Passivhaus Dwelling | Sussex
Certified comfort, countryside serenity
Adele and Mike were ready for a new chapter. After decades in their cherished family home, the arrival of nearby urban redevelopment nudged them to seek a more peaceful setting for retirement. They found a beautiful rural plot in Sussex — but the existing planning-approved design didn’t reflect their values or aspirations. That’s when they turned to Koru.
They wanted a home that was tailored to their lifestyle, respectful of the landscape, and built to Passivhaus standards for energy efficiency and long-term comfort. We completely reimagined the layout, rotating the footprint 90º to maximise passive solar gain and open up stunning countryside views. Because the site gently slopes, we took a creative approach: flipping the traditional layout to place bedrooms on the ground floor and living spaces above, allowing easy access to the upper garden and ensuring the heart of the home is filled with light and landscape.
The house was designed as a spacious, open-plan timber-framed dwelling with exceptional attention to performance. It’s super-insulated with natural materials, extremely airtight, and fully certified to Passivhaus standards — meaning it stays warm in winter, cool in summer, and requires very little energy to run. A renewable energy system, including an air-source heat pump and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR), ensures year-round comfort while minimising environmental impact. The zinc roof, complete with integrated solar PV panels and rooflights, further supports the home’s low-energy profile.
Externally, the home is clad in western red cedar, which will gracefully weather to a soft silver-grey, helping the house blend seamlessly into its natural surroundings.
Now a fully certified Passivhaus, Adele and Mike’s Sussex home is more than just energy-smart — it’s a calm, contemporary sanctuary built to last for decades to come.
Mike & Adele had this to say:
“We wanted a home that was beautiful, efficient and future-ready — and that’s exactly what Koru delivered.”
"Mark came up with a wonderful design which maximises the natural attributes of our rural site”
Geoff & Gail Aucock
“Mark’s contribution has been invaluable. I have recommended him to others and I would be happy to work with him again”
Ruth Stoton
“Mark has been very straight-forward and professional and has given me sound practical advice.”
Roger Ross
“Working with Mark was a fantastic experience from start to finish. We couldn't have been happier with the end result.”
Andrew & Emma Wilkie
"It's his quiet confidence that makes you feel more confident about what it is you’re doing. We would definitely recommend working with Mark from Koru."
Adele O’Hehir
"Koru Architects have been a 'breath of fresh air’ in helping me develop my concept and taking this through to design."
Gino Fox
"Mark’s designs have been very innovative, making good use of a difficult site. His service has pleased me enormously!"
Herb Etkin
Ready to discuss a project? Get in touch today.
01273 204065
info@koruarchitects.co.uk
Studio 221, 91 Western Road,
Brighton and Hove, BN1 2NW
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