Largest UK Passivhaus Building Accredited

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07 February 2025

urbanest Battersea has achieved Passivhaus standard accreditation, making it the largest Passivhaus building in the UK and the eighth largest in the world.

The accreditation also makes it the largest university building designed to Passivhaus standards in Europe, and the third largest in the world after UTSC in Canada and the Cornell Tower in New York.

Close to Battersea Power Station, the building provides accommodation for 853 students and was completed in 2022. It was designed by RIBA Stirling Prize-winning architects AHMM with specialist Passivhaus design consultancy from Henriksen Studio and was constructed by Mace. The urbanest Battersea project is one of the first that Mace has used its in-house low carbon cassettes (LCC) offsite technology that reduces embodied carbon, structural steel, deliveries to site and waste. 

Passivhaus buildings are optimised so that energy efficiency is achieved passively and generally include features such as extra thick insulation in walls and floors and triple glazing on windows and doors. Passivhaus buildings generally achieve a 75 per cent reduction in space heating requirements, compared to standard practice for UK new builds.

urbanest Battersea makes use of the sun, internal heat sources and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery. Thermal bridges have been reduced as much as possible through stringent airtightness testing and the opaque and transparent façade elements also contribute to temperature control.

urbanest is set to open a second Passivhaus student accommodation scheme at an even larger scale in Canary Wharf, which aims to be the largest residential Passivhaus development in the world upon completion in 2026.

Dragos Arnautu, Building Certifier, Passivhaus Institute, said: “urbanest Battersea exemplifies the benefits and innovation of Passivhaus design applied to student living. Delivering unmatched energy efficiency, Passivhaus buildings maintain consistent indoor temperatures and superior air quality, reducing the need for heating and cooling systems. Students benefit from a thermally stable space conducive to focus and relaxation, while the integration of renewable energy sources aligns with broader climate goals. This building also stands out for prioritising community and modern amenities, offering a holistic lifestyle that balances sustainability with urban convenience.”

Angus Kearin – Head of Development, urbanest added: “We’re delighted that urbanest Battersea has now achieved Passivhaus certification to become the largest Passivhaus building in the UK, setting the standard for sustainable student accommodation. From the start we wanted our Battersea development to be an exemplar for future projects not only in London but in cities all over the world that need to respond to the net zero challenge. This is just the beginning of our Passivhaus journey, and we look forward to continuing our work with the Passivhaus Institute to achieve accreditation at urbanest Canary Wharf, and all further urbanest schemes going forward.”

Picture: a CGI showing the completed building from the front. Image Credit: Mace

Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 07 February 2025

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