Looking Forward Fifth Edition
WCSS Redevelopment Newsletter
Dear WCSS Families,
Welcome to the Fifth Edition of our Looking Forward redevelopment newsletter. This fortnight, we are looking into the reasons why our School Council chose to go with the Passivhaus design principles that are the cornerstone of LeanHaus Architects' designs.
- Both designs aim for energy efficiency by reducing the need for artificial cooling and heating, thereby lowering energy use and carbon emissions.
- Both designs utilise the sun’s energy to provide heating in winter. However, Passivhaus design controls solar gain more precisely.
- Both approaches aim for maintaining a comfortable indoor temperature, and Passivhaus design does this more reliably across all seasons and weather conditions.
- Both methods consider the orientation of the building, window placement, and shading to optimise energy performance.
While these similarities exist, the way each design achieves its goals is different. Solar passive design is more about optimising the relationship between the house and its environment, while Passive House design takes a much more controlled, technical approach to ensure a predictable outcome. Passivhaus isn’t just about using the sun or relying on natural breezes; it’s a comprehensive design philosophy with strict performance standards that guarantee comfort, energy efficiency, and healthy indoor air quality.
The Core Principles of Passive House Design
- Super Insulation: Passivhaus buildings are insulated to an extremely high standard, reducing heat loss or gains dramatically (in winter and summer respectively). This makes a huge difference in maintaining stable indoor temperatures.
- Airtightness: Unlike solar passive homes, where air leaks can lead to heat loss, Passivhaus buildings are built to be airtight. This prevents drafts, keeps warm air inside, and ensures that no energy is wasted.
- Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR): Passivhaus buildings use a mechanical ventilation system to bring in fresh air and expel stale air, all while recovering heat from the outgoing air. This allows for constant fresh air circulation without losing precious heat in winter, nor gaining it in summer.
- Triple Glazing and High-Performance Windows: Windows in Passivhaus buildings are often triple glazed, offering excellent insulation, reducing heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer.
- Thermal Bridge-Free Construction: Passivhaus design aims to eliminate thermal bridges—areas where heat bypasses insulation and travels in and out through the building. This creates a more thermally consistent environment.
So in summary, here are 5 reasons that Passivhaus design is the superior option for the design of our school.
Superior Energy Efficiency- Passivhaus designs use up to 90% less energy for heating and cooling compared to standard homes. While solar passive homes reduce energy use, they can’t compete with the airtight, highly insulated Passivhaus structures.
Healthier Indoor Air Quality - With Passivhaus buildings, you get fresh, filtered air continuously thanks to the MVHR system. Solar passive homes, on the other hand, often rely on opening windows for ventilation, which can invite dust, pollen, noise, and outdoor pollutants inside.
Thermal Mass Control - In a solar passive house, thermal mass works well when the winter sun can hit it, absorbing and storing heat. But if the sun is blocked or it’s cloudy, the thermal mass doesn’t provide much benefit. In summer, the thermal mass can absorb too much heat, and unless you leave windows open overnight to cool it down, the room can stay uncomfortably warm. Passivhaus buildings, however, don’t rely on thermal mass as much because their insulation and airtightness create a more controlled internal climate year-round.
Works in Any Climate - Passivhaus design can be adapted to any climate, whether it’s tropical, hot, temperate, or alpine. Solar passive homes are more effective in temperate climates and tend to struggle in extremes.
If you would like to read more about the benefits of Passivhaus design and understand just how cutting-edge our project is, check out the article Closing the Performance Gap: Passive House for Schools
We also invited the principal architect at LeanHaus, Ben Caine, to prepare the article below, about how LeanHaus is meeting our brief for a sustainable, healthy learning environment that aligns with Steiner principles.
A Healthy, Nurturing Learning Environment for Your Child
We believe that the spaces children learn in are just as important as what they learn. That’s why the new kindergarten and classroom buildings are being designed to reflect both the core principles of Steiner education and the latest thinking in sustainable, healthy building performance. These new buildings aren’t just beautiful. They’re designed with your child’s wellbeing at heart.
Design That Reflects Steiner Principles
Inspired by anthroposophical architecture, the new buildings are full of natural light, organic shapes, and materials that connect children to the rhythms of nature. You’ll notice gentle curves instead of hard corners, soft vaulted ceilings, and timber used in the structure and finishes where possible. These forms are not just aesthetic — they create a calming, comforting atmosphere that supports emotional wellbeing, creativity, and learning.
The building’s geometry follows the golden ratio — a natural proportion found in art, nature, and the human body. This creates a sense of harmony and flow, which children feel intuitively, even if they can’t explain it.
Materials You Can Trust
We’ve chosen natural, breathable materials for structure, cladding and finishes — timber, wool, lime render and low toxicity paints. These help maintain healthy air and avoid the harsh chemicals often found in standard school buildings. Everything has been selected to be durable and easy to maintain, but also gentle on growing bodies.
Comfort All Year Round
One of the biggest issues in many Perth classrooms is temperature and air quality. In winter, cold, damp rooms get stuffy, and kids get sick. In summer, rooms become hot and noisy. Our new build solves that with Passivhaus design.
Passivhaus is an international building standard that focuses on comfort, air quality, and energy efficiency. Using thick insulation, airtight construction, and a special heat recovery ventilation system, the building stays warmer in winter and cool in summer - without relying heavily on air conditioning or heating.
Fresh air is constantly circulated and filtered. This means your child is always breathing clean, comfortable air, without the draughts or stuffiness of typical classrooms. Studies show this leads to better concentration, fewer illnesses, and improved learning outcomes.
Passivhaus buildings are also noticeably quieter, naturally supporting emotional regulation and reducing distractions from outside noise.
A Space That Speaks Your Values
The new buildings are not just an upgrade. It reflects the school’s commitment to nurturing the whole child: head, heart, and hands. It shows that sustainability and mindfulness isn’t just taught here - it’s lived. It’s a space designed to feel safe, beautiful, and alive - a place where your child can thrive.
Over time, we’ll monitor performance - from energy savings to student wellbeing - so we can continue improving and communicate performance to parents and the wider education community
We invite you to see the vision and feel what’s possible when architecture reflects spirit as well as science.
RSVP now for our second Community Forum on Thursday August 7 at 6pm. This evening event is another opportunity to engage with School Council members directly. We do hope you can attend.
If you have further questions or feedback, please do not hesitate to email development@wcss.wa.edu.au
Warmest regards,
WCSS School Council
