"Explore a remarkable Passivhaus self-constructed residence, where its owner seamlessly merges living and professional quarters"
Susi, a retired architect, embarked on a self-build journey to construct a Passivhaus home that prioritizes sustainability, accessibility, and self-build options. The house, named Sort Trae, meaning 'Black Wood' in Danish, is clad in charred Siberian larch, a process known as shou sui ban, and is situated on a site with views across rolling countryside.
Design and Planning
The design process for Susi's Passivhaus home began with careful consideration of energy efficiency, accessibility features, and the Passive House Planning Package (PHPP) tool. The floorplan was customized to optimize energy targets and accommodate a large weaving studio, as well as a spacious interior with a kitchen, dining area, living room, study, and two bedrooms. Passive solar design, high-performance insulation, airtight construction, and ventilation systems with heat recovery were incorporated to ensure comfort and minimal energy use all year round.
Build Approach
Susi opted for a self-build approach, utilizing prefabricated wall and roof panels from EkoBuilt. The panels were shipped to the site for self-assembly, simplifying the construction process and ensuring consistency with Passive House standards. The roofline sits at the ground level of the neighboring building to preserve neighbors' views, while the suspended precast concrete stair, situated between the house and the weaving studio, presented a challenge due to its size and complexity.
Certification and Quality Control
Third-party Passive House certifiers verified that the building met airtightness, thermal performance, and ventilation standards through on-site testing and lab certification for components such as ventilation units. Engaging with these certifiers guarantees the homeβs low energy consumption, sustainability credentials, indoor comfort, and health benefits.
Additional Sustainability and Accessibility Considerations
The house's high-performance envelope helps balance summer heat gain and winter losses, while strategic rooflights provide excellent daylight in the weaving studio and the bifold doors connect the room to the garden. The main entrance is at first-floor level, leading to two bedrooms, one of which can be used as a multifunctional space or an art exhibit area. The house's design effectively controls the interior temperature by absorbing and holding heat during the day and emitting it in the evening.
In summary, building a Passivhaus home sustainably with accessibility and self-build options involves integrated, iterative design guided by Passive House principles, prefabricated or modular components for ease and accuracy, and thorough certification processes to ensure performance and comfort. Engaging experts while leveraging kit options can empower self-builders to achieve these goals effectively. The new house, Sort Trae, is a testament to this approach, offering a comfortable and sustainable living space that is tailored to Susi's needs and the unique characteristics of its location.
- Susi, a retired architect, embarked on a project to construct a Passivhaus home named Sort Trae, meaning 'Black Wood' in Danish, utilizing a self-build approach.
- The design process for the home began with energy efficiency, accessibility features, and the Passive House Planning Package (PHPP) tool.
- The floorplan was customized to optimize energy targets and accommodate a large weaving studio, as well as a spacious interior with a kitchen, dining area, living room, study, and two bedrooms.
- Susi opted for prefabricated wall and roof panels from EkoBuilt for ease and accuracy in constructing the home.
- The roofline sits at the ground level of the neighboring building to preserve neighbors' views, while the suspended precast concrete stair presented a challenge due to its size and complexity.
- Third-party Passive House certifiers verified that the building met airtightness, thermal performance, and ventilation standards through on-site testing and lab certification for components.
- The house's high-performance envelope helps balance summer heat gain and winter losses, while strategic rooflights provide excellent daylight in the weaving studio and the bifold doors connect the room to the garden.
- The main entrance is at first-floor level, leading to two bedrooms, one of which can be used as a multifunctional space or an art exhibit area.
- The house's design effectively controls the interior temperature by absorbing and holding heat during the day and emitting it in the evening.
- Building a Passivhaus home sustainably with accessibility and self-build options involves integrated, iterative design guided by Passive House principles, prefabricated or modular components for ease and accuracy, and thorough certification processes to ensure performance and comfort.
- Engaging experts while leveraging kit options can empower self-builders to achieve these goals effectively.
- The new house, Sort Trae, is clad in charred Siberian larch, a process known as shou sui ban, and is situated on a site with views across rolling countryside.
- This approach offers a comfortable and sustainable living space that is tailored to Susi's needs and the unique characteristics of its location, suitable for a variety of lifestyles, including food-and-drink, home-and-garden, education-and-self-development, travel, fashion-and-beauty, sports, and even casino-and-gambling.
