Certified Passive House Designer · Perth, Western Australia
Passive House Design
in Perth, WA.
Studio Origami is led by Izabela Katafoni — one of Perth's certified Passive House designers. We design homes that use up to 90% less energy, maintain year-round comfort without air conditioning, and actively support the health of the people living inside them.
What is Passive House?
The world's most rigorous
energy efficiency standard.
Passive House — or Passivhaus — is a building performance standard developed in Germany that has become the global benchmark for energy-efficient, comfortable and healthy buildings. It is not a style of architecture. It is a rigorous, measurable standard that any building can achieve if it is designed and built correctly.
A certified Passive House uses up to 90% less heating and cooling energy than a conventional home. It maintains a consistent, comfortable indoor temperature year-round — without ducted air conditioning. The air inside is continuously filtered and fresh. And the building is so well constructed that it will outperform a standard home for the entire lifetime of the structure.
In Perth's warm temperate climate, Passive House design is particularly powerful. Perth's long, hot summers and cool winter nights create exactly the conditions where a well-insulated, airtight home with mechanical ventilation delivers the most dramatic improvement in comfort and energy savings.
"Think of a Passive House like a high-performance esky — thoroughly insulated, properly sealed and well designed. It keeps your home cool in a Perth summer without running air conditioning all day, and warm in winter without relying on a heater."
Perth's climate — warm, sunny summers and mild winters — makes it an ideal location for Passive House design. The combination of passive solar principles, airtight construction and mechanical ventilation delivers a home that works with Perth's climate rather than fighting against it.
Studio Origami designs certified Passive Houses specifically for Perth and Western Australia's climate, construction methods and building regulations — not a German standard applied blindly, but a performance framework adapted intelligently to where you live.
The five principles
How Passive House
works in Perth.
Every certified Passive House is built on five core principles working together as a system. Remove any one of them and the performance drops significantly. Together, they create a home that is genuinely transformative to live in.
Superior Insulation
High-performance insulation in walls, roof and floor creates a continuous thermal envelope — preventing heat from entering in summer and escaping in winter. In Perth, this means your home stays cool without the air conditioner running all day.
Airtight Construction
Every gap and penetration in the building envelope is sealed. This eliminates draughts, prevents uncontrolled heat transfer and — critically for Perth homes near golf courses or busy roads — keeps outdoor pollutants, allergens and chemicals outside where they belong.
Thermal Bridge-Free Design
A thermal bridge is any structural element that conducts heat through the building envelope — a structural column, a window frame, a balcony connection. Passive House design eliminates these pathways, maintaining the integrity of the insulation layer throughout.
High-Performance Windows
Double or triple-glazed windows with thermally broken frames balance solar access, natural light and heat control. In Perth, window specification varies by orientation — north-facing windows are designed to admit winter sun while south, east and west windows manage heat gain carefully.
Mechanical Ventilation (HRV/ERV)
A heat or energy recovery ventilation system delivers constant fresh, filtered air throughout the home — removing CO₂, allergens, moisture and pollutants while recovering the energy from the outgoing air. Your home always smells clean and fresh without opening a window.
The Result
When these five principles work together, the result is a home that maintains consistent indoor temperatures year-round, uses a fraction of the energy of a standard Perth home, and delivers indoor air quality that most homes never achieve.
Why Passive House in Perth?
The benefits are
felt every single day.
Perth homeowners who move into a Passive House consistently report the same thing — they didn't realise how uncomfortable their previous home was until they lived somewhere that maintained a consistent, comfortable temperature without effort. Here's what you actually get.
Year-Round Comfort
Stable indoor temperatures between 20–26°C year-round — no cold rooms in winter, no sweltering bedrooms in summer. The temperature variation across the entire home is typically less than 2°C.
90% Lower Energy Bills
A certified Passive House in Perth can reduce heating and cooling energy use by up to 90%. For a typical family home, that's a saving of $1,500–$2,500 per year — every year, for the lifetime of the home.
Genuinely Clean Air
The HRV/ERV system continuously filters outdoor air before it enters the home — removing dust, pollen, allergens and pollutants. CO₂ levels stay low. Humidity is controlled. The air always smells fresh.
Better Sleep & Health
Consistent temperatures, low CO₂ levels and clean air directly improve sleep quality, concentration and long-term health. A Passive House is a home that actively supports the wellbeing of the people living inside it.
