London townhouse extension is the newest Passivhaus on the block
One of the most important aspects of this north London townhouse renovation was to retain the original exterior of the building. This involved stripping the entire interior while keeping the brick walls intact. OEB Architects then rebuilt the three-story space with a new timber frame inside the brick exterior, creating a building within a building. From there, the team ensured the residence met Passivehaus requirements all while delivering on the clean, minimalist design the client wanted.
“The clean white surfaces, paired with warming wood, are an obvious match for our aesthetic — but the house is deeper than that,” the client, Andrew, said. “The use of a single system of modular plywood components throughout the house will allow us to adapt it as our needs change, key to the long-term sustainability of the building.”
Related: Award-winning luxury townhouses boast energy-efficient, passive solar design
In addition to a welcoming, clean and modern feel, the home meets requirements to qualify as a Passivhaus (Passive House) EnerPHit home. This standard is achieved through substantial levels of insulation and an airtight design. The home also features high-quality windows and doors, including triple-glazed replacement sashes. These elements provide natural temperature control within the home.
Along with efficiency in construction, the home is equipped with state-of-the-art smart technology. This includes a ventilation system with sensors in each room that report air quality, and, in response, the system provides perfectly heated and filtered fresh air throughout the space.
The client worked closely with architects to implement other smart systems into the renovated home. Describing some of the features, Andrew said, “Interior lighting automatically tracks the daylight outside, from a cool midday to cozy dusk. A custom digital simulation of the house predicts interior temperature, closing reflective blinds and opening windows to prevent overheating, while determining whether solar power is best used to charge batteries or heat water.”
Although the home is outfitted with new technologies, the client and the architects opted for more traditional control panels instead of bright, digital screens. It was also important to the team that the home remained modest and flexible, with design elements like plywood cabinets and modular components, so it could adapt to the owner’s needs and suit future owners as well. After all, some of the most sustainable buildings are not just airtight but built to last for years to come.
- OEB Architects
- Photography by French+Tye via OEB Architects
