Topp Constructs CoNo Passivhaus
Residential: Single Dwelling
Enerphit Certification
Coburg North, Merri Bek, VIC, 2023
This home is a creek side 1950's double brick cottage in Coburg North, and it was in desperate need of an upgrade. The homes in this estate were built for returning vets, and were solidly built with all brick interior and exterior walls, tiled roof and, and generally efficient although compact design.
The brief to the Architects was to maintain as much of the original footprint, and as many of the original materials that could be salvaged from the demolition, whilst navigating the the requirements of the PHPP.
There was a large emphasis on using reclaimed, recycled and low embodied carbon building products wherever possible to complete the project and achieve the Passivhaus certification.
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AIRTIGHTNESS n50 ACH@50pascals: .82hr
HEATING DEMAND (kWh/m².yr): 29
COOLING DEMAND (kWh/m².yr): 6
HEATING LOAD (W/m²): 18
COOLING LOAD (W/m²): 22
PRIMARY ENERGY DEMAND (PE) (kWh/m².yr): 85
PRIMARY ENERGY RENEWABLE DEMAND (PER): 58
PRIMARY ENERGY RENEWABLE GENERATION (PER): 97 -
LOCATION: Coburg North, VIC
NCC CLIMATE ZONE: 6 – Mild temperate
NATHERS CLIMATE ZONE: 60
YEAR OF COMPLETION: 2023
TREATED FLOOR AREA (PHPP sqm): 125
PROJECT TYPE: Retrofit
SECTOR: Residential: Single Dwelling
CONSTRUCTION TYPE: Timber Frame, Cavity Insulated Double Brick Cottage, With Durra Panel Internal Lining
CERTIFICATION LEVEL: EnerPHit -
MHRV SYSTEM: Zehnder Comfo Air 180
DOMESTIC HOT WATER SYSTEM: Reclaim
EXTERIOR WALL TYPE, U-VALUE: 140mm insulated timber frame, Cavity insulated double brick with Durra Panel Internal lining, R4.0
ROOF INSULATION TYPE, MANUFACTURER: Bradford Golf
ROOF CONSTRUCTION: Timber Frame
ROOF ENVELOPE U-VALUE: R7.0
WALL FRAME TYPE, U-VALUE: 140mm Pine Frame with Earthwool Batts, R4.0
GLAZING TYPE, MANUFACTURER, U W-VALUE, G-VALUE, U G-VALUE: Triple, Binq, .75 W/m2K, .53W/m2K, 53%
EXTERNAL DOOR TYPE, MANUFACTURER, U D-VALUE: Glass Doors, Binq, 1.26 -
NUMBER OF MODULES: 18
HEIGHT, WIDTH OF ONE MODULE (m, m): 1.646 x 1.140
HEIGHT OF ARRAY: 3.420 x 9.876
EFFICIENCY (%): 87
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This project showcases an extension clad in Ceres Fair Wood Cypress Macrocarpa and constructed using reclaimed bricks sourced from on-site and local demolitions. Cabinet handles are crafted from salvaged timber, recycled Victorian Ash hardwood flooring, Durra Panel compressed-straw wall linings, and OSB4 plywood linings. High-efficiency, locally made hardwood triple-glazed windows and doors pair with a Zehnder HVAC system to deliver exceptional comfort and energy performance.
The home is fully electric with no gas connection, supported by a 7.3 kW solar array, three-phase mains connection, and provisions for future battery storage and high-speed EV charging. An 8,000-litre above-ground rainwater harvesting system supplies the toilets, washing machine, and garden, while high-performance Miele appliances and locally quarried stone paving complete the project’s environmentally conscious design.
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The owner is a certified Passivhaus Tradesperson who undertook all of the construction detailing required for the PHPP and certification. This was a very big undertaking; it was an existing solid masonry structure, and there were many exercises in thermal bridge management, and challenges in achieving air tightness in an existing masonry structure.
Project Members
PASSIVHAUS CERTIFIER: Detail Green
PASSIVHAUS CONSULTANT/ DESIGNER: Marcus Strang - Hip V Hype
ARCHITECT/ BUILDING DESIGNER: Agius Scorpo Architects
BUILDER: Topp Constructs
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: R.I Brown
WINDOW SUPPLIER: Binq
HRV SUPPLIER: Zehnder - Supplied by FanTech and Installation by Passive Tech
AIRTIGHTNESS MEMBRANE SUPPLIER: Pro Clima
INSULATION SUPPLIER: Eco Home
ROOFING SUPPLIER: Thornbury Roofing
BLOWER DOOR TESTER: Passive Tech
SOLAR PANEL SUPPLIER: Solar by Max Power Electrical
PHOTOGRAPHER: Thurston Empson