For the Love of Generations

By JACOB KIRST

President & Visionary, Lagois Design·Build·Renovate

Jacob Kirst and his son, Dawson

Rethinking renovation and custom homes in Ottawa

I am first and foremost a father.

I have two young children (Dawson and Chase) and a loving wife (Sabrina), and I cherish that role deeply. My family means everything to me.

I also lead a design-build firm here in Ottawa.

The other day Dawson, who is 5, asked me, as I was exploring a vision for a home for my family through design: “Daddy, is that our home? Why is it like that?”

It stopped me in my tracks. What, exactly, did I envision for my family?

When I look at my children’s future, I feel pride, of course. But it’s more than that. I feel also feel a deep responsibility.

That means I have a responsibility to design differently. To build differently. To design and build better. To create homes that serve not just my children, but their children.

A generational opportunity

We are living in a pivotal moment for housing in Ottawa. Homes are being renovated and built faster than ever. Yet speed does not always translate to longevity.

Too often, renovations focus on surface transformation without addressing performance, durability, or long-term livability. New homes can follow the same path. They’re impressive on completion, but beneath the surface they’re aging quickly. In 15 years systems will fail. Layouts will no longer function. Materials will show their limits.

This is more than a matter of aesthetics. These failures affect operating costs. They affect sustainability. They affect how families experience daily life in their own homes.

But within this moment lies an opportunity. It’s an opportunity to renovate and build in a way that strengthens what already exists, an opportunity to ensure that what we create today endures tomorrow.

This is an opportunity to shape homes that don’t just look better, but live better.

When done properly, renovation is not cosmetic. It is generational. It produces homes filled with natural light, homes that feel calm in every season, homes that evolve along with the families who live in them.

What if we built, and renovated, only once?

Imagine approaching a major renovation not as a short-term update, but as a long-term reinvestment in your family’s future.

Think of it like this:

• strengthening the building envelope while redesigning the space

• improving energy performance while enhancing beauty

• reworking layouts to support aging in place from the very beginning

• selecting materials that will feel as grounded in 30 years as they do today.

This is about foresight.

The Lagois philosophy: Build once. Build for Generations.

At Lagois Design·Build·Renovate, we believe true luxury is longevity.

Whether we’re transforming an existing home or crafting a new one, our responsibility is the same: to integrate design and construction so every decision supports long-term performance.

We don’t separate vision from execution. We align them.

When I envision a home, I see resilience. Stewardship. Legacy.

For us, that means:

• energy intelligence

• smarter performance

• resiliency

• stronger envelopes and material choices designed for Ottawa’s evolving climate

• enduring craftsmanship

• details executed properly the first time, minimizing the cycle of future repair

• timeless architecture

• spaces that evolve with your family rather than expire with trends.

• wellness at the core

• comfort, air quality, and light that support daily living for years ahead.

We’re not interested in short-term transformations. We’re interested in homes your grandchildren will thank you for preserving. This is because your home is not simply a structure. It is the foundation of your family’s life.

My vision is to serve families who value building once and building well, to create homes that feel as intentional and grounded decades from now as they did the day they were completed.

Perfecting the Art of Living

If you are considering a significant renovation or a custom home in Ottawa, and if you believe it should be done once and done properly, we would welcome the conversation.

The future is not built by accident. It is built with intention.

For more ideas, information and inspiration about your home from Jacob Kirst, please sign up to our monthly newsletter, The Art of Living, here.