Passive house

Haus Skyview is the transformation of a modest wartime bungalow into a contemporary, high-performance family home in Toronto's east end. Rather than replacing the existing structure, the project reimagines it through a complete interior reconstruction, basement underpinning, a new second storey, and a two-storey rear addition. The result is a home of approximately 1,800 square feet across three levels that demonstrates how thoughtful planning can create generous, light-filled spaces within a compact footprint. baukultur/ca baukultur/ca baukultur/ca baukultur/ca The clients approached us with the ambition to transform their bungalow into an energy-efficient, modern home that would support their young family for years to... More

 A Low‑Impact Passivhaus Set Within a Historic LandscapeFoxcote House is a single‑storey Passivhaus dwelling set within the former kitchen gardens of a Grade II* listed property in rural Northamptonshire. Designed by Clive Chapman Architects under the UK’s ‘country house clause’ planning policy, the project demonstrates how contemporary residential architecture can be sensitively integrated into a historically significant landscape. The building is partially embedded within its surroundings, reducing visual impact and improving environmental performance. Organised around a sheltered south‑facing courtyard, the home maximises solar gain during winter months while maintaining a strong connection to the landscape throug... More

 ASANA, a meticulously crafted residential haven, showcases intelligent design and thoughtful detailing while embracing cost-effective materials. Situated in the heart of Sydney's North Shore, this 200m2 sanctuary, spread across two levels, seamlessly integrates functional living with elegant aesthetics. Completed in 2021, this residential alteration and addition project epitomizes a harmonious blend of contemporary design and practicality. Every aspect, from the carefully selected materials to the deliberate spatial planning, exudes a sense of sophistication and refinement. The project's restrained yet impactful design language makes a compelling case for the judicious use of resources, demonstrating that exceptional design can be ach... More

Nestled within a mature forest in British Columbia's Coast Mountains, the Passive House Forest Retreat is a private residence designed to exist in dialogue with its landscape. Sited on a sloped lot surrounded by old-growth canopy, the home was conceived as both an act of environmental responsibility and architectural restraint. Ema Peter Photography Ema Peter Photography The massing is organized around a gently cantilevered volume that reaches toward the mountain views, carving out a sheltered communal space below, a place to gather, rest, and inhabit the threshold between interior and forest. The treehouse-like form reads as crisp and contemporary, while dark cladding and the glazing orientation ground it firmly in its setting.... More

Set on a unique stretch of river-meandering land, Pointing Dog by Johnston Architects (JA) reflects the distinct spirit of the Methow Valley, a region known for its natural beauty, creative energy, and strong sense of community. The home’s design blends classic lodge design elements with the refined detail and craftsmanship of Japanese architecture. Benjamin Drummond Benjamin Drummond Benjamin Drummond Benjamin Drummond Benjamin Drummond Anchored around light, comfort, and connection, Pointing Dog features several distinctive elements, including cozy alcove spaces, a kitchen tailored for a former pastry chef, and a small custom sauna designed as a scaled version of the main house.  Sun-conscious design... More

New England is populated with numerous examples of colonial-era structures that have endured for 200 to 300 years. Studio Whitehorse seeks to answer the question of how this typology can be updated and improved for the modern era. Based around the North American Passive House standard for energy efficiency, healthy living and resiliency in a four-season climate, this office, meditation space and music studio space over a partially-buried two-car garage seeks to answer that question. Daniel J. Cardon Starting from a simple form reminiscent of the traditional vernacular of the Cape Cod house, the studio is a celebration of local and natural materials selected for their durability and endurance on a site often facing the brunt of seasona... More

Winthrop Center has established a new benchmark for large-scale sustainable design. Located in Boston's Financial District, Winthrop Center gives new definition and vitality to this part of the city. The project includes over 1.8M sq. ft. of residential, office, and retail space. The office component is Passive House certified, making Winthrop Center the largest Passive House commercial building in the world. In addition, this portion of the tower is targeting LEED Platinum and WELL Gold, while the residential portion above is targeting LEED Gold. Winthrop Center seeks to enhance and revamp the existing Winthrop Square, creating new open space to serve Boston, and linking together several other adjacent outdoor spaces. A grand new public... More

Sendero Verde, a transformative development in East Harlem, sets a global benchmark for sustainable and equitable housing. It provides homes for more than 700 families with incomes ranging from formerly homeless to 110 percent of the area median income. Conceived as a “Community of Opportunity,” Sendero Verde integrates affordable housing with education, healthcare, social services, and open spaces—reinforcing that sustainability encompasses social well-being and long-term community resilience. Albert Vecerka/Esto Albert Vecerka/Esto Winner of the SustaiNYC RFP in 2017, the project required final design certification under Passive House standards—among the world’s most rigorous energy-efficiency fra... More

This new ultra-low energy use building designed to the rigorous Passive House standards will be a first for a NYC public school. The 146,000 SF project is a civic symbol of public education in rapidly transforming Downtown Brooklyn.  James Ewing / JBSA James Ewing / JBSA The new building houses two New York City public schools: PS 456 The Elizabeth Jennings School for Bold Explorers, a new dual English-Spanish primary school, and Khalil Gibran International Academy (KGIA), the existing dual English-Arabic language public high school. The two schools share recreational and kitchen facilities while maintaining their distinct institutional identities with separate classrooms, libraries, stairwells, and terraces. James Ewing... More

Located in a wooded valley on the outskirts of Philadelphia, Sycamore Glen is a single-family home nestled among mature trees, overlooking Wister Creek. Bordered closely by neighboring houses to the west, the narrow site informed a linear organization and a careful balance of privacy, light, and views. Pix The house is structured around a series of parallel masonry walls that divide space, define rhythm, and extend beyond the envelope to articulate thresholds and terraces. A recessed entry, marked by a cantilevered overhang, leads to a quiet, compressed threshold before opening into a living and dining area that extends outward to a terrace surrounded by evergreen ferns. Pix A stepped glass façade on the eastern side conn... More

On a sloped plot of land in Yokohama, houses tower over the retaining wall on southern edge. On the eastern edge, a house juts against the site. In the winter, there is little sunlight, especially on the ground floor. Therefore, we designed a house that maximized the comfort of each season by setting the sunniest second floor as the "winter living room" and part of the cool shadowy first floor as the "summer living room".  koichi Torimura koichi Torimura Facing the southeast, which has the most sunshine, we arranged three floors that rise like terraces toward the light. It is in this direction that we placed the “winter living room” to take advantage of this most effective light. The living room reflects our comp... More