Coastal Passive House in Ireland — A 195 m² Cork Build, the Numbers and the Gotchas
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Coastal Passive House (Co. Cork, 195 m², 2025): €780,000 build, main contractor + PH designer. The most expensive build in the case studies.
Coastal Passive House in Co. Cork: 195 m², finished 2025, main contractor + certified Passive House designer. Build cost: €780,000 (€4,000/m²). Site: 0.5 acres, coastal, sloped. Build: timber frame, slate roof, MVHR, 6 kW air-to-water heat pump, 8 kWp solar PV, certified Passive House components (windows, MVHR, heat pump). Gotchas: airtightness detail at every junction (windows, doors, services, electrical sockets), MVHR commissioning (had to be done by a Passive House-certified installer), the certified components premium (Passive House certified windows are 20–30% more than standard triple-glazed). Outcome: certified Passive House, BER A1. Finished in 16 months. The premium is the airtightness detail. The owners credit the success to: a certified Passive House designer, a main contractor with two recent Passive House builds, and a 15% contingency.
TL;DR
Coastal Passive House (Co. Cork, 195 m², 2025): €780,000 build, main contractor + PH designer. Build cost €4,000/m².
Gotchas: airtightness detail at every junction, MVHR commissioning, the certified Passive House components premium.
Outcome: certified Passive House, BER A1, 6 kW heat pump, 8 kWp solar PV. Finished in 16 months. The premium is the airtightness detail.
When this matters most
You're researching case studies for a Passive House build.
When this doesn't apply
You've already started your build.
Frequently asked questions
How much did a 195 m² Passive House cost in Cork in 2025?
€780,000 build, main contractor + PH designer. Build cost €4,000/m². Total project cost €950,000–€1,000,000. The most expensive build in the case studies.
What were the gotchas on this build?
Airtightness detail at every junction (windows, doors, services, electrical sockets), MVHR commissioning, the certified Passive House components premium (20–30% more than standard).
How long did the build take?
16 months on site. The airtightness detail and the commissioning added 2 months. Most of the airtightness is done at first-fix; the commissioning happens at completion.
Sources
Passive House Association of Ireland. https://www.phai.ie/
Frequently asked questions
How much did a 195 m² Passive House cost in Cork in 2025?
€780,000 build, main contractor + PH designer. Build cost €4,000/m². Total project cost €950,000–€1,000,000. The most expensive build in the case studies.
What were the gotchas on this build?
Airtightness detail at every junction (windows, doors, services, electrical sockets), MVHR commissioning, the certified Passive House components premium (20–30% more than standard).
How long did the build take?
16 months on site. The airtightness detail and the commissioning added 2 months. Most of the airtightness is done at first-fix; the commissioning happens at completion.
When this matters most
You're researching case studies for a Passive House build.
When this doesn't apply
You've already started your build.
Where to go next
Watch out for
Common mistakes, hidden costs, gotchas.