The team behind an award-winning house in West Woodburn has finished a new project which has become the first Passivhaus in Tyneside, due to the energy efficiency measures incorporated into its design.

Richard Pender built Shawm House in West Woodburn for his parents, Tony and Anne, and, designed by MawsonKerr Architects, the house won several Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) awards.

On the back of the project , Richard and MawsonKerr went on to form a company to deliver similar projects for others.

And they have now completed their first project, which has been certified as a Passivhaus. The principles behind the buildings were developed by the Passivhaus Institute in Germany, and the homes are certified through an exacting quality assurance process.

This includes ensuring the homes use as little energy as possible.

There’s a chance to look round the Oak Tree Passivhaus at Whickham as part of the UK-wide Passivhaus open days. The house, which uses a breathable twin timber frame, is open to the public on Friday, November 8 and Saturday, November 9 between 10am and 4pm, but you need to book in advance.

To book, contact ddyer@mawsonkerr.co.uk or call (0191) 2301799. For more information, visit www.passivhaustrust.org.uk