As the largest built Passivhaus certified building in Europe and the eighth largest in the world at the time of certification, this achievement reflects the exceptional collaboration and expertise of the core project team – developer urbanest, architect AHMM, general contractor Mace Construct and Passivhaus consultant Henriksen Studio.
Given the growing interest in Passivhaus high-rises, we have created this storybook to share our experience in designing to this rigorous standard. Intended as an engaging an accessible read for architects, it also welcomes anyone interested in high-performance, low-energy buildings that contribute to reducing operational carbon emissions in the built environment.
The report begins with an introduction to the Passivhaus standard and its critical role in meeting Net Zero targets by 2050.
It includes an analysis (specific to urbanest Battersea compared to two other AHMM projects) demonstrating how Passivhaus design reduces whole-life carbon by reducing operational energy demand. We then explore the unique challenges of applying Passivhaus principles to high-rise buildings.
Using urbanest Battersea as a case study, we examine key issues such as thermal bridging, airtightness, and the complexities of scaling up Passivhaus strategies.
Further sections delve into essential considerations, including façade design, the benefits of early-stage design optimisation, airtightness monitoring and testing, and strategies for managing thermal bridges.
The report also highlights the importance of harnessing passive energy sources such as internal heat gains, and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery – an approach that enables up to 90% energy savings for space heating and cooling compared to typical building stock, and over 75% compared to typical new builds.
Finally, a Lessons Learnt chapter gathers insights from key team members, reflecting on the project’s successes, challenges, and the path forward for future Passivhaus high-rises.
DOWNLOAD THE REPORT HERE.
