FORREST PASSIVE HOUSE

The Back Story

The Black Summer bushfires of 2019 weren't just a national tragedy; they were a personal wake-up call for our clients. As smoke filled the Melbourne sky and their air quality monitors screamed warnings, they began to question their renovation plans. Living near the Westgate Freeway with an asthmatic child had already made them aware of the impact of air quality, but the bushfires were a stark reminder of their home's vulnerability. "It was shocking how easily the smoke got in," Erin recalls, "And the draughts! Freezing in winter, boiling in summer – it was just impossible."

The 167-square-metre home is a masterclass in liveable design. "We didn't want a McMansion," Erin says, "just a comfortable, well-designed space for our family of four." Bathed in northern sunlight, the living area flows seamlessly onto a native garden, a tranquil oasis on its compact block. They also engaged a landscape designer to make sure there was a connection from inside to out.

But before we got building, the clients had the house cut up and put on a truck ready for relocation. Ready for a second life!

The Build

Whilst a picture may say a thousand words and in this case, look elegant and beautiful, what it fails to show you is how damn comfortable, resilient and energy efficient this Melbourne Passive House is.

For us, these photos are more than just a money shot. It is years of progression, mistakes, reading, learning, growing, becoming better, and pushing ourselves to find a better alternative to what our industry offers. As Passive House Builders, this has challenged us to be better than we have ever been before.

But let’s talk about some facts behind this home:
- this home sits at .41ACH @ 50pascals, 3860% tighter than the average Australian home!
- all of our windows are triple-glazed uPVC
- the heating demand for this home is 13.9kWh/m2a
- the cooling demand for this home is 7kWh/m2a
- we have R9.0 ceiling, R5 wall and R5 floor insulation
- we have installed a Zehnder Q350 HRV for mechanical ventilation
- 6.6kw solar has been installed on the roof
- this is the first Passivhaus in Melbourne’s Inner West
- These are not hypothetical numbers; they are tested and proven through passive house certification!

Very few homes rival the level of detail in this home. From taping complex junctions to thinking about airtightness every decision we made challenged us in so many ways. We believe this is the ultimate form of a sustainable home.

We are so proud of what we produced, more than any project we have ever completed. Our journey to find and complete our first Passivhaus project didn’t happen overnight. It was a challenge but one we thoroughly enjoyed.

The Lived Experience

A few years later, their century-old home was gone, replaced by a stunning, modern four-bedroom haven built to the Passive House standard and has completed certification.

And what a legacy it is. The new house is so airtight, it practically needs a lung to breathe! This, along with other Passive House features, has transformed their lives. Their son's asthma has improved dramatically, and they haven't touched the heater, even in the depths of a Melbourne winter. "We were always underdressed when we went outside," Erin laughs.

While heritage rules now prevent others from relocating their period homes, Erin and Martin's modern interpretation of the classic gabled weatherboard style has won over the neighbours. Life in a Passive House has been a revelation. The whisper-quiet ventilation system, the year-round comfort, the freedom to fling open the windows when a cool change sweeps through – it's a world away from their draughty old home.

But the real magic? The peace. "We never realised how much the triple glazing and insulation would cut down the noise," Erin marvels. "The freeway used to roar when the wind blew a certain way, but now... silence. We sleep so much better."

Erin and Martin's story is a testament to the power of sustainable building. Their Passive House isn't just a home; it's a sanctuary, a haven of health, comfort, and quietude. It's proof that embracing environmentally friendly design can enrich our lives in ways we never imagined

What did we learn?

What did we learn building our first Passivhaus?

A lot!

But let's be specific!

We learnt that we have an excellent network of builders, trades and suppliers around us who we can lean on for advice to help us bring an idea to life!

We picked up new skills that we never thought we had. We wrapped a house internally for the first time. We learnt to think even further ahead of the construction process to ensure all Passive House aspects were adhered to.

We obtained an understanding of why collaboration is so important. If Alter Eco Design, the clients and ourselves were not on the same page with the one common goal, we would not have achieved what we did.

We made mistakes, and plenty of them.

We were let down by people who said they would do one thing and then do something else, but we adapted and thought outside the square to solve the problem.

We gained insights into why passive houses and high-performance homes are so critical for the future. There is a level of comfort that can't be competed with. When your trades work in shorts and t-shirts in the middle of winter because it's so airtight and well-insulated, you know it works!

We gained further knowledge about building science and the importance of a quality external membrane.

We were able to educate others on how we built this home and why we built it, having over 100 people come through for an open house day!

We learnt that building a Passive House is easy! It just requires a little extra care and attention to specific details. Other than that, it's the same as any other job. We are already installing insulation, so just make sure it's installed correctly. You're already installing a window, so make sure a quality window is installed.

But most importantly, we learnt that we love to be challenged, and the only way to do that is to be proactive about demanding a better standard of homes for our current and future clients. We have a thirst for doing different things and pushing boundaries on what is possible in the industry.

Build a home with us

It’s clear that we care, but if you want to know more about what we do, or discover how we can work with you on how to build your dream home, fill out the form below. Trust us, you won’t regret it

Photographs - Jade Cantwell