#passivedesign

Designed by the São Paulo-based practice Estúdio Leonardo Zanatta, the Tess Pavilion is located in São Paulo's residential Brooklin neighborhood and serves as both a commercial space and a venue for cultural exhibitions. Its architecture, inspired by the form of a harp and the geometric principles of Russian Suprematism, is an exercise in structural economy. Beyond its outlook, the pavilion is a case study in integrated sustainability, where design, material selection, and construction processes were intrinsically linked to a low-carbon philosophy. André Scarpa André Scarpa Estúdio Leonardo Zanatta The pavilion's environmental performance is shaped by its passive thermal efficiency.... More

Changes in scale and zoning in Mexican cities are often perceived as disruptions to the everyday life of long-established neighborhoods. However, when approached with sensitivity, strategic thinking, and technical rigor, these shifts can serve as catalysts for urban renewal. This was the guiding premise behind the design of the School and Dental Clinic in Tijuana. The site, formerly occupied by a two-story house, sits on a busy vehicular avenue. Over time, the increasing traffic made the residence unsuitable for comfortable living. Yet, this condition also presented an opportunity to envision a project with a more civic vocation—an architectural program integrating educational spaces, dental practice areas, a multipurpose room, and a... More

Perched on two adjacent lots in uptown Querétaro, this project embraces the site’s privileged views toward a lush green corridor and the distant hillside. The approach is rooted in our holistic design philosophy—melding bioclimatic performance, structural expression, cultural references, and the human experience. R8 Visuals Taking inspiration from the traditional C-shaped courtyards found in Querétaro’s colonial center, we envisioned each home with an inward-facing plan. This central void not only anchors the spatial organization but also plays a vital role in passive cooling—capturing prevailing winds and relieving the south-facing main facade from excessive heat gain.  The courtyard become... More

In more recent years, we've come to value outdoor spaces more than ever. At the same time, we understand the fundamental need for a roof that offers shelter. So, what happens when we connect both in a way that makes the boundaries between them almost invisible? R8 Visuals That was our premise in designing these two homes: to take advantage of two adjacent plots and create a family-focused project that unites without imposing. One house was designed for the client and his wife; the other, for the future family of their son. This led to two layout concepts: the “L” and the “C.” R8 Visuals Both share a modular design, the same number of spaces, and a common visual identity. Yet, the configuration of the rear... More

In the quaint village of Amandeep Singh Virk and his wife Rajveer Kaur, nestled amidst the burgeoning urbanization of a major industrial city's satellite town, a vision emerged for a home that epitomized sustainability. The founder of idieq, architect Saubhagya, along with his team, envisioned creating an ideal living space. Their choice of site was deliberate: the very grounds where their ancestral house stood, steeped in memories and familial ties. Determined to preserve their roots, the couple embarked on a journey to reimagine their dwelling, blending modern comforts with ecological consciousness. Harsh Nigam Caption Caption Caption The original structure, a product of its time, bore the hallmark materials of contem... More

This sustainable family home is an energy efficient interpretation of a Californian Bungalow in inner-city Melbourne. It combines two unlikely architectural expressions – the casualness and generosity of a light-weight timber clad building with the compactness of an energy efficient Tatjana Plitt The brief was for a long-term home for a family with young children with the ability to accommodate guests over longer periods of time. We added low-cost operation, current and future functionality, evolving privacy needs and future accessibility to the brief. Tatjana Plitt We believe we planned ahead by considering zoning, layout, room sizes, relationships to outside and other details that will accommodate future complexities and... More

In the exceptional and sun-blessed location of Paseo Mallorca, the tree-lines promenade overlooking the Riera water course running through the heart of the city, this new residential complex is set to become a landmark in the city of Palma due to its architecture, sustainability, energy efficiency, urban integration, quality of materials, interior design and level of comfort. José Hevia The façade, consisting of sliding panels made of wooden slats, acts as a solar filter to create stunning effects of changing light and shade on the homes, making the most of the sun, efficiently and all year round. The projects has been designed in accordance with Passivhaus standards to achieve maximum energy efficiency and a heating/air... More

The clients, a couple who’s dream is to have a self-sufficient home in a tropical paradise so they can spend their holidays and eventually retire, ask us to design a Net Zero Luxury Home in the hills of Prabu, near Kuta, South Lombok.  The site has an elongated sloped shape with an East-West predominant orientation and no water provision, which provides a challenge to the architect: The views are towards the South and the morning and evening sun bring intense heat loads.  Guillermo F. Florez Given that the house must be self-sufficient the proposed layout of the house’s spaces is based on the passive design studies done by the architect: •   The living room, kitchen and the bedrooms are prote... More