| 69 The Passive House approach “looks to create a space that is highly energy efficient, warm, dry, and still beautiful, not the minimum as required for code of compliance,” says Denis Chin, from Three Line Studio. Passive houses – playing the long game Three Line Studio Virginia Wright Design, install & commission solar energy systems A Specialist Division Of Stones Electrical Contractors Ltd SOLAR . ELECTRICAL . HEATING . 04 297 3060or 04 296 1727 www.solarzone.co.nz sales@solarzone.co.nz 7 Epiha Street, Paraparaumu Proudly associatedwithThree Line Studio Structural Design • 3D Static & Dynamic Structural Analyses • Seismic Assessment & Strengthening Focus Engineering Consultants are proud to support Three Line Studio on another succesful project. ARCHITECTURE Denis Chin and Amanda Bulman are the two directors of Wellington’s Three Line Studio having worked together for the last 18 years. They emerged with their degrees in Architecture from Auckland University around the same time and their long-term friendship underpins a successful business relationship bringing with it their mutual trust and respect. With Amanda more involved in the design stages while Denis focuses more on the documentation and construction side of things they work well together, although the reality is that they’re both across all projects; consulting, and bringing their different strengths together to achieve the desired outcome. The company name ‘Three Line Studio’ reflects the nature of their work and design, dealing as they do with volume which is three-dimensional and needs three lines to describe it, or three co-ordinates x,y,z, rather than just two. “We’re thinking constantly of the spaces within the surfaces, or the volume held by the materials of the walls and floor. You can have a small space but if you’ve got the height or the volume that creates a different feel,” explains Denis. For more than five years Three Line Studio, has concentrated on low energy and/or Passive House builds. “We knew from experience that in a functional sense the building code is dealing in minimum standards. It becomes something you have to do to achieve compliance, so people aim for the lowest mark which is not a great way to build for the long term,” says Denis. As architects it’s the long-term viability of their buildings that they’re interested in and Denis believes this is where the Passive House approach comes into its own, given that it’s looking for long term benefits for the occupants, the environment and energy consumption in general. “It looks to create a space that is highly energy efficient, warm, dry, and still beautiful, not the minimum as required for code of compliance, so that’s where our interest came from,” says Denis. Early Passive House buildings tended to be all about the science and sometimes neglected the opportunity of spatially beautiful design, which is something that Denis and Amanda wanted to ensure their clients could all enjoy. This has seen the practice awarded in Te Kāhui Whaihanga, the NZIA Wellington Awards for Architecture for the last two years running for a full passive and a low energy house. Denis and Amanda both believe that building according to Passive House principles is the way of the future and have attended courses to learn more about it and get their accreditation (Denis is a certified Passive House Designer, Amanda has completed part 1 of the 2-part training). They’re not alone in their belief that this is the way of the future. “It’s telling that the latest iteration of the building code which deals with energy efficiency is taking on more of the low-energy, high-performance ethos and has definitely upped the ante in terms of what is required,” says Denis. “Everyone’s seeing that there’s definite benefits to the environment when you’re building a home that is warm, dry and quiet.” Quietness is a feature that Passive Houses and low-energy, high-performance houses have in common, and which gives their occupants a different experience of living to “your standard New Zealand 3604 construction”, says Denis, which is to say our typically 90mm x 45mm timber-framed and clad houses. It comes down to the additional thickness of the walls and the additional insulation that goes into the extra space. True Passive Houses go further to use what is usually European-sourced door and window joinery units which are typically at least twice the thickness and depth of the New Zealand equivalent, as well as being triple-glazed, thereby cutting out a lot of outside noise as well as providing increased thermal performance. A certified Passive House must meet a quantifiable standard based on measurements speaking to the house’s performance both thermally and in terms of energy consumption. A key feature deals with number of air-changes in the house per hour. Whereas a typical New Zealand house might have 10 or 15 air changes per hour, depending on its age and construction materials, or in other words how drafty it is, a Passive House has a maximum of 0.6 air changes per hour if all the doors and windows are closed. It’s key to their thermal performance which is regulated by the use of a high-performing heat recovery mechanical ventilation system which uses the heat generated within the house to heat and circulate fresh air at slow speeds through the house. The windows are still there to throw open when you wish on a hot summer’s day, but energy performance and ventilation are secure regardless. Three Line Studio undertakes a mix of residential and community projects, made up of both new builds and alterations. Their belief in the principles of Passive House or it’s more accessible, low-energy, high performance cousin, underpins their commitment to the environment. They want to build something ‘better’, and their clients agree, as they look for designs that are more lasting; for themselves, for their families and ultimately for the planet, without blowing the budget.
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