Acoustic Comfort
The airtight, highly insulated envelope that keeps heat out also keeps noise out. A Passive House near a busy road or Perth's summer parties is significantly quieter than a standard home — without any specialist acoustic treatment.
Exceptional Long-Term Value
A Passive House is built to a higher standard at every stage. The building envelope lasts longer, requires less maintenance and retains its performance over the entire life of the structure — making it a genuinely better long-term investment.
No Air Conditioning Needed
Most Perth Passive Houses don't need ducted air conditioning. The building performs so well that a small split system — or in some cases nothing at all — is sufficient to maintain comfort even through Perth's hottest summers.
Lower Carbon Footprint
A Passive House produces dramatically less carbon over its lifetime than a standard home. As Perth's energy grid decarbonises, a Passive House paired with solar panels approaches genuine net-zero operation.
Understanding the difference
Passive House vs
Passive Solar Design.
These two terms are often confused, and it's worth understanding the difference — because they represent very different levels of performance and very different outcomes for the people living inside.
Passive Solar Design
Passive solar design uses the sun's energy to heat and cool a building through orientation, shading, thermal mass and natural ventilation. It is a design strategy — not a performance standard. A well-designed passive solar home in Perth will perform significantly better than a standard home, but it has no guaranteed performance level and no third-party testing or certification.
Studio Origami integrates passive solar principles into every project, regardless of whether it is pursuing Passive House certification. Good orientation, appropriate shading and thermal mass are fundamental to all of our work.
Passive House (Passivhaus)
Passive House is a measurable, certifiable performance standard. Every Passive House is modelled using PHPP (Passive House Planning Package) software, tested on site with a blower door test for airtightness, and must meet strict limits for heating demand, cooling demand, airtightness and primary energy use. It is independently verified.
The result is a guaranteed level of performance — not a design intention, but a proven outcome. Studio Origami is one of a small number of certified Passive House designers in Western Australia, with the skills and experience to take a project through full Passive House certification.
Not sure which approach is right for your project? Our Passive Home Strategy Session covers exactly this — we'll assess your site, your budget and your goals and recommend the approach that delivers the best outcome for you.
Understanding the investment
What does a Passive House
cost in Perth?
This is the question we hear most often, and it deserves an honest answer. Passive House construction does cost more than a standard 7-star NatHERS home — but significantly less than most people assume, and the ongoing savings change the financial picture entirely.
| Home Type | Approx. Cost per m² (2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard 7-star NatHERS home | $2,500–$3,500/m² | Minimum code compliance. Requires air conditioning to be comfortable. |
| High-performance passive solar home | $3,500–$4,500/m² | Better comfort, lower running costs. Studio Origami standard approach. |
| Certified Passive House | $4,500–$5,500/m² | Maximum comfort, minimum running costs. Independently verified performance. |
The premium for full Passive House certification over a standard home is typically 15–25% on construction cost. For a 250m² home, that might be an additional $150,000–$250,000 upfront. But that investment saves $2,000–$3,000 per year in energy costs, and the home is worth more, performs better and requires less maintenance over its lifetime.
Many of our clients choose a high-performance approach — applying Passive House principles without pursuing full certification. This delivers most of the comfort and energy benefits at a lower cost premium, and is often the right choice for Perth's climate and budget.
The right answer for your project depends on your site, your budget and your goals. That's exactly what our Passive Home Strategy Session is designed to clarify.
Passive House projects in Perth & WA
Certified Passive Houses
we have designed.
Studio Origami has designed certified Passive Houses and high-performance homes across Perth and Western Australia — from the inner suburbs to the Perth Hills, from the coast to South Australia. Each project demonstrates that exceptional performance and exceptional design are not competing values.
We also integrate Passive House principles into our high-performance homes across Perth — including the Oxley House (SIP panels, award-winning), the Butterfly House Yanchep (airtight SIP + ERV) and the Aughton House Bayswater (83% lower CO₂).
Why Studio Origami
Perth's specialist in
Passive House & healthy home design.
Studio Origami is led by Izabela Katafoni — one of a small number of certified Passive House designers in Western Australia, and Perth's only specialist combining Passive House building science with intentional healthy home biohacking design.
While other Perth designers offer energy-efficient homes, Studio Origami goes further — layering circadian lighting, non-toxic materials, EMF-conscious planning and biophilic design on top of the Passive House performance foundation. We are not just designing homes that perform. We are designing homes that actively support the health, sleep quality and longevity of the people living inside them.
