Why the Georgie Awards Matter And What They Recognize Beyond Aesthetics

In an industry often driven by first impressions, the Georgie Awards stand apart for what they look beyond.

For decades, the Georgie Awards have been one of British Columbia’s most respected forms of recognition in residential housing. What makes them meaningful isn’t just their longevity, it’s the depth of consideration behind how projects are evaluated. Rather than focusing solely on aesthetics, the Georgie’s assess how homes actually perform, how they’re built, how they’re lived in, and how responsibly they respond to their environment over time.

That philosophy closely aligns with how we approach our work at GNAR.

Looking Beyond “Beautiful”

The Georgie Awards recognize that great homes aren’t defined by appearance alone.

Judging criteria take into account factors such as:

Environmental responsibility and sustainability initiatives
Thoughtful use of space and scale
Livability, comfort, and long-term functionality
Technical execution and attention to detail
Collaboration across design, construction, and consulting teams

This broader lens reflects an important truth: homes that truly succeed are the ones designed to last technically, environmentally, and emotionally.

Recognition That Reflects Integrated Thinking

Designing high-performance homes requires more than one discipline working in isolation. Envelope design, spatial planning, material selection, and interior detailing all play a role in how a home performs and feels over time.

Awards like the Georgie’s acknowledge that collaboration and the alignment of values across teams is essential to delivering meaningful, long-term results.

For us, that integrated thinking is foundational. Sustainability, comfort, and livability are not add-ons; they’re considered from the outset and carried through every stage of a project.

GNAR’s 2026 Georgie-Recognized Projects

Arrowhead - Bowen Island

Arrowhead is a small-scale home that demonstrates how thoughtful design can deliver comfort, performance, and environmental responsibility without excess.

Recognized across multiple categories including Best New Small-Scale Home (under 1,000 sq. ft.), Custom Home ($1.5–$2M), and Best Environmental Initiative the project highlights the power of intentional decision-making.

Every element was carefully considered, from spatial efficiency to environmental strategy, resulting in a home that responds respectfully to its site while prioritizing long-term performance and livability.

Arrowhead reflects a core belief we hold that sustainability and good design are often most impactful when exercised with restraint. Jason Zavitz at Alair Squamish and his team did an amazing job with this unique build.

Fairway Haven - Whistler (Interior Design Contribution)

Another project recognized at this year’s Georgie Awards is Fairway Haven, a high performance net zero home currently up for Best Energy Labeled Home Custom.

Congratulations to Whistler Builders on this well deserved recognition. The project reflects thoughtful execution and a clear commitment to high performance building.

GNAR contributed to Fairway Haven through interior design support. Our involvement focused on interior material selections, spatial refinement, and detailing within the broader design framework led by the project team.

Being part of projects that prioritize long term performance and thoughtful execution aligns closely with how we approach our own work. Interior environments play an important role in how homes are experienced every day, and it is always rewarding to collaborate on projects where sustainability and livability are central considerations.

What This Recognition Reinforces

Recognition like the Georgie Awards matters most when it reflects shared values.

For us, it reinforces the importance of:

Designing with long-term performance in mind
Integrating sustainability at every level of a project
Collaborating closely across disciplines
Creating homes that feel as good to live in as they are responsible to maintain

Whether through full building design or interior design contributions, our goal remains the same: to create homes that are thoughtful, durable, and deeply connected to the people who live in them and the environments they inhabit.

At GNAR Inc we are passionate about creating sustainable homes, let us know how we can help you bring your dream house to life. Call us at 604.962.1611 or email info@gnarinc.com for more information.