HASA Architects

Passive House
Blanden
Sustainable and Energy-Efficient Living

Hamza Agha, Imran Ben Massaoud, Yasemin Cetindag,

Ines Jbilou, Dounia Rahouti, Ahmed Hamameh
Content
• Introduction/ Id card
• Climate analysis
• Passive design strategies
• Envelope and constructive details
• Material analysis
• Heating and cooling systems
• conclusion
Architects: HASA Architects

A modifier
Introdudction

Goal

Sustainable, energy-efficient residential design

Follows Passive House standards
Focus on optimal insulation and energy-efficient systems
Maximizes natural light for comfort
Reduces energy consumption and environmental impact
05
Introduction

Location

Banhagenstraat 99, 3052 Blande, BELGIUM

Surrounded by several forests: Heverlee Bos, Interne
Bosrand Filosofendreef, Brera, Arboretum Heverleebos
Uneven & open terrain with natural features

Type: Detached single-family residence with four facades

Year of Completion: 2011
Area: 425 m²
Architects: HASA Architects
Engineer: Engelen Ingenieurs bvba
Energy advisor: SVEnergy BVBA
 Exemple
Introduction d’optimisation
: dia 3 et 4
Sustainable, energy-efficient residential design
Follows Passive House standards
Focus on optimal insulation and energy-efficient systems
Maximizes natural light for comfort
Reduces energy consumption and environmental impact

Location

Banhagenstraat 99, 3052 Blanden, BELGIUM

Surrounded by several forests: Heverlee Bos, Interne
Bosrand Filosofendreef, Brera, Arboretum Heverleebos
Uneven terrain with natural features
Limited protection from sun and rain
CLIMATE ANALYSIS

Belgium: Cfb category in the

Köppen-Geiger classification,:

C: Temperate climate (coldest

month between -3°C and 18°C).
f: No dry season (precipitation
evenly distributed year-
round).
b: Warm summers (hottest
month below 22°C, but at least
four months above 10°C

-> cfb = temperate without a dry

season with a warm summer
 CLIMATE/ SITE DESIGN
Temperature Psychometric Sun shading Wind wheels
TEMPERATURE CHART

Annual average temperature: 11°C

(below comfort)

Belgian summer: a temperature of

32.5 degrees reached

Lowest average temperature: 0°C

in winter months

Temperature variations with

extremes ranging from -5°C to 35°C
PSYCHROMETRIC CHART

Only 5.2% of the year is within the

comfort zone

Need for design strategies to

improve indoor thermal comfort
SUN SHADING

JUN 21 - DEC 21 DEC 21 - JUN 21

More solar exposure at high angles. Most hours below 20°C, requiring sun exposure.
Some warm/hot (>27°C) periods, but mostly Very few warm periods, so shading is not needed.
comfort zone (20-27°C). Effect:,Maximizing sun exposure is crucial for
Effect: Shading is beneficial in peak summer heating indoor spaces and improving thermal
hours to prevent overheating. comfort.
 Wind wheels
SUMMER / JUNE - SEPTEMBER
High mean temperature
High relative humidity (>70%)
Wind: Moderate wind speeds from west and
northwest, helping with ventilation and cooling.
Effect: Cold and damp conditions, risk of frost and
discomfort.

WINTER / DECEMBER - MARCH

Low temperature: drops below 0°C at times
(freezing conditions).
Higher relative humidity.
Wind: Stronger winds from west and northwest,
increasing wind chill and heat loss.
Effect: Cold and damp conditions, risk of frost and
discomfort.
 Climate influence

How climate shaped Passive House Blanden

Location: Blanden, Belgium ~ Temperate maritime climate

Cold winters --> need for insulation and airtightness

Moderate solar radiatio --> optimized passive heating
Year-round rainfall --> durable, well sealed materials
Nearby forest (Meerdaalwoud) ⟶ microclimate benefit :
natural shade and moisture in the air
Architectural response

Design strategies for climate adaptaiton

Efficient building envelope:

Compact form --> reduces heat loss
Well-insulated and airtight walls --> prevents heat loos,
improves energy efficiency

Optimized solar gains:

South and west facing windows --> maximizes solar gain in
winter
Fixed & mobile sunshades --> block excess heat in summer

Renewable energy and comfort systems:

Ventilation system (MVHR) --> prevents heat loss while ensuring
fresh air
Photovoltaic panels --> generate electricity to power the house
High-effieciency heat pump --> provides heating and hot water
Passive design

A well-insulated and airtight exterior wall encloses the house,

ensuring energy efficiency while integrating necessary openings to
regulate indoor-outdoor exchanges.

