Irish housing scheme points to a future of decentralised power

Old Leitrim primary school transformed into a timber-based, Enerphit home

Ultra airtight CLT passive house

The passive house that became a
power station

A new housing scheme designed by Coady Architects in Wicklow has achieved the highest green home certification – while suggesting that the convictions of one practice on a single project can help to transform the industry.

Run-down terraces are an all-too-common sight in towns and villages across Ireland, but an ambitious deep retrofit project in Tralee provides an inspiring blueprint for regeneration, taking a cold 19th century terraced office and turning it into a beautifully designed space with tiny energy bills, fit for the 21st century.

This issue features a rural house on New Zealand’s South Island that achieved passive house ‘plus’ status.

Since Erne Campus opened its doors in September, students of South West College in Enniskillen can now experience one of the world’s most environmentally advanced higher education buildings, and the largest building in the world so far certified to the passive house premium standard, in recognition of both its highly efficient building fabric and the large amount of solar energy it generates.

The pioneering Cannock Mill development in Colchester is just the second cohousing project in the UK to achieve passive house certification, making it a leader not just in terms of its thermal performance, but in demonstrating the vital role shared living can play in both building vibrant communities, and in mitigating the climate crisis.

The deep retrofit of this 1930s dwelling on the Hampshire coast providesThe deep retrofit of this 1930s dwelling on the Hampshire coast providesa pitch-perfect example of how to transform old dwellings whilepreserving their original structure and minimising embodied carbon.