Whakatu Passivhaus

We are proud to have delivered Nelson's first Certified Passive House and Green Star 10 rated building to the region for our clients. This project's core priorities were sustainability and performance. 

The drive to use less embodied carbon in this project, resulted in a timber pile foundation on its sloping slope. A lot of well thought out design drove the performance side of this building and kept it under its fixed price budget. Utilising local expertise and materials, the entire building was prefabricated using a timber LVL panel system. The clever innovative design increased thermal performance by 33%. Adding to the performance are triple glazed windows, an efficient hot water system, a fully airtight envelope and the use of an ultra efficient mechanical air ventilation system to keep the home healthy and at an optimal air temperature all year round. The clients never have to turn on any form of heating during the winter such is the superior thermal efficiency of their home.

The exterior of the house is clad in locally grown Macrocarpa timber. While the interior of the home is lined in a mixture of plywood and plasterboard. All the timber on the entire project was FSC certified. 

The clients utilised some of their own timber to create the stunning timber staircase and kitchen benchtop for a unique personal touch. This project is a great example of how good design can drastically reduce the need for carbon heavy materials such as concrete and steel. The home consumes very little energy and with the extensive planting planned for around the section, it will prove a real winner to the environment and its future inhabitants.