Materia makes the case for expressive Passivhaus

Passivhaus still carries certain assumptions: compact forms and sensible, restrained openings. Materia, the St Kilda home designed, built and lived in by Maurie Novak of Obsessive Architecture, does not fit neatly within that image.The house is certified Passivhaus, but it is also materially assertive and spatially complex, with sculptural concrete, generous glazing, a floating stair and eight different ceiling heights. “This project was a rare opportunity for me,” he says. “It