02/05/2026
“Quality isn’t a result, it’s a process.” This was my favourite quote from the 28th International Passivhaus Conference in Essen, Germany. It perfectly sums up the craftsman’s mindset: delivering a quality home requires rigorous, well-thought-out processes from day one.
Here’s what’s happening on the global stage:
The 3.5°C Jump: While the world average rise is 1.2°C, areas like Innsbruck, Austria are already 3.5°C over the 1900 baseline. This is pushing active cooling to the forefront of Northern European design.
Efficiency in the Details: We looked at how pre-detailing—like airtighting beam pockets before installation—saves time and cost while ensuring performance.
The Retrofit Revolution: From Greek islands to NY firehouses, the EnerPHit standard is proving that we can retain the “embodied carbon” of existing buildings while hitting peak efficiency.
My favourite site visit? A 1937 neighbourhood undergoing a massive retrofit. They’re using prefab insulated facades (windows included!) and craned-in roofs to move buildings from ‘H’ to ‘A+’ class without moving the tenants out.
It’s inspiring to see the global drive to create healthy, comfortable, and efficient spaces.
