Clevedon House
City Escape Passive Home | Rural Lifestyle Home Auckland
Located on a rural lifestyle property in Auckland, this contemporary project reimagines an existing barn-style home into a high-performance passive design residence — creating a warm, efficient retreat from the city.
The original three-bedroom structure sat well within the landscape, with expansive estuary views, but required reconfiguration to better support the client’s evolving needs. The brief called for a secondary living space and a self-contained annex, alongside improved thermal performance for year-round comfort.
The architectural solution introduces a COOLHOUSE ‘Crib’ module — a compact, low-energy dwelling — connected to the existing home via a light-filled glass living pavilion. This composition allows the new elements to remain distinct, while enhancing the overall functionality of the property.
The Crib module (45sqm) is designed as a fully self-contained space, including living, sleeping, bathroom, and kitchenette zones. Built to passive house principles, it incorporates high levels of insulation, double glazing, and a dedicated heat recovery ventilation (HRV) system, delivering significantly improved energy efficiency compared to a conventional build.
Linking old and new, the glazed pavilion acts as a central living space, drawing in natural light and framing views across the estuary. Full-height sliding doors and a louvred aluminium screening system allow the interior environment to be carefully moderated in response to changing weather conditions.
A continuous 600mm soffit line extends around the addition, aligned with the internal ceiling height to create a seamless transition between inside and out. Integrated lighting within the soffit enhances the space in the evening, reinforcing the pavilion as a place for gathering and relaxation.
The result is a cohesive architectural solution that balances modular passive design, rural lifestyle living, and contemporary New Zealand architecture — offering both flexibility and long-term performance.
This project highlights Jessop Architects’ expertise in passive homes, energy-efficient design, and modular architecture across Auckland and New Zealand.
