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Watercolour Westport Brings Net Zero Homebuilding to Cottage Country

A modern net zero house with solar panels on the roof, a landscaped backyard with stone paths and patio seating, surrounded by a wooden fence in a suburban neighborhood.

At the 2026 CHBA National Awards for Housing Excellence, “Watercolour Westport” by Land Ark Homes won the award for Best Production Net Zero Home, sponsored by Panasonic.

Starting with the end in mind, Land Ark set out to build a legacy community that would be a role model for builders across Canada. Building an entire community where Net Zero Ready is the standard, the winning entry features their Crosby + Loft design. It’s one of several home designs offered in this community in Westport, located along the Rideau Canal waterway system in the heart of cottage country in Eastern Ontario. The home is an example of how Land Ark is combining thoughtful design with high-performance construction.

At 2,468 square feet across the main and upper floors, it also includes a finished lower level that brings the home to four bedrooms and four bathrooms. The award-winning home is qualified under CHBA’s Net Zero Home Labelling Program and includes rooftop solar and battery storage.

Across “Watercolour Westport,” every home is designed, constructed, and third-party tested to be Net Zero Ready. Homeowners can add renewable energy generation later if they want the home to achieve full Net Zero.

From the street, much of the high-performance features are discreet and easy to miss.

Natural stone steps lead to a deep front porch. Warm wood details complement the craftsman-style exterior, while sizable windows bring daylight into the main living area. A vaulted ceiling, custom oak beams and a natural stone fireplace create a welcoming place to gather.

“People buy for beauty,” said Kevin Rankin, General Manager of Land Ark Homes.

For many buyers, the architecture, landscape and village setting create the first impression. The home’s comfort and energy performance give them more peace of mind and reinforce their buying decision, once they understand what’s happening behind the walls and in the mechanical room.

A Legacy Project Takes Shape

Land Ark Homes was established in 1988 and has spent much of its history building in Eastern Ontario and the greater Ottawa area.

“Watercolour Westport” is the company’s tenth project, and one it's team describes as a legacy project.

Founder Stephen Rolston and his wife, Diana, acquired the land approximately 15 years ago after falling in love with Westport. Their vision developed into a walkable community designed to connect residents with the village, the natural landscape, and one another.

The first foundation was excavated in spring 2021, and the first homeowner moved in that August. As of June 2026, nearly 80 families are living in “Watercolour Westport.” The community, which is now in its third phase, has approximately 150 homes planned.

The first homeowner was so enthusiastic about her experience that she joined Land Ark’s team as a community ambassador. Four homeowners now help welcome prospective buyers, and the company’s sales manager also lives in the community.

Close to the Village and Close to Nature

A modern sunroom with large black-framed windows, wooden ceiling, and brown flooring. Two gray sofas and a round coffee table create a bright, airy space in this net zero home overlooking a patio and green yard.

Residents can walk into Westport for groceries and coffee. The harbour is nearby, and some wheel their paddleboards down to the water. Local restaurants, a brewery, and a winery add to the destinations available without the need to get into a car.

Within “Watercolour Westport,” sidewalks and trails connect homes with parks and shared outdoor spaces. A quarter of the site is green space, and the community plan includes 12 kilometres of walking trails and 24 gathering spaces, with a goal of reaching 30 percent tree-canopy coverage. Deep front porches give residents a comfortable place to sit and makes conversation with passing neighbours more likely.

The Performance Behind the Walls

AeroBarrier helped create an airtight building envelope, which is critical in high-performance homes. Insulating the attic, above grade and below grade walls, as well as beneath the basement slab reduces heat loss through the building envelope, while the triple-pane windows help maintain more consistent indoor temperatures.

Land Ark’s all-electric homes use ultra-efficient mechanical systems including cold-climate air-source heat pumps for the space heating and cooling, a heat pump water heater, an ERV for ventilation, and drain-water heat recovery.

Rooftop solar generates electricity, while a Tesla Powerwall stores it for later use and can provide backup power during an outage.

Managing a Net Zero Home is much like any other home, and today’s technology makes things accessible for homeowners. “You don’t have to be a tech geek,” as Rankin says. In this home, a Savant energy-management system allows the homeowner to monitor electricity use and manage the mechanical systems, including while away from home. The systems give the homeowner more information and control, while much of the work happens quietly in the background.

