World’s tallest passive house

The developers and architects of the Bolueta building in the Spanish city of Bilbao wanted to set a new Passive House record and at the same time ensure the quality of the building through certification. The project participants have now successfully achieved both objectives, and at a height of 88 metres, Bolueta is now the tallest Passive House building in the world.

Optimised by Spanish architect Germán Velázquez, the design of the Bolueta construction project came in at 32 storeys, 28 of which are above ground, and it also included an adjacent nine-storey building with 63 apartments for social housing. With a conspicuous shiny black façade, the building towers over the neighbourhood, and not only came in on budget but utilised traditional materials. The architect commented: “Now that Bolueta is complete, there are no excuses anymore: it is possible to realise such a project in Bolueta, and it is just as possible to realise one almost anywhere out there.”