A Designer's Dream Home

Bowhouse Passive House in Perthshire

Gordon and Katie were excited to build their own Passive House, after designing many homes for other people.

OWNERS Gordon & Katie Aitken
PROJECT Self build (timber frame)
LOCATION Perthshire
SIZE 175m²
PROJECT COST £281,000
COST PER M² £1,606

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Gordon, a senior architectural technologist, designed the couple’s new property. The scheme is based on the traditional Scottish longhouse and took some inspiration from local farm sheds. Its name, Bowhouse, is the old Scots word for cowshed.

What motivated you to install an MVHR system?

We were building an air-tight, efficient Passive House and needed a certified MVHR unit and specialist design service.

How did you find the MVHR specification and design service from PAUL Heat Recovery?

I have some experience of designing Passive Houses, but your designers experience is second to none. The 3D models you produce give clients an easy way to evaluate and understand the routing of their ducting and positioning of all components.

I have no hesitation in recommending Paul Heat Recovery to all my clients. You are the ‘go to’ professional in Scotland for advice, design and installation and servicing of Mechanical Heat Recovery.

How is it living in a house with MVHR?

The system is great. It provides us with fresh, controlled heat recovered ventilation 24/7 with no fuss. We only need to change the filters every 3-4 months. It also maintains a constant humidity level around 50%. Perfect for drying washing in the house.

What is the difference between a Passive House MVHR and standard systems?

The Passive House MVHR system is design to be compliant with the Passive House Certification process and is over 90% efficient, much quieter (at the room outlets) and uses significantly less energy.

All photos: credit to ‘David Barbour Photography’

Domestic Technology

MVHR: Zehnder ComfoAir Q350 with pre-heater

Space heating: Infrared ceiling panels

Supplementary space heating: Room sealed wood stove

DHW: Hot water cylinder with Ariston air source heat pump system

Electricity generation: 4.2kW solar PV array,

Electricity storage: Give-Energy 8.2kWh battery store

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Bowhouse

Project Specifics

  • TYPE OF PROJECT: Self build, Homeowners designed & project managed
  • CONSTRUCTION METHOD: Timber frame
  • PLOT SIZE: 1,008m²
  • LAND COST: £80,000
  • HOUSE SIZE: 175m2
  • PROJECT COST: £281,000
  • PROJECT COST PER m²: £1,606
  • VAT RECLAIM: £26,601
  • TOTAL COST: £361,000
  • BUILDING WORK COMMENCED: October 2022
  • BUILDING WORK TOOK: 80 weeks
  • CURRENT VALUE: £415,000

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Further Information

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