Emerging practice wins approval for rural Passivhaus prototype

Emerging practice Michael Collins Architects has won unanimous approval for a council-backed rural Passivhaus prototype aimed at the self-build market.The studio, which was founded in 2018 by former Níall Mclaughlin Architects and Oliver Chapman Architects associate Michael Collins, has been drawn up for North Herts District Council.The local authority-owned plot sits north of the rural village of Kelshall in North Hertfordshire.Described as a ‘high-tech barn’, the triple-glazed house would be constructed from a mixture of CLT panels and glulam sections with mineral fibre and hemp insulation.The permission includes a number of ‘locked-in’ conditions relating to the house’s architectural quality and energy performance, which must be met by potential developers or self-builders.A future timescale is not yet known, though it is understood the scheme will be going on sale shortly.