These groundbreaking homes are stylish AND sustainable
Tired of household bills draining your bank account each month? Airtight, energy-efficient and eco-friendly, a passive home could help you wave goodbye to costly outgoings for good. From sealed structures to renewable technologies and state-of-the-art insulation, these beautiful properties around the world keep running costs to a bare minimum – and don’t worry, they don’t compromise on style, either. Click or scroll on for more.
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Modern energy-efficient home, Victoria, Australia
No expense was spared in the construction of this stunning energy-efficient home in the Melbourne suburb of Mount Eliza. Previously on the market with Harcourts Central, the property was designed and built by Davies Henderson in 2014 and was the first residence in Victoria to be designed to meet German passive house criteria, which means it’s considerably more energy-efficient than the average home.
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Modern energy-efficient home, Victoria, Australia
Costing millions to build, the home benefits from high levels of insulation for maximum airtightness, as well as solar systems that generate electricity and hot water, and even help power the outdoor heated pool. Thanks to its eco-friendly design, the property has zero energy consumption, meaning this pad can save you a fortune in energy bills. Rooftop solar panels and a 50,000-litre underground water tank add to the home’s green credentials.
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Modern energy-efficient home, Victoria, Australia
The striking luxury home offers gorgeous living spaces, kitted out with the finest materials, such as American oak floors, full-height Italian glass doors, Caesarstone countertops, designer lighting and premium appliances, as well as state-of-the-art smart home automation, a video entry system and electric blinds. The striking mansion also boasts a climate-controlled wine cellar, two kitchens and a lounge that opens to a dining terrace.
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Modern energy-efficient home, Victoria, Australia
The five-bedroom house also features a wellbeing centre, complete with a steam room, sauna, pilates studio and two treatment rooms. Step outside and you’ll find a wisteria-covered terrace, alfresco dining areas, an outdoor kitchen, a self-cleaning heated lap pool, an outdoor shower, a gym and edible gardens, allowing the owner to be entirely self-sufficient.
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Concrete compound, California, USA
As striking as it is sustainable, this contemporary concrete crib lies in the Venice neighbourhood of Los Angeles, California, on a private lot close to iconic Silicon Beach. The modern home was constructed in 2001 by Warren Wolff Wagner, the man behind W3 Architects. It was originally curated as the perfect live/work space for the architect and his artist wife, Blue McRight.
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Concrete compound, California, USA
Combining integrated solar and sustainable technologies with wow-factor architectural design, the passive house boasts plenty of eco features. It incorporates a thermally efficient eight-inch concrete block structure, with a lighter framed second storey with fiber cement panelling. From a passive solar water system that powers the underfloor radiant heating, to environmentally sensitive and recycled building materials such as cross-laminated timber, the home is impressively green.
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Concrete compound, California, USA
The incredible eco estate is split into two buildings, with the primary two-bedroom house encompassing 2,200 square feet, while a restored mid-century modern residence offers an additional two bedrooms and 1,076 square feet of living space. Inside, the main pad is chic and stylish, with exposed timber ceilings, concrete accents and steel support beams. Large pivoting glass doors allow plenty of natural light to filter inside and connect the interior spaces with the backyard.
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Concrete compound, California, USA
The garden is finished with mature, drought-tolerant landscaping to protect the properties from flooding and heavy rain. You’ll also find lush greenery, a firepit, an outdoor dining zone and plenty of space for a pool. In September 2021, the luxurious home hit the market with Compass for a cool $4 million (£3m) – we’re sure it was worth every single penny!
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Carbon-neutral eco house, London, UK
This compact but cool property lies in the Colliers Wood neighbourhood of southwest London. Certified carbon neutral, the unique home was built in 2020 using structural insulated panels, or SIPs. This clever structural system offers excellent thermal performance and light-weight strength, with each panel comprising a solid core of polyurethane (PUR) insulation, which ensures the building is airtight and heated evenly.
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Carbon-neutral eco house, London, UK
The home’s green credentials also include its triple-glazed windows, electric car charging unit, solar panels and heat pumps, which extract heat from the outside air and use it to warm the home’s living spaces. Yet the property isn’t just appealing because of its energy efficiency.
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Carbon-neutral eco house, London, UK
Stylish and modern, the single-storey eco home sits in a quiet garden and benefits from three bedrooms, two bathrooms and an open-plan living room, complete with a kitchen and dining zone. Large flat roof windows draw plenty of light inside, while high-end fixtures such as parquet floors, add to the home’s luxurious finish.
