Windmill House

As featured in the Belfast Telegraph

Nestled in the countryside just outside Hillsborough County Down, this award-winning house was built using the core principles of Passive House construction.

The air-tightness and thermal bridge-free construction was achieved by maintaining strict attention to detail from the start, installing triple glazed windows and achieving U-values which far exceeded legislation. Windmill House now enjoys superior thermal comfort with exceptional indoor Air quality.

The beating heart in this building is its Heat Recovery Ventilation System. Not only is the air quality and thermal comfort regulated by the Nilan Compact P, a small integrated heat-pump provides all the hot water required for the five shower rooms and bathroom.

This all-electric home has partly offset its energy consumption with a photovoltaic array and battery storage, this not only keeps the heating, hot water, lights and automation going, but also supplies clean energy to two car chargers installed in the garage.

As well as the clean energy credentials at Windmill House – it also boasts state of the art Smart Home technology; where all electrical outlets are wired individually, giving the home-owners a truly tailored lifestyle based on their daily routines, giving them a more enjoyable and comfortable home experience

Harnessing their comprehensive experience of thermal design and academic knowledge of thermodynamics, award-winning architects Marshall McCann enlisted GP Developments to implement their vision of minimalist design, concealing state-of-the-art technology.

After winning the Building and Architect of the Year Awards 2021’s ‘Single House Building of the Year’, Passive House Designer and owner of GP Developments, Garrett Quinn said;

“I am delighted that Windmill House has won such a prestigious award.

As principle coordinator of this project I am so proud to see a young family move into Windmill House, knowing that their children will benefit enormously from the exceptional internal air quality is so rewarding.

Passive House should be the norm and available to all; elevating people out of fuel poverty.

Along with partner companies, we have published several research papers, outlining how this can work on a larger scale for central government.

By improving the home environment, we can achieve a better health standard (with less reliance on the health service), while reducing fuel costs and leaving people with more money in their pockets to spend in their local economy. Not to mention the environmental benefits for our children’s future.

Its 2021, Passive House should be standard by now.”

 For more information about Passive House, please contact us. An image gallery of the award winning house can be found here