Queenstown is one of New Zealand’s more challenging climates yet Passive House methodology can deliver a warm, dry, healthy home. This home is a family residence in one of the city’s newest suburbs, nestled below the Remarkables. The interest in making this build a Passive House came from the owners. The original brief …

This two-storey bach overlooks the spectacular Lake Tarawera. It is a low-maintenance, durable house, with carefully chosen materials and facade textures that help the building meld into the landscape. The building takes advantage of the solar aspect and view. The walls are constructed with Ecoblock insulated concrete forms (ICF); the reinforced concrete layer provides both structural strength and the air …

This project was a melding of like minds. The clients told their architectural designer that they wanted a Passive House. They had already chosen their builder, who had experience in building to the Passive House standard. This beautiful house stunningly illustrates how Passive House standards can be met without constraining architectural creativity. It features curved ply ceilings and a subtle …

The owners previously lived in a pristine 1930s-built character home, which was damaged beyond repair in the Canterbury earthquakes. A protracted settlement with their insurers gave the couple years to consider the type of house they wanted to live in. They chose a design that echoed the era of the previous home and suited the vernacular of their neighbourhood. The …

This eHaus design provides a contemporary 3 bedroom home with excellent use of space. Designed as the Kapiti expoHaus in 2015 it featured on Breakfast TV as the first certified project in the Wellington Region. It has been a catalyst for many others to choose Passive House homes. Fitted with a hydronic underfloor heating system and split hot water heat …

Passive House Taupo is notable because its owner also designed and built it himself. Kim Feldborg is an experienced NZCB-certified builder who apprenticed in Denmark and has built timber homes around Europe, as far north as Greenland. This four bedrooms plus office, 260 m² family home blends into a new sub-division and offers majestic mountain views to the south across …

This imposing residence in a French style was built for three generations, with two homes connected by a very large kitchen and pantry. It also includes office space for the young couple who work from home. It is testament to the flexibility of the Passive House standard, which can accommodate different aesthetics. This is a very high quality build that …

This stunning new build on a quarter acre section with views of the hills and lake in Wanaka was the first Passive House for its architect and builder and the first certified Passive House in the South Island. It won a 2016 NZIA New Zealand Architecture Award and thrilled its owners, who say it’s even more comfortable than they expected. …

The clients had returned to New Zealand with three young children. Unable to find a suitable, warm home in Dunedin, they bought a derelict 150-year-old villa — and demolished it. The site has spectacular views and is close to the city centre. The five-bedroom, three-storey home was already designed before a decision was made to build it as a Passive …