20/04/2026
TRANSLATION OF THE RECENT POST OF MY HOUSE IN THE RECENT TIMBER CONSTRUCTION MAGAZINE
Technical Precision and Local Roots Come Together in the First Passivhaus Home in Priego de Córdoba
Designed by architect Liam Kellehar, it integrates high performance windows manufactured by Torinco, a key factor in achieving the Passivhaus standard.
At a time when residential architecture is exploring new ways of integrating sustainability, comfort, and context, British architect Liam Kellehar has completed the construction of his own home in Priego de Córdoba, designed according to Passivhaus criteria within a traditional urban setting in southern Spain.
The project is driven by the intention to normalize the passive standard, transferring its technical demands to a 100 m² house distributed over two floors, fully integrated into the local architectural fabric.
“One of the objectives was to demonstrate that this standard is not exclusive to detached houses or high budget projects, but can be part of the everyday urban fabric,” says Kellehar.
Passive Strategy in an Inland Mediterranean Climate
At 600 meters above sea level, within a climatic context that combines cold winters with hot summers, the home’s energy performance is structured around a rigorous bioclimatic strategy.
Orientation, solar protection, and volumetric compactness are combined with a highly insulated building envelope, characterized by the continuity of insulation and the systematic elimination of thermal bridges.
The overall airtightness, together with a mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery, allows stable indoor conditions to be maintained—around 21 °C in winter and 25 °C in summer—with minimal energy consumption.
These strategies are complemented by reinterpreted elements of local tradition, such as the interior courtyard, conceived as a thermal regulator and intermediary space that enhances the overall environmental quality of the home.
High Performance Joinery: Precision in Design and Installation
Under the Passivhaus standard, the window ceases to be a secondary element and becomes a critical component of the thermal envelope. For this project, Kellehar worked with Torinco, a specialist in timber joinery, incorporating the Eurotorr 92 Passive House system, a certified solution that meets the insulation, airtightness, and condensation control requirements of the standard.
Made from varnished laminated pine wood, this system simultaneously resolves structural requirements—necessary to accommodate large glazed surfaces—and sensory qualities linked to indoor comfort.
“The choice was not only about the product, but also about the level of technical support, as Torinco has extensive experience in projects of this type. Their team became involved at a very early stage, contributing to the design of the entire airtight layer of the envelope. They have been a valuable specialist consultant,” explains the architect.
Integration of Traditional Systems within an Advanced Envelope
One of the most distinctive aspects of the project is the adaptation of traditional elements, such as roller shutters, into a highly efficient envelope. To achieve this, specific solutions were developed that allow their incorporation without compromising insulation continuity or airtightness.
In this case, Torinco integrated insulated wooden panels in the lintels, functioning as optimized shutter boxes that prevent energy losses while maintaining the formal coherence of the building.
A Replicable Case Study
Currently undergoing certification, the home in Priego de Córdoba stands out as a relevant example of Passivhaus implementation in traditional urban contexts in southern Europe.
This small scale project demonstrates how architecture can move toward more efficient models without renouncing its relationship with context, tradition, and spatial experience.
