Case Studies

This two-storey residence in Hawea Flats is an intriguing mixture of modernity and tradition, with an impressive list of accomplishments. It’s New Zealand’s first Certified Passive House Premium building (and only the second in Australasia and 15th world-wide); and it’s the first oak-framed Passive House built in this country. It was designed by one of the country’s most experienced and …

New Zealand’s latest Certified Passive House is a house notable for its environmental credentials as well as its sensory appeal. Wanaka architectural designer Jessica Eyers of Hiberna designed this three-bedroom straw bale house and her husband Ben Eyers built it. Hiberna’s ethos is all about combining natural, low-tech, local materials with high-tech scientific design and construction principles. They favour materials …

Click to view the pdf case study: Book House-CaseStudy#01   A dilapidated Art Deco apartment block in central Wellington is resurrected, thanks to a committed new owner and expert advice. Sophisticated hygrothermic modelling clearly identified the way to approach the project. That insight saved money in the long-run and delivered a healthy, durable building: one that performs better than a …

This bespoke Christchurch home is a happy conclusion to another earthquake horror story that involved years of delay in rebuilding. Professional project manager Paul Finch played a key role in getting this project moving again after the first builder went into liquidation. He worked alongside builder Glenn Harley and his team, who are experienced in Passive House construction. The result …

This beautiful cedar-clad family home is delighting its owners, a reward after years of heartbreak and trials. Their former Christchurch home was demolished following the earthquakes and the construction of this Passive House on the same site had its challenges. This three-bedroom home is classy on the outside and high-performing on the inside yet some of its most impressive engineering …

Here is a stunning example of how Passive House efficiency can be delivered on a challenging site with multiple constraints, all without compromising design. The home was built for a family of four accustomed to warm, efficient housing in the UK whose cold, damp house in Queenstown had caused health problems. They tasked Architype with designing a home that would …

Ohoka, 2019 This North Canterbury house demonstrates that Passive House performance is not beyond the reach of first home buyers. One of the owners works for a supplier of high-performance building components and well understood the “massive benefits” such a house would provide his young family. His professional experience with multiple Passive House projects also contributed to a very smooth …

Of late Wanaka is a hotbed of Passive House activity. The presence of several experienced Passive House architects in Otago, plus suppliers and tradespeople committed to high-performance building, doubtless contributes. But so does the climate, which is one of the colder inhabited parts of the country. The Tombling house stands in Hawea Flat, where winter temperatures will drop to -5C …

This modern, compact home on a lifestyle block in the Bay of Plenty is delighting its European owners. After a dozen years in typical cold, damp New Zealand houses, it’s a welcome change to wake up to 18 degree temperatures throughout the house, without any heating. They also appreciate the lower humidity established by continuous mechanical ventilation. This project showcases …