A Sustainable Home with a Dual Door

Set on a hill in leafy Wimbledon, this house extension is all about energy efficiency. “We wanted to achieve an energy-efficient retrofit, that removed all gas and wood burning and incorporated passive heating and cooling features into our home. We wanted to show that having an eco-house doesn’t mean sacrificing design principles,” says homeowner Jodi.

“We undertook a kitchen extension, a loft conversion, and a new garage with a studio above. We decided to aim for a Passivhaus-level retrofit because we were particularly focused on air quality and wanted to utilise natural products and low VOC (volatile organic compounds) throughout the house. The Passivhaus approach was about crafting a lower-energy building and providing excellent indoor air quality. We were also committed to ensuring that our build did not reduce the green space on our land.

“We wanted a welcoming, elegant, and understated approach to our home. Our architect researched Passivhaus-approved doors and found that Urban Front creates beautifully crafted doors that meet both the design aesthetic and the functional needs of our build. Our door is well-designed, its scale impressive, and it fits perfectly with our aesthetic – we are very happy with our choice. We love the seamless way the garage, courtyard gate, and front door all work in concert with one another,” she says.

The property is one of only nine refurbishments in London to meet EnerPHit standards, the Passivhaus rating for retrofits. It won two awards for architectural practice, The Vawdrey House at the British Institute of Interior Design Awards 2025: the Greater London Region, and The Anna Whitehead Prize in recognition of the project’s sustainability values.

Door details:
Urban Front Porto e98 passive in European oak finished in ebony oil (external side) 2475mm by 1315mm with BZ11 bronze handles

Photography: Andy Stagg

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