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Carbon-neutral eco house, London, UK
The brilliant bungalow also boasts plenty of hidden storage and cost-saving elements, including the built-in plywood units in the master bedroom. Proving that a fabric-first approach can result in a stunning and sustainable home, this property is truly one-of-a-kind.
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Studio Zempow, Brandenburg, Germany
Located in Germany, where Dr Wolfgang Feist built the first passive house some three decades ago, this next property continues the country’s legacy of innovative building. Known as Studio Zempow, the modern cottage is far more than an eco home – it’s wheelchair accessible, allergy-friendly and made from natural building materials, some of which were recycled.
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Studio Zempow, Brandenburg, Germany
The woodland home was designed by architect Arnold Dransfeld, a pioneer of ecological construction, and built using a combination of clay, hemp and wood. There’s no insulation in the floors, but rather a limestone gravel foundation that allows the house to breathe, while the clay walls regulate the interior humidity, keeping the house at the perfect temperature all year round. Inside, you’ll find stripped-back living spaces, finished with natural wood and large sheets of glass.
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Studio Zempow, Brandenburg, Germany
The interior design, undertaken by Meyer+Harre, really allows the home’s natural surroundings to take centre stage. Far from being a vacant box, the rooms are light-filled and cosy. There’s a large, open-plan room with a space-savvy kitchen, dining space and lounge, as well as three bedrooms, two of which are positioned on snug loft levels.
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Studio Zempow, Brandenburg, Germany
A set of timber sliding doors lead through to the master suite, finished with a beamed ceiling and handmade bed. Outside, there’s a large garden and a south-facing terrace, where evening drinks and stargazing can be enjoyed. If you fancy spending the night here, then head over to Airbnb to book your next adventure.
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Green Retreat, Victoria, Australia
Aptly named the Green Retreat, this certified passive house is nestled on a gorgeous plot in the town of Hepburn Springs in southeast Australia. Constructed from silvertop ash timber cladding, the wonderful wooden house was finished with highly efficient triple-glazed German windows and a smart climate control system, resulting in a nine-star energy rating and a blissful internal environment all year round.
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Green Retreat, Victoria, Australia
The home’s striking timber-clad façade is complemented by a spacious, light-filled interior with stripped-back decorations. The floor plan includes a lounge, dining space, kitchen, two bedrooms and two bathrooms.
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Green Retreat, Victoria, Australia
The property’s vaulted ceilings, extensive glazing, polished concrete floors, crisp white walls and metallic colour palette add to its appeal, while large sliding doors lead out to a pergola and tranquil backyard.
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Green Retreat, Victoria, Australia
The property even featured on the Australian holiday and travel television series, Postcards. If you fancy testing out a passive house before committing to one, then you can spend the night in this stunning eco home whenever you like.
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Summit Park TreeHaus, Utah, USA
Nestled into a slope in the middle of a forest, this elegant home, clad in blackened cedar planks, is at one with its woodland surroundings. Named the TreeHaus, the eco-friendly project was designed and built by architect Chris Price, who oversees architecture and construction practice, Park City Design+Build.
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Summit Park TreeHaus, Utah, USA
Located at an elevation of 7,000 feet near the Utah ski resort of Park City, the unique woodland home was designed to meet strict passive house standards. The property’s staggered storeys cascade down the hillside, with each level orientated at a slightly different angle, creating a sheltered terrace to the side of the home.
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Summit Park TreeHaus, Utah, USA
Inside, black beams and metalwork contrast with luminous white walls and pale wood floors. The thick exterior cladding offers an impressive level of thermal insulation, keeping the eco home’s interior warm and cosy in the bitter winter months.
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Summit Park TreeHaus, Utah, USA
The airtight retreat offers an array of stylish modern living zones, from the sociable open-plan living area to the balconies that flank the home’s numerous levels. There’s plenty of space for the whole family to stretch out too, with four sizeable bedrooms located across the first floor and fourth floor. This beautiful home hit the market in 2018 and sold for $1.1 million (£814k).
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A House for All Seasons, Victoria, Australia
Located in inner-city Melbourne, this contemporary family home has been designed with energy efficiency in mind. Built with an airtight, passive design, everything from the orientation of the windows to the durability of the construction materials has been meticulously planned.
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A House for All Seasons, Victoria, Australia
Designed by Polystudio, the contemporary home was also created to stand the test of time – the architects wanted the property to meet the changing needs of a young family, with an array of multipurpose rooms. In the open-plan living space, a partition curtain offers a flexible way of dividing the dining area from the lounge, while still allowing light to filter through.
