Gascoigne Estate Passivhaus Homes

OVERVIEW

AWARD-WINNING PASSIVHAUS HOMES FOR EAST LONDON HOUSING ESTATE REGENERATION

SITE : Barking, London

Sector : Residential

Client : Be First

Architect : White Arkitekter

Main Contractor : Collida (Wilmott Dixon)

The Gascoigne Estate in Barking, London, is undergoing a major transformation, delivering 3,000 new homes, many of which are affordable or shared-ownership properties. Among these, Palomar Court stands out as a Passivhaus-certified block of eight homes, designed to provide residents with exceptionally low energy bills.

Our team was engaged from RIBA Stages 3 to 5 to deliver a full structural design and construction modelling package for Palomar Court. Adapting a traditional reinforced concrete (RC) frame to a light gauge steel (LGS) solution introduced unique challenges, particularly in maintaining pre-set internal layouts while achieving high energy efficiency. However, our expertise ensured the project not only met these requirements but also earned recognition, taking home the 2024 Green Building Project of the Year accolade at the UK Green Business Awards.

A COLLABORATIVE AND SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION

THE SOLUTION

To drive efficiency and sustainability, we partnered with Willmott Dixon’s Collida Team in 2021 to develop a standardised approach for designing low-rise housing and apartment systems. A key challenge was achieving Passivhaus certification across different locations, orientations and climate conditions.

Rather than opting for the simplest structural solutions, we took a balanced approach, ensuring structural robustness while prioritising energy efficiency and environmental impact. Collaborating with off-site detailing teams and our LGSF subcontractor, MetStructures, we streamlined the design process. Using in-house expertise and a standardised library of details, we produced fabrication drawings quickly, significantly shortening the Stage 5 design programme.

This approach not only accelerated project timelines but also contributed to a more sustainable build. The raft slab foundation incorporated Isoquick insulation, eliminating thermal bridges and enhancing the building’s overall thermal performance. From start to finish, our focus remained on delivering a low-energy design aligned with Passivhaus standards.