Local SW Washington home builder, Urban NW Homes, was named a top finalist in the International Home of the Year category during last Friday’s virtual ceremony honoring the National Association of Home Builders’ 2020 Global Innovation Award winners.

The International Home of the Year award recognizes the outstanding achievements by land planners, architects, engineers, designers, builders and developers whose work addresses socioeconomic challenges, are rooted in sustainability and wellness, and will have positive implications for residential construction globally.

“Being nominated was recognition of nearly 15 years of working tirelessly to push the green industry forward,” said Troy Johns, Urban NW Homes founder and co-owner. “I’m very grateful.”

The Brazadian by Urban NW Homes. NAHB’s 2020 International Home of the Year finalist.

The award-winning custom home, known as The Brazadian, picked up Vancouver Business Journal’s 2020 Top Projects Award for Residential Single Homes late last year and, according to the company, is the largest Net Zero home the company has ever built at 5,695 sq. ft. The home also received an Emerald-level certification by Home Innovation Research Lab’s National Green Building Standard (NGBS), the highest possible rating and the most difficult to achieve. By incorporating advanced green technology and reverse engineering the home by placing repurposed materials at the center of its design, The Brazadian has redefined what healthy, sustainable luxury can look like.

“Construction of the type we are doing on a global scale would have such an impact on the planet that we may see a real change in people’s attitude toward reducing their impact,” said Johns. “It is our hope that more people will come to understand how their home affects them personally, mentally and physically, as well as how their home impacts the larger global environment.”