Collection by William Lamb

Passivhaus Institut Announces 2014 Finalists

The Passivhaus Institut in Darmstadt, Germany, on Friday announced 20 finalists for its 2014 Passive House Awards, singling out houses, office buildings, and other structures designed and built to the institute's exacting standards. (Put simply, certified passive houses have airtight envelopes and require no artificial heating or cooling.) An international jury selected finalists in six categories—single-family houses;apartment buildings; office and special-use buildings; retrofits; and urban planning. Among them are three projects in the United States, where the Passive House concept has been slower to catch on than in Europe. The winners will be announced in Aachen, Germany, on April 25. Click through the slideshow to view a selection of the finalists.

New Zealand's first passive house, designed by Jessop Architects, is a finalist in the single-family home category.
New Zealand's first passive house, designed by Jessop Architects, is a finalist in the single-family home category.
Kimmo Lylykangas Architects designed three two-story passive houses in Espoo, Finland, near Helsinki, as a pilot project for the Finnish social housing company TA Asunnot.
Kimmo Lylykangas Architects designed three two-story passive houses in Espoo, Finland, near Helsinki, as a pilot project for the Finnish social housing company TA Asunnot.
The three units in the Belfield Homesare the first certified Passive House homes in Philadelphia. Designed by Plumbob, the project is a model for low-income urban infill development, providing sustainable homes for those who can least afford to absorb rising energy costs. It is a finalist in the single-family home category.
The three units in the Belfield Homesare the first certified Passive House homes in Philadelphia. Designed by Plumbob, the project is a model for low-income urban infill development, providing sustainable homes for those who can least afford to absorb rising energy costs. It is a finalist in the single-family home category.
ArchitekturWerkstatt Vallentin designed this seminar and apartment building in Goesan, South Korea, which is a finalist in the educational buildings category.
ArchitekturWerkstatt Vallentin designed this seminar and apartment building in Goesan, South Korea, which is a finalist in the educational buildings category.
This multi-family structure in Berlin, designed by Deimel Oelschläger Architekten, is a finalist in the apartment buildings category.
This multi-family structure in Berlin, designed by Deimel Oelschläger Architekten, is a finalist in the apartment buildings category.
Ryall Porter Sheridan Architects designed this artist's studio in Orient, New York, on the North Fork of Long Island, to conform to Passive House standards. It is a finalist in the office and special-use buildings category.
Ryall Porter Sheridan Architects designed this artist's studio in Orient, New York, on the North Fork of Long Island, to conform to Passive House standards. It is a finalist in the office and special-use buildings category.
This house in Sint-Niklaas, Belgium, designed by BLAF Architecten, is a finalist in the single-family homes category.
This house in Sint-Niklaas, Belgium, designed by BLAF Architecten, is a finalist in the single-family homes category.