Hütt 01 Passivhaus
Residential: Single Dwelling
Passivhaus Premium Certification
Coburg, VIC, 2021
When the project team set out to create Hütt 01, they set a high bar: not just to design a certified Passivhaus that comes with a zero-carbon footprint, but also a home that has what it takes to become one of the most inspiring, luxurious homes in Melbourne’s inner north.
Victoria is a heating-dominated climate, where up to 80% of residential energy use goes to heating in a traditional home. The designers wanted to eliminate the heating need. Using advanced prefab CLT (Cross-Laminated Timber) panels paired with wood fibre insulation and triple-glazed Austrian windows, built a highly insulated and airtight envelope. The result? A draught-free, all-electric home that requires no heating, even though, based on the prediction, would require very little -in reality, they haven’t needed heating once. The cooling need is very little cooling as per prediction, powered entirely by rooftop solar, which also runs most of our EV charging.
The home achieved one of the best ratings globally on the LETI scale, making it better than carbon-neutral. Inside, the solid timber structure provides remarkable acoustic performance and a profound sense of calm.
Hütt 01 has received international recognition and numerous awards, has been featured by Grand Designs Australia, published in over 60 publications, and even chosen in Penny Craswells book showcasing the 25 most sustainable homes in the world. As a lived-in case study, it proves that resilient, climate-positive homes aren’t just possible — they’re a joy to live in.
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AIRTIGHTNESS n50 ACH@50pascals: 0.5
HEATING DEMAND (kWh/m².yr): 9
COOLING DEMAND (kWh/m².yr): 3
HEATING LOAD (W/m²): 11
COOLING LOAD (W/m²): 16
PRIMARY ENERGY DEMAND (PE) (kWh/m².yr): 14.4
PRIMARY ENERGY RENEWABLE DEMAND (PER): 22
PRIMARY ENERGY RENEWABLE GENERATION (PER): 127 -
LOCATION: Coburg, VIC
NCC CLIMATE ZONE: 4-Hot dry summer, cool winter
NATHERS CLIMATE ZONE: 21
YEAR OF COMPLETION: 2021
TREATED FLOOR AREA (PHPP sqm): 178
PROJECT TYPE: New Build
RESIDENTIAL: Single Dwelling
CONSTRUCTION TYPE: Cross Laminated Timber ,Prefab
CERTIFICATION LEVEL/ ENERGY STANDARD: Passivhaus Premium -
PREFAB ELEMENTS: KLH CLT panels
MHRV SYSTEM: Zehnder Q350
DOMESTIC HOT WATER SYSTEM: Heat Pump Hydrotherm 260L
EXTERIOR WALL TYPE, U-VALUE: CLT panels with Schneider Wood fibre insulation, 0.235
FLOOR SLAB TYPE, U-VALUE: Slab on ground, 0.235 Sunken Living , 0.306 Bath, 0.388 Dining
ROOF INSULATION TYPE, MANUFACTURER: Schneider Wood Fibre Insulation
ROOF CONSTRUCTION: CLT with Wood Fibre Insulation
ROOF ENVELOPE U-VALUE: 0.235
WALL FRAME TYPE: CLT with Wood Fibre Insulation
GLAZING TYPE, MANUFACTURER, U W-VALUE, G-VALUE, U G-VALUE: Triple Glazing,Rösch Glass , 0.59 - 1.0 ( Windows ) and 1.59-1.86 ( Velux),
0.53 ( Windows ) and 0.31 ( Velux), 0.5 ( Windows ) and 1.0 ( Velux)
EXTERNAL DOOR TYPE, MANUFACTURER, U D-VALUE: Mix of Timber Door and Composite ( timber / alu), Freisinger Austria, 0.65 -
NUMBER OF MODULES: 15
HEIGHT, WIDTH OF ONE MODULE (m, m) : 1.676/1.005
HEIGHT OF ARRAY: 10
EFFICIENCY (%): 95
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Hütt 01 seamlessly blends luxury and sustainability, featuring premium energy-efficient appliances from V-ZUG and a refined, earthy material palette of timber, natural finishes, and a striking quartzite kitchen benchtop.
Built to exceed the Passivhaus Standard, the home includes a heat recovery shower system to minimise hot water use, a smart EV charger that detects solar oversupply, and water-sensitive urban design. Rainwater from the main roof supplies laundry and toilet flushing, while water from the extensive green roof irrigates the garden.
One of Hütt 01’s most beloved features is its integrated natural plunge pond and vertical aquaponics system. Water circulates through the edible garden, enriched with nutrients from the pond’s fish — who in turn feed on the plant run-off. The result is a self-sustaining mini ecosystem with crystal-clear, swimmable water.
Another favourite is the vertical green wall in the shower that creates the experience of bathing in nature while creating first class hotel vibes. Above the garage, a private rooftop garden with sculpted hills and a gum tree helps to cool the garage space below. Varies giant nets create a use of space - a playful, feature echoed in various spaces throughout the home.
From its carbon-sequestering structure to its regenerative systems, Hütt 01 isn’t just a home — it’s a climate-positive blueprint for future living.
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Due to the laneway access it wasn't easy to get big trucks , cranes and concrete trucks in , but with good planning and preparation, it all worked out perfectly.
The project team had to make the prefab panels a bit smaller than in other projects to make it easier to handle making it a 150 piece puzzle that the builder put up in just 10 days. Such a great achievement.
Project Members
PASSIVHAUS CERTIFIER: Clare Parry
PASSIVHAUS CONSULTANT/ DESIGNER: Marc Bernstein - Hussmann
ARCHITECT/ BUILDING DESIGNER: Melbourne Design Studios
BUILDER: Marc Bernstein- Hussmann in Collab with G-Lux Builders
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: Bernhard Waschl
PROJECT MANAGER: Felicity Bernstein
INTERIOR DESIGNER: Felicity Bernstein
ELECTRICAL ENGINEER: Lighting Designer : Mintlighting
WINDOW SUPPLIER: Hutt Sustainable Building Supplies
HRV SUPPLIER: Zehnder
AIRTIGHTNESS MEMBRANE SUPPLIER: Pro Clima
INSULATION SUPPLIER: Hutt Sustainable Building Supplies
ROOFING SUPPLIER: Architectural Metals Australia
OTHER NOTABLE SUPPLIERS: Stormtech ( HRV for shower water ), Issey ( External Shading)
BLOWER DOOR TESTER: Efficiency Matrix
PHOTOGRAPHER: Marnie Hawson
AWARDS AND SHORTLISTS:
National Award For Sustainable Architecture (Australian Institute of Architects RAIA)
Regional Winner (Asia-Pacific) Environmental Impact from the International Commonwealth Association of Architects
VIC Award for Sustainable Architecture (RAIA)
Timber Design Awards (Best New Home)
Best Sustainable House in the Houses Awards
Winner Residential New in the Sustainability Awards
ArchiTeam Sustainability Medal
Dezeen Awards Urban House Longlist
Think Brick Awards (Commendation)
IDEA Interior Design Excellence Awards – Winner Sustainability
ArchiTeam Best House over $1m