Architecture and Design Atlas

How Space Is Shaped
Concepts

Passive House

Also Known As Passivhaus
Contemporary Practice

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A rigorous voluntary energy-efficiency design standard requiring extremely low space heating and cooling demand, achieved through superinsulation, airtight construction, high-performance windows and heat-recovery ventilation rather than active mechanical systems alone. The first four Passive House terraced houses were completed in Darmstadt-Kranichstein, Germany, in 1990 to 1991, following a 1988 discussion between Wolfgang Feist and Bo Adamson, and the standard is now certified worldwide by the Passive House Institute.

Facts
Concept Domain
Sustainability, Energy Performance 1
Formulated Year
1991 1
The concept was discussed by Feist and Adamson in 1988; the first Passive House buildings, in Darmstadt-Kranichstein, were completed 1990 to 1991, before the certifying institute was formally founded in 1996.
Cross-Tradition Connections

Associated With

The Passive House Institute is the organization that develops, promotes and certifies buildings to the Passive House standard.

Sources
1. Wikipedia
Wikimedia FoundationPassive house history page
Quote, Passive house history page
Four terraced houses in Darmstadt-Kranichstein (1990-1991) are widely cited as the first built to what became the Passive House standard.
View the Source
1. Wikipedia
Wikimedia FoundationIn Category: ConceptsView the Source
Passive House Institute Official Site
Passive House InstituteAssociated With: Passive House InstituteView the Source

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