Support That Continues After Move-In

The Land Ark team is especially committed to ensuring that homeowners are confident that they can run and maintain their home. An expert visits approximately two weeks after move-in to explain the home’s systems and answer questions. During the first year, quarterly visits include basic maintenance, such as filter changes, and provide homeowners with another opportunity to seek guidance.

“The after-sales care starts during the sales process,” Rankin said.

Land Ark has also created educational videos and hosted sessions where residents can speak directly with solar consultants and building-science specialists. The support helps make unfamiliar equipment easier to understand and keeps Land Ark connected with the community.

Making Net Zero Ready Repeatable

Land Ark developed an approach to building homes to meet Net Zero Ready performance that it can repeat throughout various home designs at “Watercolour Westport.”

Developing the construction process required training and coordination: all parts of the Net Zero Home work together – meaning, work completed by one trade can influence the effectiveness of the work of the other trades.

Rankin estimates that developing the specifications and construction process involved close to 100 smaller decisions. Land Ark worked with building science advisors and experienced builders who could translate technical information into practical construction choices. Long-term relationships with trades and suppliers allowed lessons learned from one home to carry into the next.

While building a high-performance home often costs more upfront due to things like the extra insulation and better windows and mechanical systems, savings are achieved with lower energy usage. And those upfront costs are lowering. Rankin said reaching a Net Zero Ready level of performance previously cost considerably more over a decade ago. Land Ark estimates that building to its Net Zero Ready standard now adds approximately $20,000 to $25,000 to the cost compared with a similar home built to minimum code requirements.

These days, about 30 percent of Land Ark’s homeowners have added solar, with more installations expected as residents consider electric vehicles and backup power.

“Once you learn about Net Zero Ready, there’s no unlearning it,” the Land Ark team said.

What Better-Built Homes Mean for the Community

Infographic showing Land Ark Homes’ 30-year energy reduction projections for 75 Production Net Zero Homes: 108,750 GJ saved, 9,244 tons CO2 reduced, $3.26M savings—visuals compare savings to trees planted, car travel avoided, and homes powered.

An Energy + Carbon Impact Report prepared by Building Knowledge Canada shows what the performance of 75 Watercolour Westport homes could add up to over 30 years.

The report projects energy reductions of 108,750 gigajoules, greenhouse gas reductions of 9,244 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, and more than $3.26 million in combined operating cost reductions. The report also estimates that the projected greenhouse gas reduction is comparable to avoiding 189.5 million kilometres of driving in a 2014 Ford F-150 4x4 with a 5.0-litre engine.

These figures are community-wide projections based on modelling. While they’re not measured results from the award-winning home or guarantees of what an individual household will save, it’s a good indication of just how impactful high-performance homes can be.

Recognition and an Open Invitation

The Land Ark team celebrated together when CHBA announced that Watercolour Westport was the winner of the 2026 Best Production Net Zero Home Award, sponsored by Panasonic.

The award formally recognized Land Ark Construction Ltd. as the builder of the home, as well as CHBA member companies that worked on Including: HomeSol Building Solutions as Land Ark’s Energy Advisor, Airtight Home Technologies, Building Knowledge Canada, Gaylord Forest Products Ltd., Cavanagh Concrete, Spectrum Kitchen & Bath Design and Terra Nova Truss.

Land Ark, who are members of both the Lanark Leeds Home Builders’ Association and the Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association, hopes “Watercolour Westport” will encourage other builders to visit, ask questions and adapt what they learn in communities across Canada. The company has already hosted builders and suppliers.

Five years after the first foundation was excavated, nearly 80 families meet on front porches, walk into the village and spend time on the trails, while their homes use less energy. Land Ark has made Net Zero Ready their construction standard across the community and created a path for homeowners who want to pursue Net Zero performance.

Learn more about CHBA Net Zero Homes and find a Qualified Net Zero Builder or Renovator near you. Builders, renovators and energy advisors can also explore CHBA’s training and qualification pathways to help clients achieve their Net Zero ambitions.