Passive House in the Trees

Set on a steep and highly constrained site, this house occupies a narrow strip of buildable land between protected areas, council drainage infrastructure and a stand of kānuka. Rather than cutting deeply into the hillside, the building is elevated above the ground—conceived as a land yacht moving through the treetops.

Certified to the Passive House standard, the home combines exceptionally low energy use with stable year-round temperatures and excellent indoor air quality. Structural insulated panels form the walls and roof, supported by high-performance European-style windows, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery and meticulous airtightness detailing. Together, these systems create a comfortable, healthy home with minimal heating and cooling demand.