A barn raising in Revelstoke

This article first appeared in print in Revelstoke Mountaineer Magazine’s April/May 2021 Home & Building issue. Read the entire e-edition here:

Picture this: you enter a restored barn and are greeted by a simple mudroom with a washer, dryer and washroom. A few steps over you have a big, open, communal space with a modern kitchen, living room, fresh morning light and vaulted ceilings, all of which radiate authenticity. In the middle of the room are steep steps that lead to the bedrooms. In theory, it’s an old barn. But structurally, it’s on par with all new builds — with the benefit of being wholly and amazingly distinctive.

Revelstoke, as part of a network of highly desirable small Canadian communities, is barely affordable at its best, whether you buy or build. For Jamie Forbes, it was obvious that either avenue would be a worthy investment. So why not build the home of his dreams while he’s at it?

Construction workers erect the frame, which was created using traditional techniques. Photo: Jamie Forbes

The Ottawa-born advertising professional moved to Revelstoke two years ago after exploring other nearby communities like Kelowna and Golden. For Forbes and his wife, Revelstoke had all the amenities and fostering attributes required to raise their young child. All available (and affordable) homes, however, were mostly built between 1950 and 1980, which wasn’t part of their vision. Forbes had a very specific plan in mind: to convert a barn into a home, and to do so sustainably.

He had been living in Toronto in a converted loft with exposed brick and much of the space’s original architecture. The loft was previously home to the Columbia Graphophone Company. It was lively, full of character, and unquestionably stunning. Forbes had seen the possibilities for beauty in restoration, and he wanted the same for his own abode. “This played a part in my obsession with re-purposing an old barn for a home.” Plus, the many weekends he spent on his grandfather’s farmland, dotted with interesting old farm buildings, shaped his idea of home.

Bringing a barn cross country

Interior development on the project combining the traditional frame. Photo: Jamie Forbes

In 2019, Forbes purchased land on Aspen Crescent, passed his owner builder exam, and ordered his barn from an Amish countryside town north of Kitchener-Waterloo. The town was famous for the supreme calibre of its barns. “It’s funny because there’s no reason at all for the barns to be in such pristine shape—they’re purely functional structures,” he laughs. “It must have been a pride thing.” Indeed, the town had a skilled tradesperson whose sole job was to cube pieces of lumber for homes. Many local specialists Forbes has worked with marvel at the precision and structural integrity of the barn.

The barn’s original beams were hand hewed in the 1850s. No metal, nails, or screws were used in the original fabrication; mortise and tenon joinery techniques were favoured. Forbes and his construction labourer hope to keep the barn’s old spirit. They also wish to keep waste and needless tree cutting to a minimum. As part of this effort, Forbes is using reclaimed wood for the structure, trim, floors, and ceiling boards, which, he argues, is less daunting a process than you might think. “Though make sure you put yourself on waiting lists for certain specialty products,” he advises.

The walls are built using integrated concrete forms (ICF), which are vaguely comparable to giant Lego blocks. Vincent Fafard, owner-operator of Last Spike Construction, specializes in this type of build. He’s poured concrete between the gaps in Styrofoam blocks to create a functional yet historically accurate outer structure.

The sun sets behind Mt. Begbie on the new build. Photo: Jamie Forbes

Forbes and his wife enjoy their advertising work, but if the demand was there, the business savvy family man would happily switch careers to be a consultant on similar eco-conscious home restoration projects.

When asked what he’s most looking forward to upon completion of this project (set for June), Forbes chuckles as he envisions himself living in his dream home and welcoming neighbours for a glass of wine.