Contracting Ltd., along with a few friends and various specialized tradespeople, Hollyer and his wife Linda were able to move into what would later be the rental suite in 2021. The much-anticipated completion celebration will finally be held as soon as the swim spa install is complete in summer 2025.
“No one involved will be forgotten,” Hollyer said.
Although Hollyer did 65-70 per cent of the work himself, along the way he employed various B.C. construction companies for heavy duty draughting, bulk excavation, electrics, plumbing and roofing, as well as specialists such as Chrigel’s Timber Chalet for decorative beams and Kirkwood Elevators.
“I did everything else myself including the initial design drawings, other excavation, surface and foul water sewers/water service, ground water harvesting tanks irrigation system and the roof top fire suppression system,” Hollyer said.
From floor, wall and deck framing, insulation and reinforcing, to roof sheeting, stone cladding and shingle painting, his lengthy list went on and on.
At the design stage, the Hollyers’ paramount priority was optimizing the spectacular south westerly views straight down the valley.
“I achieved this by making it a three-level home with an inverted floor plan with main living areas on the top floor and a wall of windows and patio sliders accessing a walk-out deck at the third level both front and back,” Hollyer explained.
When planning the total of four decks, he had to weigh the burden of snow clearance in winter, with the benefits of outdoor living in summer.
“Maximizing the view and minimal effort to get to the ski way prompted the inverted floor plan and building into the mountain, rather than digging a hole to site the house into,” Hollyer explained.
Built with a focus on skiing and family
“Having a safe outside area for grandkids to run around unsupervised and away from wildlife necessitated the front deck on the third level and it would be great for sundowners. Maybe too much sun in deepest summer so a shaded back deck, barbie points on both and can’t live without music so outdoor speakers.”
Skiing was also a major imperative for the family.
“An initial design consideration was to allow for easy access to the ski way,” Hollyer said. “This necessitated having two levels of the building partially subterranean to limit the climb up the back yard.”
Turning his attention to the boot room, he decided to put it immediately beside the rear entrance door for direct access.
“As silly as it seems the best feature is a five foot long drain to catch snow melt below the ski storage rack,” he said. “Any other melt water can be easily swept to the drain and, of course, the 12 pair boot drier is another feature. Nothing like toasty warm boots in the morning!”
The Hollyers’ relocation to Sun Peaks from Whistler had been prompted by a flurry of grandchildren.
“A 1000 square foot townhome just wasn’t going to accommodate too many more and in Whistler, another bedroom was going to cost at least one arm if not a leg as well,” Hollyer recalled. The resulting 3500 square foot edifice was a labour of love, embracing the needs of his three married daughters and their growing families. The potential for six or more grandkids led him to dream up a unique bunk room with beds built around three walls creating sleep space for seven, plus room for two more trundle beds.
“What memories would be created with all the cousins sharing that space,” he said. “Not much sleeping getting done!”
As the heart of the home, he positioned the kitchen centrally with other spaces radiating off. In order to cater to 14-16 people, he doubled up with two of each of the main appliances, a spacious pantry, an ultra long island countertop and direct access to the deck. Aware of the summer bug problem, he decided against folding concertina doors, opting instead for sliders with insect screens.
Hosting their extended family for at least a month every year for skiing, hiking and biking vacations, the Hollyers have après nailed with a home cinema, a recreation room/gym, a small bar area and an integrated music system with hidden speakers throughout the home.
Planning for the future
As a ski instructor, Hollyer knows about all the vagaries of wintersports and the ski resort lifestyle.
“Injury is an inevitable part of being in a ski town and when you sit down to design a house and your crutches are by the side of your chair I guess this brings it home well and truly,” he said. “We wanted to future proof our home to meet our future needs as we age so an elevator was an essential, particularly with an inverted floor plan – and it’s great for groceries and trash.”
Additionally, all the bathrooms have level-entry showers with no curbs to climb over.
Factoring in the environmental footprint, Hollyer decided against a heated driveway. Maximum insulation was another crucial consideration along with water conservation.
“The rainwater harvesting tanks will allow us to irrigate the gardens and conserve water,” he said. To help mitigate wildfire damage, he chose green (living, well-watered) grass which doesn’t burn easily for the landscaping and installed a diverter valve in order to supply his own water to roof line sprinklers.
“We can also supplement the holding tanks with the swim spa water, and roof runoff will be returned to the tank.”
Hollyer is also very passionate about staff accommodation.
“The resort housing shortage isn’t a new phenomenon,” he said. “Thirty years ago when my ski instructing career took off, accommodation was hard to secure. Once secured, you maintained it by being the perfect tenant, so having been on both sides of the story, we felt it was our civic responsibility to provide a suite – no resort can survive without its workforce.”
He built the one-bedroom rental suite on the second level with its own external entrance staircase plus panoramic deck, specified to the same standard as the main house.
“There may come a time when we will have to live there ourselves with the ever-rising cost of resort living, and rent the main house to supplement our retirement income,” he pointed out.
Anything lacking? Hollyer said no although, had finances allowed, he would have liked to incorporate a two pipe waste water system with waste heat recovery.
What did you think of this story?
Sun Peaks Independent News is your essential source for community news in Sun Peaks. Your feedback after we publish a story helps ensure we're always improving our reporting to better serve you.
