Nelson-based Purcell Timber Frame Homes was just recognized by popular design and architecture magazine Dwell in an article called, “20 Modern Prefab Companies Perfect For Mountain Living.”

It’s not every day a Nelson, British Columbia company finds its way into one of the most respected design magazines on the planet. Dwell is a New York-based publication with a readership of over 300,000 around the world and, although only 17 years old, it’s regarded as one of the best architectural magazines of all time. In a recent article, Annie Fleming wrote,”Prefabs are taking over the design world, one sustainable home at a time. They are revolutionizing the game by creating homes that are easy to build, perfect for any climate, and are extremely appealing to the naked eye. I mean really, what’s not to love about a prefab house?” She then goes on to recommend 20 “trustworthy prefab companies that do an outstanding job at creating the perfect modern mountain home.” On the list was Purcell Timber Frame Homes in Nelson.

“From concept to completion, Purcell Timber Frame Homes specializes in building world-class luxury homes that are designed to perform with the elements,” the article reads. The “homes are built to be extremely durable, natural, healthy, sustainable, and low maintenance.”

Like Dwell magazine, Purcell Timber Frame Homes was established in 2000 by Hart Wintraub. He says he got into the business after he noticed “all the beautiful wood in our area and…the extremely talented craftsman and artisans. I felt a strong sense that the world would want home packages from this Kootenay mountain area.”

He was right. Purcell Timber Frame Homes have since built homes all over the globe and Wintraub believes his job is to not only design the building, but to know that there’s an affect on the lifestyle of the people living within it. “Purcell really is a product of our environment and lifestyle,” he says. “When I say this I mean not just the material from this area but also the inspiration we get from living in this area, skiing in the mountains and surfing the BC coastline — this comes through in the designs.”

Wintraub’s says his favourite timber frame project is always the one he’s currently working on and that goes for his present project, designing a home for the owner of Whitewater Ski Resort and his brother-in-law for their extended family property on Kootenay Lake. It’s a house on a cliff with a boat house below and the architectural renderings are featured here.

purcell timber frame homes design

The Dwell article goes on to list two other Pacific Northwest companies including FabCab and Johnston Architects in Seattle and two other Canadian companies including Honobomo in Calgary and RobitailleCurtis in Quebec. To read the story in its entirety, log on to Dwell.com. And to see photos of other Purcell Timber Frame Homes, scroll through the gallery below.

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