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A House for All Seasons, Victoria, Australia
Across the interior, warm wood sits alongside crisp white surfaces, punctuated by vibrant pops of colour. Large picture windows draw light and heat into the stylish living accommodation, while the energy-efficient structure moderates the temperature for a warm, comfy environment.
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A House for All Seasons, Victoria, Australia
Outside, a brick terrace, accessed by sliding glass doors, offers the ideal place for dinner parties to spill out in the balmy Melbourne summers. A slatted panel shields diners from direct sunlight, while concrete planters and foliage create an urban oasis in the midst of the city.
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Outhouse, Gloucestershire, UK
Evoking the lines of classic Brutalist architecture, this angular concrete home excels in both form and function. Shortlisted for RIBA’s House of the Year in 2016, the airtight home is found in the village of Brockweir in Gloucestershire and comes with an impressive array of eco-credentials.
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Outhouse, Gloucestershire, UK
Situated on a sloping plot, the 5,000-square-foot property is surprisingly sleek and unobtrusive, hovering just above the rural landscape. A grass roof helps to insulate the structure, blurring the line between the residence and the surrounding meadows, while adjacent solar panels generate electricity for the home.
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Outhouse, Gloucestershire, UK
Expanses of glass frame the rolling hills, drawing in light and solar gains to warm the eclectic living spaces. The property recorded an impressive airtightness level of 0.49 h-1@50Pa, which is well within the threshold for passive house classification.
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Outhouse, Gloucestershire, UK
Fitted with underfloor heating and a ground source heat pump that regulates the home’s temperature, the cutting-edge concrete property is as comfortable as it is stylish. The house landed on the market with The Modern House in 2020, selling for $3.9 million (£2.9m).
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Sustainable mansion, Tasmania, Australia
Sleek, stylish and sustainable, this gorgeous modern mansion is positioned on an elevated coastal plot in Margate, Tasmania, allowing for awe-inspiring scenery. The property was conceived by Green Design and clad in charred timber for a striking all-black finish. It boasts an 8.5-star energy rating thanks to its passive solar system and high-grade insulation. It also has hydronic heating, powered by a geothermal system that draws water from a nearby dam.
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Sustainable mansion, Tasmania, Australia
The beautiful black house was described by listing agents Peterswald as a “relaxed lifestyle property” and it isn’t difficult to see why. Nestled on three acres of land, it features a generous suspended deck, outdoor entertainment areas and a hot tub situated to make the most of the dazzling rural views.
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Sustainable mansion, Tasmania, Australia
Every element of the home was carefully considered by the architect, with the positioning of each window carefully assessed, taking into account the arc of the sun throughout the seasons. Not only does this allow for inviting and light-filled living spaces, but jaw-dropping views from almost every room. The lounge might be the home’s most incredible space – imagine putting your feet up and taking in the sunset over the ocean beyond.
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Sustainable mansion, Tasmania, Australia
The sustainable dwelling spans 2,863 square feet and offers five bedrooms, three bathrooms, a large kitchen with chalkboard walls, a dining room with coastal views, and a snug with a wood-burning stove and a cosy window seat – the perfect place to curl up with a book. What’s more, the gorgeous home passed the bushfire rating system, meaning it’s built to survive any challenge.
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Modern townhouse, New York, USA
Situated in the heart of New York City’s Columbia Waterfront District, this sleek modernist townhouse was constructed to meet meticulous passive house standards. Last on the market for $3.8 million (£2.8m), the sustainable city pad certainly isn’t short on style either.
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Modern townhouse, New York, USA
Fitted out with state-of-the-art technology, including radiant underfloor heating and Miele appliances, the home’s airtight design helps to keep energy costs low. In the kitchen, light wood and marble create a bright and airy scheme, while glass doors, stretching the width of the room, lead out to a garden – perfect for alfresco dining.
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Modern townhouse, New York, USA
The four impeccable bedrooms are decked out in the same pared-back neutral palette. Triple-gazed floor-to-ceiling windows ensure swathes of sunlight flood the home, while the structure’s innovative passive design keeps the internal temperature comfortable no matter the season.
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Modern townhouse, New York, USA
Outside, the raised deck descends into a private courtyard – a peaceful oasis in the hubbub of the Big Apple. Framed by high wood-clad walls, the idyllic suntrap offers complete privacy from neighbouring townhouses.
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