Pocket Passiv is a small infill residential studio occupying the unused space of a spatially constrained inner-city terrace house corner block. The project achieves ambitious levels of amenity for its residents all whilst occupying the ‘pocket-sized’ footprint of 27sqm. Located in Glebe, a thriving inner-city suburb originally inhabited by the Gadigal people, Pocket Passiv sits within a relic of Sydney’s 19th century Victorian terrace house boom.
Pocket Passiv’s project aspirations were guided by an ethos of not only environmental sustainability but also social and economic. The dwelling has been built to the Passivhaus Plus Standard, an esteemed accreditation for high performance and energy efficient buildings originating from Germany. Passivhaus Plus certification further acknowledges the building’s ability to generate as much energy as it consumes – ultimately becoming a net zero energy building.
In terms of its carbon footprint to build, a Life Cycle Assessment, using ETool software determined the Global Warming Potential (GWP) of Pocket Passiv to be 4kgCO2eq/m²/year, over a 50 year lifespan, which easily exceeds the exemplar standards of Denmark, that require all new buildings to herald a GWP of no greater than 12kgCO2eq/m²/year.
Beyond its impressive energy efficient design and construction Pocket Passiv offers an exemplar of a rare yet needed typology of inner-Sydney residential housing, infilling constrained urban sites with diverse, well-designed, and environmentally conscious housing options. Aiming to respect its layered historic context and neighbours, Pocket Passiv emerged as a highly considered geometric form. It is a modest two-storey studio with a cozy downstairs area with a combined bedroom / study and dramatic double height bathroom, and upstairs is a smartly configured kitchen / living / dining area. Submerged nearly one metre below the existing ground level the studio retreats into its residential context maintaining sunlight to the adjacent residential courtyards.
Adopting an asymmetrical pitched roof with a ridgeline that leans towards the street, a large area for solar panels hidden from view is created and an architectural proposition that creates a truly contemporary, purposeful, and urban pocket-sized presence. Clad in timber shingles Pocket Passiv will age overtime, weathering, and greying off, adding another architectural layer to the rich creative tapestry of the Glebe heritage conservation area.
