Describing a modern design as marrying "form and function" is an old saw these days, but in the case of a house in Toronto's Bedford Park neighborhood, it couldn't be more true.

Architect Alex Tedesco, a senior associate at LGA Architectural Partners and a certified building science specialist, created a home that its owners can enjoy for decades. "My building science background allows for a more informed design process based on scientific research that enables LGA to create buildings that are beautiful, perform better, and are healthier for their occupants and the environment," Tedesco says.

The residents—Tedesco's cousin, a doctor, and Tedesco's cousin's wife—desired a home that would evolve with the changing needs of their family, that had privacy, that preserved mature trees on the site, and that would respect the architectural fabric of the neighborhood while still embodying a modern aesthetic.

The resulting 3,100-square-foot, two story house uses a mix of passive design principles and active technology, like geothermal heating and automated lighting, to earn its green credentials. Because the residents intend to live in this house for decades to come, Tedesco selected durable finishes that will stand the test of time. "The materials needed to be elegant and, in essence, could also age well in place," he says. Indeed, the brick-and-wood clad house with its minimalist sensibility, refined details, and thoughtful design moves will endure the test of time—the true marker of a smart home.