With over 10 years designing homes in Perth and Western Australia, four state and national industry awards, and a deep understanding of Perth's climate, council requirements and local building industry — Studio Origami is uniquely positioned to deliver your Passive House project.
Certified Passive House Designer
One of very few in Western Australia — bringing global best-practice building science to Perth projects.
Healthy Home Biohacking Specialist
The only Perth designer combining Passive House with circadian lighting, non-toxic materials and EMF-conscious design.
4× Award-Winning Practice
HIA State & National Winner, Green Smart Home of the Year — a track record of excellence recognised across the industry.
10+ Years in Perth & WA
Deep local knowledge of Perth's climate, councils, builders and the specific challenges of high-performance homes in WA.
Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about
Passive House in Perth.
Does Passive House work in Perth's hot climate?
Yes — and in many ways Perth is an ideal location for Passive House design. The standard was developed in Germany but applies globally. In Perth, the combination of passive solar design, high insulation and mechanical ventilation keeps homes cool in summer and warm in winter with minimal energy. The key is designing specifically for Perth's sun angles, prevailing breezes and seasonal temperature range — which Studio Origami does on every project.
Do I need full Passive House certification, or can I just use Passive House principles?
Both are valid approaches. Full certification means your home is independently modelled, tested and verified to meet strict performance limits — giving you a guaranteed outcome. Applying Passive House principles without certification delivers most of the comfort and energy benefits at a lower cost. We discuss this in every strategy session and help you decide what's right for your specific project and budget.
How much more does a Passive House cost to build in Perth?
Full Passive House certification typically adds 15–25% to construction cost compared to a standard 7-star NatHERS home. For a 250m² home, this might be an additional $150,000–$250,000 upfront. However, ongoing energy savings of $2,000–$3,000 per year mean the premium pays for itself over the life of the home — and the building is worth more, performs better and requires less maintenance.
Will I need air conditioning in a Passive House in Perth?
Most Perth Passive Houses don't require ducted air conditioning. The building envelope performs so well that a small split system — or in some cases nothing at all — is sufficient to maintain comfort through Perth's hottest summers. This is one of the most immediately noticeable benefits for Perth homeowners moving into a Passive House for the first time.
Can I open windows in a Passive House?
Absolutely. The HRV/ERV mechanical ventilation system provides constant fresh air regardless of whether windows are open or closed — so you can always open windows whenever you choose, especially to capture Perth's famous Fremantle Doctor sea breeze on summer evenings. The system simply maintains indoor air quality when windows are closed.
What is the difference between Passive House and NatHERS 7-star?
NatHERS is Australia's minimum energy compliance framework — all new WA homes must now meet 7 stars. Passive House is a voluntary, higher-performance standard that goes significantly beyond NatHERS. A 7-star NatHERS home still typically requires air conditioning for comfort. A Passive House maintains comfort year-round without it, uses 90% less heating and cooling energy, and has independently verified airtightness and ventilation performance that NatHERS does not assess.
How long does it take to design and build a Passive House in Perth?
Design and documentation for a Passive House typically takes 6–12 months depending on project complexity, council requirements and the level of detail required for Passive House certification. Construction adds a further 12–18 months for a typical single-storey or two-storey home. The overall timeline is similar to a high-quality custom home — the Passive House certification process happens in parallel with design, not in addition to it.
Is Studio Origami a registered building designer or architect?
Studio Origami is led by Izabela Katafoni, a certified Passive House designer and registered building designer in Western Australia. We work with registered builders, structural engineers and specialist consultants to deliver complete project documentation. For projects requiring registered architect involvement, we can discuss the appropriate approach for your specific project and council requirements.
Studio Origami designs Passive House and high-performance homes across Perth and Western Australia — including Karrinyup, Cottesloe, Subiaco, Nedlands, Claremont, Floreat, City Beach, Scarborough, Mount Pleasant, East Victoria Park, Mosman Park, Peppermint Grove, Wembley, Shenton Park, Bayswater, Bassendean, Fremantle, White Gum Valley, North Beach, Hillarys, Kalamunda, Darlington, Lesmurdie, Bickley, Mundaring, Gidgegannup, Glen Forrest, Swan Valley, Yanchep and regional Western Australia. Also designing Passive Houses in South Australia and nationally.
Ready to start your
Passive House journey?
Book a 90-minute Passive Home Strategy Session with Izabela — Perth's certified Passive House designer. Walk away with expert guidance and a personalised Project Clarity Document for your project.