Gadigal
New South Wales
Pocket Passiv is a small infill residential studio occupying the unused space of a spatially constrained inner city terrace house corner block. The project achieves ambitious levels of amenity for its residents all whilst occupying the pocket sized footprint of 27sqm. Located in Glebe, a thriving inner city suburb originally inhabited by the Gadigal people, Pocket Passiv sits within a relic of Sydney’s 19th century Victorian terrace house boom.
Pocket Passiv’s project aspirations were guided by an ethos of not only environmental sustainability but also social and economic. The dwelling has been built to the Passivhaus Plus Standard, an esteemed accreditation for high performance and energy efficient buildings originating from Germany. Passivhaus Plus further acknowledges the building’s ability to generate as much energy as it consumes ultimately becoming a net zero energy building.
Award for Sustainable Architecture
Pocket Passive is a highly effective reimagining of a 27m2 under-utilised patch of land in an inner-city location which is close to amenities and services. The project demonstrates the value of infill housing with an efficient building envelope to deliver a resilient, comfortable and compact dwelling.
Within a constrained envelope that protects solar to a neighbouring garden, Pocket Passiv is carefully configured in relation to context. The two-level building form provides separate sleeping and living space with clever integration of wet areas, storage, and services. It offers balanced natural light and cross ventilation through high performance windows and skylight.
The efficient envelope, all-electrical appliances, solar panels, and heat recovery system achieve an outcome that balances energy generation and use. Pocket Passiv successfully unites the sustainability and architecture aspirations of the client and architect in a compact city dwelling.
The clients desired a place of blissful retreat within the city. In the current Sydney housing crisis, they were keen to explore ideas for achieving intergenerational living within a small footprint. Not wanting to lose independence for themselves or their children, they were willing to explore innovative ways of increasing the housing density on their existing property. A love for all things community and art, plus an eagerness to engage with artistic and honest materials followed. Sharing a desire to limit future environmental impacts, designing with solar passive design, and adopting the Passivhaus Standard became integral to the project’s success.