Passivhaus design and building
Build a home that feels comfortable, healthy and efficient all year round.
What is Passivhaus?
A home where the building does more of the work.
Many homes look beautiful on handover day but still feel too hot in summer, too cold in winter or hard to keep comfortable. Passivhaus is different.
Passivhaus (Passive House) is a globally recognised building standard focused on energy efficiency, indoor air quality and long-term comfort.
Instead of relying heavily on air conditioning or heating, a Passivhaus home is designed so the building itself does more of the work. Originally developed in Germany, the Passivhaus standard is now used around the world, including here in Perth.
At Perway, we apply Passive House principles to homes suited to Perth’s climate, combining thoughtful design, careful construction and measurable performance.
For homeowners, the benefit is simple: a more stable, comfortable and efficient home. It is achieved through the following principles.
The five principles
How a Passivhaus home achieves this
High-level insulation
Walls, roof and floor insulated well beyond code. Heat stays out in summer. Warmth stays in during winter.
Airtight construction
Gaps, joints and penetrations are carefully sealed and can be tested to reduce draughts and uncontrolled air leakage.
High-performance windows
Double or triple glazed with quality frames. The weakest point in most homes becomes a strength.
Reduced thermal bridging
Careful detailing limits heat paths through the structure, helping reduce cold spots and manage condensation risk.
Controlled ventilation
Fresh, filtered air circulates constantly. You get clean indoor air without losing your cooling.
Why build a Passivhaus home?
Passivhaus is for homeowners who want more from their build than appearance alone. It is for people who care about comfort, quality, healthy living and long-term performance. The benefits include:
Consistent temperatures
Stable and even throughout the home, all year round.
Clean, filtered fresh air
Controlled ventilation removes dust, pollen and pollutants.
Quieter inside
Better insulation and glazing reduce outside noise significantly.
Better moisture control
Airtightness, insulation and controlled ventilation help reduce the conditions that lead to mould and condensation.
Built to last
Higher quality materials and more rigorous methods support a home that ages well and performs for years.
Lower reliance on mechanical systems
The building does the heavy lifting, not your air conditioner.
Careful orientation, insulation, airtightness, quality glazing and controlled ventilation reduce the energy needed for heating and cooling while improving comfort.
Designed for Perth’s climate.
Perth homes need to respond to hot summers, cool winter mornings, strong sun and changing seasonal conditions. A Passivhaus home is carefully considered from the beginning, including its orientation, insulation, windows, ventilation, materials and construction details.
For projects using Passive House principles, performance modelling can help tailor the design to its site, layout and local conditions. This gives you confidence that the comfort and efficiency of your home have been considered before construction begins.
Why the builder matters
A high-performance home is not created by design alone.
Airtightness, insulation, window installation, wrapping, ventilation and detailing all need to be carefully managed on site. Small gaps or poor installation can affect how the home performs.
Andy Kearns holds the Passive House Trade Certified Builder credential, an internationally recognised certification awarded by the Passive House Institute. Our lead carpenter and the wider Perway site team are trained in the materials and methods that make high-performance construction work. Andy and some team members have completed a Healthy Homes building materials course.
At Perway, we guide you through the process clearly, explain what matters, and help you make informed decisions from the beginning.
Renovations & Eco Pods
Passivhaus principles for renovations and extensions
You do not always need to build a new home to benefit from Passivhaus thinking.
For renovations and extensions, these principles can be used to improve the way your home feels and performs.
Renovations & extensions
A renovation should not only look better. It should feel better to live in. Andy’s training means we are improving how your home performs long after completion day, not just what you can see.
Book a renovation consultationEco Pods
Every Perway Eco Pod uses Passive House principles as standard, including double-glazed windows, Pro Clima airtight wrapping and superior insulation. Comfortable, efficient and healthier to live in.
Explore our Eco PodsIs Passivhaus right for you?
Passivhaus may be right for you if you want a home that is:
- Comfortable in every season
- Energy efficient
- Healthier to live in
- Quieter inside
- Built with care and precision
- Designed for long-term performance
It is especially suited to homeowners who value quality, want to make informed decisions, and care about how their home will feel long after construction is complete.
Common Questions
Got questions? We have got answers.
Is Passivhaus right for me?
Passivhaus may be right for you if you want a home that is comfortable in every season, energy efficient, healthier to live in, quieter inside, and built for long-term performance. It suits homeowners who value quality and care about how their home will feel long after construction is complete.
What makes Passive House construction different?
Passive House construction considers the whole building envelope from the beginning. Insulation, airtightness, glazing, ventilation and careful construction work together to improve comfort and performance.
Do I still need air conditioning?
In Perth’s climate, most well-built Passivhaus homes do not need traditional ducted systems. A small split system for the hottest days is often sufficient. The building does the heavy lifting through insulation, airtight construction and controlled ventilation.
Can Passivhaus principles apply to a renovation?
Yes. You do not need to start from scratch. When Perway renovates, we bring Passivhaus principles into every project where it makes sense. We will tell you honestly what makes sense for your project.
Ready to build a better-performing home?
If you are planning a new home, renovation or extension and want to explore Passivhaus principles, Perway can help you understand what is possible. You do not need to know every technical detail. You just need the right team guiding you from the beginning.
Phone: 0483 956 056 Email: info@perway.com.au