Passive House Construction

Photos of Passive House (Passivhaus) projects by Portland/Seattle builder Hammer & Hand.

Extraordinary performance.

A Passive House combines straight-forward building technologies with advanced building modeling to achieve revolutionary energy efficiency.  And it does so without relying on expensive gadgetry or strange building design.  In fact, Passive House buildings' beauty rivals that of any other project: see the Karuna House and the Pumpkin Ridge Passive House.

Passive House buildings offer practical, local  solutions to big, global energy problems.  But even more important, they're the most comfortable, peaceful, and healthy living or working spaces available anywhere.  See the Glasswood Commercial Passive House Retrofit and Ballard Passive House.

To achieve this, the Passive House building standard employs 7 principles:
  
   1. superinsulate.
   2. eliminate "thermal bridges".
   3. build airtight.
   4. ventilate with energy recovery.
   5. use good windows & doors.
   6. optimize solar & heat gains.
   7. model with advanced software.

The result?  All heating needs in a typical Passive House can be met by a heater the size of a hair dryer.  Heat from people, lights, appliances and the sun does the rest.  Our Certified Passive House Consultants can optimize the right design for you and your Portland or Seattle Passive House.

Passive House (Passivhaus) by Portland & Seattle builder Hammer And Hand

Passive House - the Karuna HousePassive House - the Karuna HousePassive House - the Karuna HousePassive House - the Karuna HouseGlasswood commercial Passive House retrofit and remodelGlasswood commercial Passive House retrofit and remodelPumpkin Ridge Passive House by Hammer & Hand and Scott | Edwards Architecture.  Rendering courtesy of S|E A.Pumpkin Ridge Passive House by Hammer & Hand and Scott | Edwards Architecture.  View from south.Design of Pumpkin Ridge Passive House maximizes solar gains during winter, shade during summer.
Solar path study for Pumpkin Ridge Passive House.Wall assembly for Pumpkin Ridge Passive House.

Latest News:

Ballard Passive House Progress Report: Roof Complete

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Work on Ballard Passive house metal roof finished in time for this weekend's Pacific Northwest Green Homes Tour.  more...

 

Featured Posts:

Karuna House site photos show a stunning design taking shape

Thursday, May 16, 2013

High performance home builder Hammer & Hand joined forces with high design firm Holst Architecture on the project.
  more...

Passive House air tightness standard exceeded in first blower door test at the Ballard Passive House

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Blower door test results from the Ballard Passive House surpass Passive House air tightness requirements.  more...

High performance design tips for Architecture 101

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Certified Passive House Consultant Skylar Swinford's advice doubles as primer for Passive House design.  more...

Exterior tour of Karuna Passive House in new video

Monday, January 14, 2013

Portland Passive House builder Hammer & Hand project lead Scott Gunter gives a tour of the exterior at the Karuna Passive House.  more...

Pumpkin Ridge Passive House details revealed in new videos by home builder Hammer & Hand

Thursday, December 20, 2012

New video of home builder Hammer & Hand's Val Darrah details wall assembly & air sealing at Pumpkin Ridge Passive House.  more...

Ballard Passive House – new Seattle home guided by client's concern for future generations

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

New Seattle Passivhaus project, a collaboration between client, VELOCIPEDE architects and Hammer & Hand.  more...

Hammer & Hand adds high performance doors to millwork arsenal – Passivhaus efficiency "made in the USA"

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

New door at Karuna matches European-made rivals at lower cost, both in dollars and carbon.  more...

Clients' pursuit of functional excellence in home design culminates in Pumpkin Ridge Passive House

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Writer and Nike 'Sneakerologist' drawn to the simplicity and comfort of Passive House.  more...

Top 8 Social Benefits of High Performance Building

Monday, August 13, 2012

The unsung community benefits of high performance building in Portland and Seattle...  more...

Preliminary airtightness test at Karuna House cruises past 0.60ACH50 threshold of Passive House and Minergie-P

Friday, August 03, 2012

Initial blower door test of 0.42ACH50 a great starting point.   more...

Nation's first commercial Passive House retrofit becomes occupied Passive House office space

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Glasswood Passive House retrofit, seeking PHIUS+ certification, becomes home to H&H's building science corps.  more...

Pumpkin Ridge Passive House one of six super-efficient homes featured by Northwest ENERGY STAR®

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

North Plains home, built by Hammer & Hand and designed by Scott Edwards Architecture, honored by distinction.
   more...

A day of Passive House in Seattle for Hammer & Hand

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Sam Hagerman and Dan Whitmore present at SHKS Architects, then host Passivhaus tour more...

Hammer & Hand unveils new Passivhaus project – Pumpkin Ridge Passive House

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Passive House will deliver high performance building at no added monthly cost compared to a conventional custom home.  more...

High performance building in Seattle: builder Hammer & Hand shares Passive House case studies with AIA+2030 at Seattle City Hall

Monday, May 28, 2012

Seattle Passive House residence and Portland Passive House commercial retrofit featured.  more...

... click here to view all "Passive House" posts.

Inquire about
Passive House
by Portland/Seattle Passivhaus builder
Hammer & Hand

(503) 232-2447
(206) 397-0558