South- and west-facing windows optimize passive solar heat gains REAGRDEZ
during the heating season, reducing the need for active heating.

In summer, fixed and mobile sun protection systems effectively SLIDES 11 & 12 SI
control and block excess solar heat, maintaining indoor comfort.

A highly efficient heat pump provides both heating and domestic

hot water, reducing overall energy consumption.
OK --> CELLE SI
Photovoltaic panels generate electricity to power the heat pump
and meet household energy needs.
PEUT PARTIR
A hygienic ventilation system with a high-efficiency heat exchanger
ensures fresh air circulation while minimizing heat losses.
 Passive design-> ventilation

-The upper duct in the plans carries the supply air from the day system, along with the extraction and supply air from
the night system.

-The lower duct only carries the extraction air from the day system, along with the extraction and supply air from the
night system.
Envelope and constructive details

Key elements

Goal of the architect: Passive design with

thermal efficiency

High-performance building envelope

Hybrid construction

Massive concrete core

Exposed concrete elements

Prefabricated sandwich panels

Airtight detailing
 ENVELOPE
Walls Roof Windows
 Walls

Clay bricks (14 cm) + interior plaster → thermal mass & durability
Timber frame (FJI) + 30 cm mineral wool → high-performance
insulation
Vapor-permeable membranes + ventilated cavity → moisture
control & airtightness
 Outer walls :
Walls - basement Poured concrete

Insulation :
XPS (Extruded Polystyrene) +
PUR (Polyurethane)

Inner walls :
Concrete bricks
 14 cm clay brick walls
Walls - upper floors → thermal mass & durability

Inside :
15mm plaster

Outside :
Vapor-permeable
membranes
Prefab sandwich panels :
Timber frame (FJI) + 30 cm
mineral wool
16 mm wood-fiber board
→ high-performance insulation
& airtightness and moisture
control

30 mm ventilated cavity
with insect mesh
8 mm fiber cement panels
→ durability, moisture
resistance, low maintenance
and aesthetic
 Roof
Flat roof :
Prefabricated concrete slabs + sloped concrete layer ( min. 3 cm with a 2%
slope) → rain drainage
36 cm PUR insulation
Bituminous membrane → continuous insulation & waterproofing

Roof edge :
45 cm aerated concrete upstand
20 cm PUR covered with 12 mm
waterproof plywood that extends 60 cm
60 mm aluminium edge
→ ensures durability & weather-resistance
 Type Triple glazing

Windows - glazing & sealing Glass Combinations

Tri6/15/6/15/16 and
Tri4/15/4/15/4

Triple glazing (Ug = 0.6 W/m²K) + airtight wooden frames

Detailed sealing (EPDM, PUR, butyl tapes) → no thermal bridges
Planibel Clearvision, Planibel
Integrated shading → glare & overheating control
Glass Types Top N+, Stratobel Low-E
(some)

~0.6 W/(m²·K) (very good

Ug-value
insulation)

Light Transmission 69–73%

55–58% (useful for passive

Solar Heat Gain (g-value)
winter heating)

Shading Coefficient 0.63–0.64

0–10% (protects interior

UV Transmission
finishes)

Sound Insulation (Rw) 32–38 dB

 Windows - orientation

South/west orientation → passive solar gain

Triple glazing (Ug = 0.6 W/m²K) + airtight wooden frames
Detailed sealing (EPDM, PUR, butyl tapes) → no thermal bridges
Integrated shading → glare & overheating control
 LIRE NOTE
Windows

Triple glazing (Ug = 0.6 W/m²K) + airtight wooden frames

Detailed sealing (EPDM, PUR, butyl tapes) → no thermal bridges
South/west orientation → passive solar gain
Integrated shading → glare & overheating control
Envelope and constructive details

Saison

• Winter → low sun angle → south/west openings to maximize solar gain

• Summer → high sun angle → fixed/mobile shading to reduce overheating

• Compact volume + thick insulation → minimizes heat loss through the envelope

• Insulated concrete slab floor → improves thermal stability & comfort

• Goal: retain heat in winter

block excess heat in summer IMAGE = REVIT AVEC
ORIENTATION (SOLEIL)
 MATERIAL ANALYSIS
Concrete (-blocks) Clay Bricks Timber

