2012 Dream Home presented by:

DISCOVER SUSTAINABLE LUXURY IN THE DREAM HOME R-HOUSE, PRESENTED BY TORONTO STAR

Be inspired by this year’s Dream Home R-House designed and built by PROBUILT by Michael Upshall and presented by the Toronto Star at the 60th anniversary of the National Home Show (March 16 to 25, Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place). Discover sustainable luxury, experience revolutionary home building technology and see the latest decor ideas in this ultra-modern 3600 square foot energy efficient home. For additional information on the Dream Home R-House, please visit www.probuilt.ca.

“In response to the global challenge of creating a more sustainable society, the Dream Home R-House is designed to bring contemporary green design to the mass market,” states Michael Upshall, PROBUILT by Michael Upshall. “The Dream Home R-House displays everyday life in three distinct areas: the main house, the guest house and the courtyard. The central courtyard acts as a social hub and a sanctuary around which the entire house revolves.”

The Dream Home R-House uses environmentally friendly materials for both structure and interior finishing. The heavy timber structure celebrates the tactile qualities of wood. Combined with warm materials like wood panels and stone it is contrasted against the smooth precision of contemporary materials such as glass, concrete, and metal.

Everyone embraces green living, but not everyone loves the modern, sterile vibe that goes with it. As a result, Michael Upshall and his design team: architecture by Craig Crane and Robert Mitchell, interior design by Craig Crane and Michelle Mawby, interior decorator Jacqueline Glass and Associates (guest building), with help from James Loppie, Emmanuel Belliveau, Jackie Morra, Patti Baxter, Joan Ezsky, Ron Perruzza, Keith Vanderkley, Bruce Rowntree, Nancy Bowslaugh and design students from Humber College School of Applied Technology; have designed and built a space that is not only eco-friendly and uses sustainable products but pays keen attention to comfort, warmth and above all, style through the use of texture and colour.

Major suppliers for the Dream Home R-House include Monarch Windows, Perola Kitchens, Normerica Authentic Timber Frame, Structurlam and Sound Solutions Architectural Products.

The Dream Home R-House is designed to generate its own energy from renewable sources; it harvests rain water, manages its own waste, and promotes occupant health and well being. A living wall and water feature in the courtyard will create a self-sustaining interior ecosystem. A green roof of self-sustaining vegetation stretches across the flat roofs while vertically farmed walls produce organic food sources.

The Dream Home R-House incorporates such smart home technologies as home automation controls, smart security systems, and new technologies such as mirrored TV’s and in-wall audio systems.

The project is set up as a contemporary build to allow for ease of transport to and from the show. The National Home Show build is built on site inside the Direct Energy Centre in only 7 days. Following the show, the Dream Home R-House will be transported to a build site and used as a model home for a sustainable living community project.

About Michael Upshall and PROBUILT BY Michael Upshall:

Michael Upshall of PROBUILT by Michael Upshall is a master carpenter at heart, who naturally progressed into a renovator and builder and is renowned in the construction industry. His career spans over 30 years and his collection of awards and recognitions are impressive. He was the first two-time award winner of the BILD “Renovator of the Year” (2002 & 2006) and was chosen three years in a row to Design/Build the Dream Home at Toronto's 2007, 2008 & 2009 National Home Shows. Once again, PROBUILT by Michael Upshall is designing and building the 2012 Dream Home R-House. Renovating your home stems from the dream of attaining that “designer look”. Getting from conceptual design to handing you the keys to your renovated home may seem a daunting task, but the vision to any dream project is keeping focused on the expert design, controlled budgeting, constant communications through documentation as well as keeping it on schedule. For PROBUILT by Michael Upshall systems and procedures are what drives the business of renovation and custom home projects that start from $250,000 and exceed well over a million. For additional information on PROBUILT by Michael Upshall, please visit www.probuilt.ca.