Passive homes heat and cool naturally without active mechanical heating and cooling systems. The low energy requirements are achieved through strategic building design which yields efficient and cost effective structures. Swedish architects Kjellgren Kaminsky are modern ‘passivists’, recently unveiling plans for the Ulricehamn Visitors Center in Southern Sweden which will maximize natural climate control, productivity, and wellbeing with a passive energy design strategy.
The Ulricehamn Visitors Center and City Museum will be the first of its kind employing passive energy. Nearly all of the heat needed to warm the toes of travelers will come from the building’s existing appliances. Electricity and water heating will come from solar panels to be installed on the roof.
Well insulated walls preserve heat generated by the people and appliances inside for winter warming. And passive cooling works by transferring heat outside and reducing direct solar impact on the building through strategic placement and orientation.
+ Kjellgren Kaminsky
So they don’t rely on direct sunlight for passive heating? Given that there is no North arrow or visible pattern to the fenestration (ie, bias toward the south side), this would seem to be the case. Its not necessarily a bad thing, but it does seem contrary to what I know about passive heating.