Steel
Insulation
reinforcement
 Materials : concrete

Composed of cement, aggregates and water

High environnement Impact : cement is responsible of 8 % of

global CO2 emissions

Most used construction material in the world :

1) Abundant components
2) Inexpensive
3) Adabtability : shape and climate
4) Durability : easily 50 years

Disadvatages :
1) High emissions
2) Water and natural resources consumption

Blenden House : mix of poured and prefabricated concrete

1) Poured concrete : basement, cap, foundations and stairs
2) Prefabricated concrete : slabs (levels 0 and 1)
Materials : Timber

Widely used material due to its aesthetic

Timber used in construction :

1) Softwood Timber
2) Hardwood Timber
3) Engineered wood

Blenden House :
1) Hardwood : wooden flooring and stairs
2) Softwood : façade’s cladding and window’s frame

Reduce the use of concrete

Sustainable material :
Renewable
Low embodied carbon
Biodegradable
 Materials : Clay bricks

Blenden House : used in non-buried façades

Sustainable :
1) Abundant
2) Low-energy manufactoring process

Reasons to use for passive house certification :

1) Excellent thermal mass proprieties
2) Regulate indoor temperature : interior comfort
3) Reduce heating and cooling
4) Minimise heat loss
5) Regulate indoor humidity : comfortable interior environment
 Materials : Glass

Triple-glazed windows for indoor comfort

Windows mainly on south and west façades :

1) South-facing windows : capture solar heat during winter
2) Beneffiting from daylight

Excellent thermal performance : U = 0.5 W/(m^2.K)

Reducing heat loss

Consistant and warm indoor temperature

Less heating and cooling

Reduce of building’s
carbon footprint
 Materials : insulation

Continuos Exterior Insulation to prevent thermal bridges

Design includes three different insulators :

1) Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) :

Basement and buried façades
Low thermal conductivity : 0.033 W/mK
Highly resistant to moisture absorption
Excellent strength and durability

2) Polyurethane (PUR) :
Interior slabs (Levels 0 and 1)
Very low thermal conductivity : 0.023 W/mK
Beneficial for space optimization

3) Rockwool :
Environmentally friendly : renewable materials
Resistant to moisture
It keeps its thermal performances over time
Low thermal conductivity : 0.032 W/mK
 Materials : others

1) Plaster :
Used for partition walls
Flexibile and inexpensive

2) Sand :
5 cm sand layer for the basement
Reduce the use of concrete
Good drainage proprieties
Moisture barrier

3) Exterior Cladding :
Fiber cement boards
Fixed to the insulation allowing an air gap for natural
ventilation
 Materials : Timber
Lightweight, easy to install, and partially
prefabricated

Good insulation support when combined with

mineral wool

Sustainable:
renewable & biobased material
recyclable
locally sourced

Blanden house:
Used in FJI timber frames to hold 30 cm
mineral wool
Also used in wood-fiber boards (16 mm)

Embodied energy: 2.3 MJ/kg

Materials : concrete
Most used materials :
poured concrete + prefab concrete blocks
~47% of the total CO₂ emissions of the building

~8% of global CO₂ emissions :

cement production + global demand

Byproduct : lowers its environmental footprint by

reducing cement demand

Limited recycling → reused as aggregates

1,1 MJ/kg of embodied energy

Enhances thermal inertia

Exposed concrete elements:

Summer : retain coolness
Winter : radiate stored heat
Materials : clay bricks

Load-bearing + high thermal mass → stable

indoor temperatures

Durable + fire and moisture resistance

1.75 MJ/kg of embodied energy

Reusable if carefully deconstructed

 Materials : Steel
High strength-to-weight ratio

Highly recyclable

Energy-intensive to produce

Long lifespan and durability

Ensures structural integrity and load

distribution

Present in poured and prefabricated concrete

as reinforcement

20.1 MJ/kg of embodied energy

 Materials : insulation
Key to Passive House performance : Different types used for Blanden :
Reduces heat transfer
improves energy efficiency Mineral wool (Rockwool) :
93.3 m³ in façades (between timber frames)
Often non-recyclable and energy-intensive to produce Excellent fire resistance, moisture resistance &
soundproofing
16 MJ/kg

Mineral wool XPS PUR XPS (extruded polystyrene) :

25.6 m³ in basement
Great for moisture protection
109 MJ/kg

PUR (polyurethane) :
93.1 m³ in roof and floors
High insulation value, but high embodied
energy
109 MJ/kg
Materials : conclusion
Concrete: high volume → 47% of total CO₂

Insulation: essential but non-reusable, high

impact

Timber: renewable, locally sourced, low

embodied energy
PHOTO
Clay bricks: durable, thermal mass, potentially
reusable

Steel: structural necessity, but energy-

intensive

Origin? Recycled? Reused?

