What does it take to transform a 117-year-old character home into a high-performance Net-Zero project?
A lot of collaboration, innovation, and a willingness to rethink what sustainable construction can look like.
1908 to Net-Zero is a landmark project in Vancouver’s Mount Pleasant neighbourhood, where Best Builders partnered with Deep Green Developments to reimagine an existing character home, preserving its history while creating three high-performance homes designed for the future.
Rather than demolishing and starting from scratch, the project explores how existing buildings can be thoughtfully retained, upgraded, and adapted to meet today’s energy standards. The result is a balance between heritage preservation, gentle densification, and low-carbon construction.
From character home to Net-Zero performance
Every stage of the build presented a unique challenge, from carefully deconstructing portions of the original home, recovering materials, and preserving valuable old-growth lumber, to rebuilding with advanced energy-efficient systems and sustainable materials.
The project journey includes:
- Preserving the original character home while preparing it for a new life
- Lifting and rebuilding the foundation to improve long-term performance
- Integrating high-performance building systems focused on energy efficiency and comfort
- Using thoughtful material choices to reduce waste and embodied carbon
- Creating homes designed for the future through Net-Zero principles
Follow the build from the ground up
We’re excited to share a new photo gallery documenting the evolution of 1908 to Net-Zero, from the early stages of deconstruction and structural work through to the transformation taking shape today. Explore the gallery to see the craftsmanship, problem-solving, and collaboration behind each stage of this unique project.
View the full 1908 to Net-Zero project gallery
Building differently for the future
At Best Builders, we believe the future of construction isn’t just about building new, it’s about building smarter.
Projects like 1908 to Net-Zero challenge the traditional approach to construction by demonstrating that existing homes can become part of the solution. Through thoughtful design, skilled craftsmanship, and collaboration with industry partners, we can create homes that honour the past while preparing for the future.