Inspiration for the conceptual design of the Hawea Flat Passivhaus came from the RIBA award-winning Cat Hill Barn in South Yorkshire, UK.  This sixteenth century, agricultural stone-built barn was sensitively converted into a residence featuring a large double height glass wall to the front, small windows utilising existing openings and feature trusses within a central open vaulted area.

The clients had a love of natural materials and were excited by the opportunity of using German oak for the frame, so it was decided to extend the use of exposed timbers throughout the building. The central open heart of the building features a cathedral like appearance with floating staircase and fink trusses, with the lines of the struts flowing continuously down into the double-height posts. These curved struts also reference 54 curved knee braces joining posts and beams throughout the building.

The frame design is English in style including trusses, a wall plate and supporting posts with a ridge beam and exposed underpurlins in the roof.  Exposed floor beams and joists and a gallery walkway at the back of the grand open vaulted entrance/living area complete the frame design and SIPs (structural insulated panels) wrap around the outside.

The use of Siberian larch 3D profile pre-stained cladding, solid oak flooring, New Zealand made triple glazed windows and doors, mechanical ventilation, shower waste water heat recovery and a large solar PV system with Tesla Powerwall 2 were specified as part of the design of this, New Zealand’s first Passive House Premium building.