I find the project interesting because it is being built by a developer on the basis that Passivhaus will add value to his site. Its also interesting because, on the face of it, its a normal detached house in Surrey and not an Architectural statement. It has lots of en-suite bedrooms, planning legacy has meant it has a complicated floor plan, there are dormer windows, a pitched roof, and it has a brick finish. The difference is alongside a bespoke fitted kitchen Passivhaus will bring superb internal comfort, a filtered and constant air supply, tiny fuel bills, and a very low Carbon footprint – no matter how it is used. Working with the design team to achieve a balance between a ‘normal’ looking house and good thermal detailing has been a challenge, but it seems to be coming together. The building is closed panel timber frame with cellulose insulation and an external cavity and brick skin. The wall panels were built offsite by Ecohomes in Ireland and I’ve picked out some details below that show how the design can help get build quality on site.

For more information on the project visit sales website of the Surrey based developer Tillingbourne.

However capable the individuals, there are times when a team is preferable – both for the client and the members. This has worked well and for some time Cocreate has been operating as a brand and umbrella for projects.

We have also felt the need for an entity that could bring our team more closely together, strengthening the relationships and what we can offer without overriding the diversity. We wanted the best of a company – shared ethos, shared entity – with less of the fuss. Whilst some of this is about culture, we also wanted to reflect this in our structure.

We are therefore very pleased to confirm our formal registration this week as a co-operative, with grateful thanks to Co-operatives UK/the Co-operative Enterprise Hub and Nathaniel at Decision Lab who helped with this. Our team can now formally become members of Cocreate, they can retain their identity as sole traders or limited companies, but we band together to win and do work as a single organisation with strength in diversity. We think it will be effective and we think it will be fun. We also think it will be the best way to support and incubate bright ideas, business streams, and people.

There are also a few more changes coming. Having collaborated together informally for some time, Andy, Jonny, Paul and Will are in the process of incorporating Cocreate as a limited company and Co-operative. We have chosen this structure after a lot of thought and debate because we think it will provide benefit for our clients and for us. You can read a bit more about Cocreate here.

If you’d like to get in touch with us, please don’t hesitate to drop us a line on info@cocreateconsulting.com. We look forward to hearing from you.

If you are thinking about buying a Christmas tree in London this year then you might like consider Community Christmas Trees (www.communitychristmastrees.co.uk), an enterprise recently launched with the involvement of Cocreate member Jonny Anstead in partnership with London charity Community Links (www.community-links.org).

You can pre-order online and have your Christmas tree delivered anywhere in London at the same time as supporting charity projects in some of the city’s most deprived areas. Win win!

A steady stream of twits were available to follow what went on. Here’s our summary of what happened virtually.

Day one

Nottingham is pretty much bang in the middle of the country, a long way from most and meaning some early starts. 4am was the record with @50Pa and @PHPlusMag coming from Ireland and @ecohausuk keen to set up their stand. After it became light those conscientiously travelling by train witnessed an excellent Autumn sunrise, @TomDJMason had the one below whilst @ecominimalnick was already there and setting up.

…Proving that Low energy building is all in the detail. @EcoEricParks won the caption competition “pleased to see Nick doing his ‘level’ best”. Very good. @TugbaSalman must have had an early start as she arrived from Turkey along with the first delegates in time to see one of the first presentations which brought sharp reality to the early excitement, Clemens Haury from the EC showing the gap between the aims and actuals of the European energy efficiency targets. There’s a lot to do.

Positively following this was  Helmut Krapmeier with a large dose of the famous Austrian optimism via @EcologyPaul “use of PH principles for renovation of public housing flats energy use reduced by 90%” and @ecologicalbuild “In some provinces in Austria it is Compulsory to build social #housing to #Passivhaus levels of performance”, along with “Vorarlberg govt accepts #PHPP calculations. A lesson for UK perhaps?” from @UKPHconference. Proving the British can do optimism too.

A quiet descends, presumably lunch, before the afternoon sessions which are nicely summarised by @EcologyPaul again “underlying theme today: you learn nothing without post-occupancy monitoring”. True of all projects, not just Passivhaus. Monitoring mentioned for Wimbish Social Housing by Jane Barnes (A project of Paul’s from his early Passivhaus days), Princedale Rd and Culford Rd by Marion Baeli (@Archima), YFoel by Mark Tiramani (with the great presentation below), and plans for the future on Brackley care home by Iain Goldsworthy. @ArchitypeUK and an intriguing community built straw bale building by Fran Bradshaw and @ATarchitects also get a mention.

And with that the first day closes, or not quite, the rumours of a healthy debate on the effects of Passivhaus and Low energy on design and creativity creep through late enough to get input from the states with Mike Eliason from @bruteforceblog commenting “… [it effects] design, yes. creativity, no.”  Succinct, a design challenge to ponder on as the delegates visit the bar.

