Having worked as an Architect previously, Susi had developed the design and taken the project through planning with a friend. Susi asked HEM to develop the technical design & support her through the construction of a high performance, modern home. The project comprises a new build 2 bed Passivhaus home & weaving studio on a tricky site. The design carefully considered the challenges of the exposed, steeply sloping site in South Yorkshire. The ground floor of the 2 storey house was set in to the hillside to limit its impact on the neighbours’ views. The home is respectful of its surroundings and takes advantage of the fantastic valley views. The concrete retaining walls on 3 sides of the house create a beautiful internal finish throughout the property. A hand crafted, sandstone spine forms the centrepiece of the house and provides a textured contrast to the interior. In addition to this, the bespoke, stained ply kitchen along with the other oak items around the home provide an added sense of warmth. Externally, the large glazed areas are set in an eye-catching charred timber cladding. From the driveway and adjacent properties, the house sits as an unassuming, single storey black box. However, facing out to the south and the views is an impressive 2-storey glazed facade. Every room enjoys the expansive valley views whilst being protected from the weather by the high performance building envelope. The Passivhaus air test achieved an air change of 0.54 ach, compared to the 0.6 ach required by the meet the Passivhaus Standard. This means the home is 20 times less draughty than a typical new build. Regular site visits and coordination with the contractor were essential to iron out the tricky details that were required to optimise the home’s performance. As a result, the home has minimal energy demand, even in the most extreme weather conditions. Sort Trae demonstrates that a mid-century aesthetic and ultra high performance don’t need to be at odds with each other. The house is the pinnacle of modern design, comfort and energy performance.