The Ambiente Home Fits Snuggly Into The Canadian Winter

Winnipeg, Canada (February 10, 2009): When you live in one of the harshest climates in North America, safe and efficient housing can be hard to find. But for First Nations (Native American) residents in the Canadian province of Manitoba, a 21st-century answer to their housing dilemma has now arrived.

A traditional First Nations house-blessing in Winnipeg recently drew journalists from Canadian television and other media. First Nations leaders from across the country were also on hand. They all came to see Canada's first Ambiente home.

The Ambiente housing system is a new approach to prefab. The heart of the system is a structural insulated panel (SIP) made from recycled glass. Tiny, air-filled beads—they look and feel like sand—are mixed with resin to create the panel's core. Skins made of composite materials are attached to both sides. When the house is assembled, composite beams and rods tie the panels together to create the walls and roof.

For First Nations communities, the system offers an alternative to the shortcomings of traditional homes. To combat the extreme cold, residents literally wrap their houses in plastic, creating a sealed environment that is perfect for the spread of black mold. Fire is also a constant worry, since the communities simply don't have the resources for effective fire fighting. Ambiente houses are impervious to mold, not to mention insects, and will never suffer water damage. Their estimated thermal efficiency far exceeds Canada’s R-2000 standard. And, they are highly fire-retardant—two hours with a blow torch produces nothing more than a scorch mark. Unlike most SIPs, Ambiente panels don’t need drywall or weather barriers. Any material—paint, wallpaper, or siding—can be applied directly to a panel surface. The panels don’t need the framing that other SIPs require, and they have pre-drilled channels for wiring. The result is a drastic reduction in contractor expense.

Local contractor Derek Cook bought and built the Winnipeg home. A former chief, Cook understands the desperate need for housing in First Nations communities. Cook is also a seasoned veteran of the construction industry, and he was astonished by how quickly and easily his crew built the house. “When you put up these panels,” he said, “you’re doing framing, insulation, and drywall all at once.”

His crew erected the house in five days and finished it in another seven. This speed is even more amazing when you consider the winter weather they endured. Construction began on one of the coldest days of the year, even by Winnipeg standards—almost 50° F below zero with the wind chill.

The durability of the Ambiente system also means easier financing for First Nations residents. Banks in Canada are often unwilling to provide loans for new houses, since so many of them don’t last the life of the mortgage. But an Ambiente house comes with an unprecedented level of risk protection—insurance against mold and both water and fire damage—that should greatly help mortgage approval.

Ambiente homes are also slated for construction in the Caribbean and other regions of the globe. In fact, the system was first tested in hurricane-prone Puerto Rico, where it withstood storm simulations that included projectiles flying through the air at 100 mph. Ultimately, Ambiente homes should survive the worst of nature’s assaults—hurricanes, floods, and even earthquakes.

A British father/son team, Malcolm and Simon Parrish, created the Ambiente system. They intend to rewrite the rules—for prefab, for the composite industry, for the whole idea of what a modern house can provide. “Our system takes efficiency and substainability to a new level,” says Simon Parrish. “But why stop there? Why not aim for survivability, in every part of the world? Or availability, by offering a house that is affordable and livable for as many people as possible?”

In Winnipeg, visitors may not have been pondering such questions. They were probably too busy marveling at a new kind of house, one they could easily, and comfortably, call home.

CBC video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Idb41qr2b0I