The Barn-Style Eco-Home Meeting Passivhaus Standards

Project Overview

Nestled in the picturesque countryside of Dorset, England, this remarkable barn-style eco-home serves as a prime example of sustainable design and construction. Perched amidst the outstanding landscape of The Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs, this collaborative project between Ecologic SIPs, DMW Architects, and Thorpe Engineering Consultants Ltd has yielded a four-bedroom home that not only blends seamlessly with its rustic surroundings but also meets the stringent requirements of the Passivhaus standard. This timber frame home incorporates a high-performing breather membrane ECHOFOIL EXO from Partel.

The Challenge

A Home That Meets Passivhaus Standards

One of the central challenges posed by this project was the requirement to meet Passivhaus standards. This stringent standard necessitates exceptional levels of airtightness and thermal performance, demanding innovative solutions from the design and construction teams. It was coupled with the client’s passion to achieve a high-performance home quickly and effectively. In addition, the house design has also been set to harmonise and enhance its landscape using pre-patinated facing materials to blend into its rural surroundings.

The Solution

Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) – A Sustainable Choice

To meet the demanding requirements of Passivhaus standards while adhering to the client’s desire for swift construction, the project opted for a Structural Insulated Panel (SIP) envelope. SIPs are renowned for their ability to provide elevated thermal performance and enhanced energy efficiency. Comprising two outer layers of oriented strand board (OSB) that encase a core of construction-grade expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam. Each composite panel is robust, lightweight and extremely strong.

Partel’s ECHOFOIL EXO – Elevating Performance

In addition to SIPs, the project employed Partel’s ECHOFOIL EXO, a reflective breather membrane, to further enhance the home’s thermal performance and airtightness. This innovative membrane boasts an impressively low emissivity value of <0.05, which plays a pivotal role in improving thermal comfort within the dwelling. It was installed externally to act as a wind barrier, manage moisture, and protect the structure against any driving rain that may penetrate the exterior finish. Such qualities are essential in safeguarding the integrity and longevity of the building.

Conclusion

In summary, this barn-style eco-home in Dorset stands as an inspiring example of sustainable, efficient, and innovative construction. Through the collaborative efforts of Ecologic SIPs, DMW Architects, and Thorpe Engineering Consultants Ltd, this project achieved not only the exacting Passivhaus standards but also harmonized seamlessly with the surrounding countryside.

The choice of SIPs, with their numerous benefits, enabled rapid on-site construction while Partel’s ECHOFOIL EXO membrane enhanced the home’s thermal performance and airtightness. This project showcases that it is possible to marry cutting-edge sustainability with architectural excellence, resulting in a building that not only treads lightly on the environment but also provides an exceptional living experience for its occupants.