UK to get first passivhaus leisure centre
The project will have expert involvement from the German-based Passivhaus Institute, along with Exeter’s sustainable building and Passivhaus specialists Gale & Snowden Architects.
The proposed pool and gym complex, ‘Exeter Active’, builds on Exeter City Council’s reputation as a frontrunner in Passivhaus schemes. The council is said to be the first in the UK to develop social housing constructed to the German energy efficiency standards.
A spokesperson for Gale & Snowden Architects spoke of the ‘wealth of experience’ the company has in delivering Passivhaus buildings, citing their previous work with Exeter City Council on the city’s social housing developments.
“A Passivhaus swimming pool and leisure complex has never been built in the UK before, so we are delighted that the Passivhaus Institute has joined the team to bring their expertise from having worked on Europe's only Passivhaus pools in Germany,” the spokesperson commented.
“We are working up a design that will deliver a saving of at least 70% in energy consumption over a standard UK leisure centre."