Day two

A more positive start to day two welcomes @JurajMikurcik with his road trip, and others that could only do one of two days. @HardiJ is excited to see Jon Bootland showing the positive Passivhaus growth in the UK, before @SofiePelsmaker quotes Rod Bunn (@BSRIA) giving the bigger picture, “Cradle to occupation responsibility on all buildings, not just Passivhaus”, a nod to Soft landings and the importance of involving the building users as the build process ends.There’s much more activity today and its harder to keep up, @RolandMatzig has a big effect and seems to have said it like it is with some honest lessons from his PH experience. @Ecominimalnick paraphrased with “I chose to only design Passivhaus, just do it’, and @SofiePelsmaker picked up on the early theme of the day, cost: ”#Passivhaus buildings do not cost more to construct, but more costly to design, which is burdened by architect.”

@ElrondBurrell takes a break from twitter to take the hot seat (above) and demonstrate BIM, “brave” and “courageous” were both mentioned as he does a live design demonstration with all sorts of software. @Sharpeneer is impressed and says so before getting into an interesting debate with @SofiePelsmaker  off the back of a presentation from @JBere, should we be using more UK timber? Is there enough UK timber to use? “if you specify grade C16 timber, up to 75 x 225 I think, it can all be UK sourced.” @Sharpeneer.
@Alanbudden gets some well deserved mentions for their UK best (?) building airtightness of 0.07ach, @ecologicalbuild putting it into context “[the equivalent of a] Hole the size of a matchbox in the ext envelope!”
The tweets thin out again as the conference moves into the afternoon. Our very own @Paul_Smyth and his co-presenter @johnpratley get a mention showing “A challenging but inspirational #Passivhaus retrofit 1970s tower block” (@Hardij) which was part of the Cocreate Money Saving Estate project, and @Mark_J_Siddall ‘s presentation on coheating tests shows some UK evidence on what the draw to Passivhaus is: “performs as predicted” a neat synopsis from @ArchitypeUK which wraps up the conference for me. To keep it that way we’ve got to keep the excellent scientific and empirical analysis of the buildings we build. Its what sets Passivhaus and the network apart.
I almost feel the fatigue as the delegates start their twitter goodbyes and journeys home along with some new connections and hundreds of ideas. Can’t wait till next year – hopefully I’ll be there more than virtually!Thank you to everybody who tweeted insights, pictures, and quotes to keep those not in Nottingham at least a little bit informed. I hope I have referenced everyone who contributed.

Its put together by the Passivhaus institut in Darmstadt and seems to pick up the information from the database at the Passivhaus Projeckte website. If your project isn’t on there then register it on the database by going to the database registration page and emailing them.

The map shows a clear belt of Passivhaus around latitude 51°N, German Latitude!  the physics says the approach should work anywhere but there isn’t a lot of evidence of people trying yet. We are aware of Passivhaus developments in Australia that are looking to go for Certification so these could break the mould.

The Passivhaus related projects that opening their doors to the public are: 100 Princedale Road by Paul Davis + Partners, 20 Lena Gardens by Greentomato Energy, The Environment Centre at Lordship recreational grounds by Anne Thorne architects, Holy Trinity CE Primary by Architype, and the Mayville Community Centre by Bere Architects. All these are really great projects, I’ve been lucky enough to go to Lena Gardens and Mayville already and they are fantastic spaces with some great detailing.

Beyond Passivhaus we’re going to take a look at Crossness Engines House, the “Cathedral of Sewage”, a Victorian waste water pumping station with some massive beam pumps and flamboyant style!

There’s a tradition of being the first something Passivhaus and so to honour these pioneers and to settle any pub arguments here is our less than definitive list:

• 1st Passivhaus in UK: Y Foel, JPW Associates (2009)
• 1st Passivhaus in England: Underhill house – Seymour Smith Architects (2010)
• 1st Passivhaus in Scotland: Tygh-Na-Cladach, Dunoon – SPHC (2010)
• 1st Cavity wall Passivhaus in the UK: Denby Dale – Green building store (2010)
• 1st affordable social housing scheme in the UK: Tygh-Na-Cladach, Dunoon (2010)
• 1st rural affordable social housing scheme in the UK: Wimbish – Parsons + Whittley (2011)
• 1st Passivhaus Education building in the UK: Hadlow College – Eurobuild (2010)
• 1st Passivhaus Schools in the UK: Oak Meadow Primary, Bushbury Hill Primary, Montomery Primary (2012)
• 1st Passivhaus Office in the UK: Canolfan Hyddgen, Machunlleth – JPW Associates (2009)
• 1st Passivhaus Office in England: Interserve, Watermead – Interserve (2011)
• 1st Passivhaus light industrial builing in the UK: Greendale Studio, Canterbury – Conker Conservation (2010)
• 1st EnerPHit in UK: Grove Cottage - Simmonds Mills Architects (2009)
• 1st EnerPHit to be certified by a UK certifier: 58 Elliot Drive, Wellsbourne – Encraft (2012)

The list might also be useful for spotting those gaps in the market. If you want a first you need to build a cavity wall house in Wales, or a heavy industrial building, or for a real challenge how about a hospital?

The small print: Only Certified Quality Assured Passivhaus projects have been considered. Passivhaus principles just doesn’t cut it. The PHI Database and date of certification is used to settle any disagreements. This list is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication, we will happily keep it updated and make amendments so please leave feedback.