The Old Water Tower Passivhaus
The Old Water Tower is a 4 bed detached 200 m2 Passivhaus home, built as a commercial proposition by Gresford Architects and Trunk Low Energy Building in the Berkshire countryside. The project is a FINALIST in the Rural category of the UK Passivhaus Awards 2016.
21° designed and supplied the MVHR (mechanical ventilation with heat recovery) system for the project.
Background
The timber-clad project is built in timber frame on the site of a former water tower. The project takes its inspiration from traditional timber-framed barns of the local area. Unusually for a Passivhaus it is orientated to the west (to take advantage of beautiful views over open countryside). Designing around the west orientation created some challenges for the design team when modelling the project in PHPP (Passive House Planning Package), resulting in changes in insulation specification elsewhere in the build.
Heat recovery ventilation
Heat recovery ventilation at the project is provided by a PAUL Novus 300 MVHR system, with 88.7% final effective heat recovery. The system was designed and supplied by 21°’s MVHR Design Service.
Francisco Cerezuela, Architectural Technician and Certified Passivhaus Designer with Gresford Architects
Project details
Architect
Project Manager
