About the Series

The Green Register is proud to present some of our members’ fantastic work as part of this new series of 2-hour live online sessions. We’ll provide an insight into a range of different projects from a sustainability angle.

Each month we’ll focus on one Case Study with the chance to look at it in-depth and invite different members of the project team to give their unique perspectives and answer your questions. 

About this Session: Complex Passivhaus Build – Create & Play Café - Online 

This derelict single-storey building in Bristol was demolished and replaced with a two-storey mid-terrace café and creative community space: Goldfinch Create & Play.

The goal was to create a simple, practical studio space for running creative courses for children, and a complementary family café, for up to 60 people. At the end of the day art materials are tidied away to allow the studio space to be used for other activities such as yoga classes.

Goldfinch required the building to achieve the Passivhaus Classic standard (certification pending), which meant high levels of insulation, airtightness, and filtered ventilation.

Join different members of the project team as they talk us through the build: Mark Finney, Director, SEB + FIN Architects; Beth Williams, Structural Engineer and Certified PassivHaus Designer, Build Collective; and Ben East, Director, Earthwise Construction.

The building is timber-framed, with insulated foundations, thick layers of cellulose (plant fibre), timber aluminium-clad triple-glazed windows and an extremely high air tightness rating.

A MVHR system was fitted and a single air source heat pump is enough to supply the building's heating and hot water. 21 solar panels and a 7kW battery offset much of the grid electricity required to run the building (and most importantly help power the coffee machine).

Whole life carbon analysis was carried out to assess the impact on a whole life basis, of both the active and passive elements.

Earthwise Construction were contracted for the construction, ventilation and internal joinery – timber features extensively as part of the interior design as well as within the building structure.

Goldfinch Café recently won the prestigious Alliance for Sustainable Building Projects (ASBP) Judges Award in the Project category, recognising the sustainable credentials of this ambitious project.

About the trainers

Ben East, Director, Earthwise Construction

Ben is a Project Manager and qualified Carpenter with over 20 years’ experience. Ben manages all our construction-based projects. He is passionate about sustainable construction and is a committed environmentalist. Ben holds a MSc Architecture: Advanced Energy & Environment Studies (Distinction) from the Centre for Alternative Technology and is a certified Passive House/Passivhaus Tradesperson. Ben is a Futureproof Associate Builder trainer, which means he trains other builders in using sustainable methods.

Mark Finney, Director, SEB + FIN Architects

Mark qualified as an architect originally in South Africa, and then in the UK. He heads up SEB + FIN Architects with Sebouh Kouyoumjian; a practice dedicated to reducing carbon emissions, creating healthy buildings, and the 'fabric first' mantra which specialises in thermally-efficient living.

Beth Williams, Associate, Structural Engineer and Certified PassivHaus Designer, Build Collective

Beth is a Chartered Civil Engineer and Certified PassivHaus Designer, and associate at Build Collective, a bespoke engineering consultancy based in Bristol.

Beth has over 10 years’ experience in low-energy and low-carbon design and construction, focussing on timber frame PassivHaus buildings. Her project experience ranges from domestic extensions to new build sports halls and high security NHS facilities.

Alongside practice work, Beth is a visiting tutor at Bath, Cardiff and UWE architecture schools, and group leader for the AECB Bristol & Bath local group. Beth is passionate about making low-energy buildings simple to build, affordable and available to all.

Learn more on her LinkedIn page or follow her on X: @BethWilliamsSE.