HILL HOUSE – Passive House case study in Co. Fermanagh

Inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s words,

“of the hill, not on the hill”

Our goal was to design a Passive House that blends seamlessly within the natural topography and both compliments and enhances the surrounding landscape.

The site sits just outside Newtownbutler in County Fermanagh, on the Northern Ireland - Republic of Ireland border. The dwelling's contemporary form is shaped by the sloping topography, nestling into the hillside while reflecting the local architectural vernacular.

Key figures:

· GIA: 176m² / 1,900 ft²

· TFA: 150m² / 1,600 ft²

· Form factor: 3.05

· Space Heating Demand: 14 kWh/(m²a) - Passive House Classic

· Heating Load: 11 W/m² - Passive House Classic

· SAP Rating: 88 B

· Renewables: none at the moment (future PV’s allowed for)

Hill House achieves Passive House Classic certification and its SAP 88 B rating through fabric performance alone - no renewable technologies required - thanks to a high-performing building envelope: triple-glazed windows, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR), thermal-bridge-free construction, and a rigorous airtightness strategy.

NI Building Regulations Part F requires new dwellings to be 'nearly zero-energy buildings' (nZEB), cutting CO2 emissions by at least 40%. Hill House exceeds that requirement, achieving a 59% CO2 reduction - without relying on any renewable technology.