Location: Albert Town
Photographer: Daniel Allen
Energy Efficient Family Home, Designed with Passive House Principles
This Wānaka home demonstrates how to deliver a high-performing, thermally efficient house on a budget without compromising design. The floor plan was rationalised to reduce area while maintaining functional family spaces, including ample storage for seasonal outdoor gear. Carport and outdoor lockers were carefully integrated, maximising utility in smaller spaces.
Passive House principles guide the thermal design. SIPs panels, thermally broken slabs, and airtight construction ensure minimal heating is needed to maintain comfort, while concrete block internal walls provide thermal mass without introducing thermal bridging. The result is a home that balances energy efficiency, environmental performance, and practicality.
Warmth and style are integral to the interior. Natural timber ceilings and floors, alongside simple, robust joinery in plywood and Formica HPL, create inviting spaces that feel larger than their compact footprint. The courtyard layout connects rooms visually and to the outdoors, with multiple outdoor areas designed for varying seasons and activities, reinforcing the home’s seamless indoor–outdoor living.
