Passive House in Zmeyovo

In the village of Zmeyovo, in Stara Zagora Municipality, Studio APXE designed a contemporary two-storey passive house that responds to the steeply sloping site and its beautiful views across the surrounding green hills. The house is positioned to make the most of natural sunlight and frame the landscape from different rooms.

The architecture is defined by clear, contemporary forms and a confident combination of materials. Ventilated façades clad in thermally modified ash and fibre-cement panels are paired with exposed concrete, which gives the building a strong structural character. Large-format glazing and curtain wall façades open the interiors to the views and bring in generous natural light. The window and façade systems meet Passive House performance requirements and are certified for compliance with the standard.

The house has two storeys and no basement. It includes an open-plan living area with a kitchen and dining space, a study, a hobby room, four bedrooms, and technical and storage rooms. The garages provide space for four cars. A retaining wall manages the change in ground level and allows for continuous insulation beneath the foundation slab.

The extensive glazing is carefully integrated into the building’s energy concept. Automated external shading with centralised controls is provided to address the hot summer climate. A heat-recovery ventilation system supplies a continuous flow of fresh air, while solar thermal collectors help produce domestic hot water. The design also includes a photovoltaic system and building automation.

The energy model was calculated using the PHPP methodology. The achieved energy performance figures are: