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Pocket Passiv Is a Tiny 366-Square-Foot Net-Zero Home in Australia

10.21.24 | By
Pocket Passiv Is a Tiny 366-Square-Foot Net-Zero Home in Australia

Nestled in the dense urban suburb of Glebe, New South Wales, Australia, Pocket Passiv presents a unique solution to the housing challenges of inner-city living. Designed by Anderson Architecture, this tiny house project is a compact, sustainable residence that reimagines space utilization and energy efficiency. With a total area of just 366 square feet, the project makes ingenious use of a previously unused corner of a terrace house block, illustrating how even the smallest of spaces can be transformed into a functional, sustainable living environment.

Three-story modern house with wooden shingle facade, large black-framed windows, and a tree in front. The house is flanked by a gated fence and neighboring buildings.

Pocket Passiv embodies creativity in its compact design. Occupying a footprint of only 290 square feet, the two-story structure integrates a well-thought-out living arrangement. The lower floor combines a study and bedroom, while the upper floor houses a kitchen, dining, and living area, all within a minimalist framework. Despite its small size, the house manages to feel spacious, partly thanks to an impressive double-height bathroom and a clever use of vertical space. Submerged slightly below ground level, the design maintains privacy and ensures sunlight continues to reach neighboring courtyards. The building’s asymmetrical roof allows for hidden solar panels, balancing aesthetic considerations with energy generation needs.

Modern house with shingle siding and large geometric window, fronted by a black fence and a parked car.

A wooden shingle wall with an open door leading to a staircase inside. The door casts shadows on the exterior.

Pocket Passiv’s greatest achievement lies in its commitment to sustainability. The house meets the stringent Passivhaus Plus standard, a benchmark for energy-efficient construction originating in Germany. This means the house not only consumes minimal energy but also generates as much power as it uses, making it a net-zero energy building. The thoughtful design, including high-performance insulation and airtight construction, ensures thermal efficiency and comfort for its occupants. The use of solar panels on the roof and other green technologies enables the building to remain largely self-sufficient in energy needs.

Interior showing a wooden staircase leading to an upper level, a bedroom with a white bed, and a partial view of a bathroom with a mirror and artwork on the wall.

The project had to balance various constraints, including the demands of an inner-city location and the potential future needs of its occupants. From the outset, Pocket Passiv was designed with flexibility in mind. Its layout allows it to function as either a standalone residence or an extension of the larger terrace house on the property, opening up options for multigenerational living or rental opportunities. It even has the potential to serve as short-term accommodation with its own private street entrance. The split-level design offers a clear separation between living and private spaces, avoiding the cramped feeling of many studio apartments.

A modern interior with a staircase featuring built-in storage drawers under the steps, light wood flooring, and a large green plant in the foreground.

Modern interior with yellow cabinets, large stainless steel fridge, and a person blurred in motion behind a semi-transparent divider, near a window with a geometric pendant light overhead.

One of the key challenges in designing Pocket Passiv was making efficient use of the tight space while adhering to the client’s diverse needs. Originally envisioned as part of a broader renovation plan for the adjacent terrace house, the studio evolved into a standalone structure. This presented its own set of architectural hurdles, from maintaining privacy and access to natural light, to blending the new build harmoniously into its historic surroundings.

Modern kitchen with yellow cabinetry, a built-in oven, stainless steel fridge, and two wooden stools. A skylight provides natural light. Walls feature a white tile backsplash.

A minimalist room with a beige sofa, wooden bench, and windows. Shelves hold books and decor. A plant trails from a shelf, and a round rug is on the floor.

The project’s success can largely be attributed to the collaborative efforts between the client, architect, and builder, who worked together to achieve the ambitious sustainability goals. The use of wood shingles, which will weather over time, ensures that the building will age gracefully, adding to the architectural fabric of the Glebe neighborhood.

Two cars parked on a residential street; one white and one black. A house with a colorful mural is visible in the background alongside modern architecture and trees.

For more information on the Pocket Passiv house or Anderson Architecture, visit andersonarchitecture.com.au.

Photography by Tom Ferguson.

Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.