➜ Environmental impact depends on
sourcing & end-of-life choices
 LCA & Environmental impact values from the INIES environmental database

Quantity Embodied Energy CO₂ eq. Emissions

Material Density (kg/m³) Mass (kg) Total EE (MJ) Total CO₂ eq. (kg)
(m³) (MJ/kg) (kg CO₂/kg)
Glass (triple
3.60 2500 9,000 15.9 143,100 0.96 8,640
glazing)

Timber (wood &

18.00 500 9,000 2.3 20,700 0.13 1,170
panels)

Clay bricks 43.62 1700 74,154 1.75 129,770 0.16 11,865

Poured concrete 215.55 2400 517,320 1.1 568,100 0.13 67,251

Plaster (interior) 36.60 850 31,110 1.8 55,998 0.25 7,778

XPS insulation 49.84 35 1,744 109 190,096 5.45 9,504

Mineral wool
93.31 50 4,666 16 74,656 1.35 6,299
(MW)

PUR insulation 93.09 35 3,258 101 329,058 5.2 16,942

Fiber cement
6.50 1800 11,700 4.9 57,330 0.27 3,159
panels

Prefab concrete 63.53 2400 152,472 1.1 167,720 0.13 19,822

Sand (stabilized) 7.99 1600 12,784 0.1 1,278 0.01 128

Steel
— — 27,908 20.1 561,031 1.33 37,127
(reinforcement)

Total — — — — 2,329,837 — 190,685

Sankey diagrams
 End-of-Life Scenarios

Concrete : Often downcycled into road base or aggregates

Some reuse possible with prefab

Clay bricks: Potentially reusable if carefully deconstructed; otherwise recycled or downcycled

Timber: High reuse potential; biodegradable or used for energy recovery if untreated

Glass: Recyclable but energy-intensive; must be separated and processed properly

Plaster: Usually landfilled; low recyclability

Insulation (PUR, XPS, MW): Generally incinerated or landfilled due to complex composition and
contamination

Fiber cement panels: Often landfilled; limited recycling due to composite structure

Steel (reinforcement): Highly recyclable; typically recovered and reused in the steel industry
How is the building heat in winter ?
How is the building cooled in summer ?
How is the building ventilated ?
Stankey Diagram
Bioclimatic strategy in function of the season
Air circulation
Modelisation and solar analysi
crictical analysis
Internal gains
 Envelope and constructive details

Envelope components

Walls
Clay bricks (14 cm) + interior plaster → thermal mass & durability
Timber frame (FJI) + 30 cm mineral wool → high-performance insulation
Vapor-permeable membranes + ventilated cavity → moisture control & airtightness

Roof
Prefabricated concrete + 36 cm PUR insulation
Bituminous membrane + aerated concrete upstand → continuous insulation & waterproofing
Aluminium edge (60 mm) ensures durability

Windows
Triple glazing (Ug = 0.6 W/m²K) + airtight wooden frames
Detailed sealing (EPDM, PUR, butyl tapes) → no thermal bridges
South/west orientation → passive solar gain
Integrated shading → glare & overheating control
Envelope and constructive details

• Hybrid structure: concrete + timber frame

⇒ combines thermal mass & insulation

• Concrete core + exposed concrete

⇒ stores heat in winter, stays cool in summer

• Prefab sandwich panels (mineral wool + I-beams)

⇒ continuous thermal shell, no thermal bridges

• Airtight construction
⇒ energy efficiency & reduced air leakage
 Energy
Passive and active strategies to minimize energy consumption:

1. High-Performance Thermal Envelope

2. Efficient Heating and Cooling System
3. Ventilation with Heat Recovery
4. PV: Renewable Energy Production
High-Performance Thermal Envelope

triple-glazed windows calculation thermal emission through

airtight construction

Hardwood: 0.18 W/mK

Sealing profiles (EPDM): 0.2 W/mK
Infill panel (triple glazing): Ug = 0.6 W/m²K
Efficient Heating and Cooling System

calculation thermal emission through

airtight construction
 PV: Renewable Energy Production

triple-glazed windows calculation thermal emission through

airtight construction