Redefining intergenerational living in Lewisham
In the heart of south London, Melfield Gardens is redefining what social housing can be. Delivered by Phoenix Community Housing, this fully affordable, Passivhaus-certified development is one of the first resident-led housing association schemes of its kind: a bold model for sustainable, intergenerational living.
Designed by PHT Member Levitt Bernstein, Melfield Gardens demonstrates how strong, long-term collaboration underpins successful Passivhaus delivery. It builds on an established partnership with Phoenix Community Housing, as well as ongoing collaboration with PHT Patrons Max Fordham and Etude and certifiers ZE Passivhaus.
The development comprises 30 one-bedroom-plus flats for residents aged 55 and over, alongside two four-bedroom flats accommodating eight postgraduate students from Goldsmiths, University of London. In exchange for reduced rent, students take part in voluntary cultural and recreational activities that support older residents, helping to strengthen community connections. The project is a pioneering blueprint for communities - addressing social isolation, loneliness and housing shortage.
Key stats
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Construction
From the outset, Passivhaus was embedded into every design decision, committing to full certification and the performance-led rigour it demands. Despite the constraints of an east to west site - less than ideal for optimising solar gain - the team adopted a fabric-first strategy grounded in Passivhaus fundamentals: a highly insulated, airtight envelope, minimal thermal bridging and a compact, efficient form to achieve an excellent form factor. Simple massing was carefully calibrated and subtly angled southwards to reduce self-shading and improve solar performance, supporting the building’s low heating demand targets.
U-values |
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Roof: 0.098 W/m2K Reinforced concrete slab laid to falls, 190mm PIR with tapered insulation within gutters |
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Wall: 0.136 W/m2K Concrete frame with SFS infill (Steel frame system), airtight membrane, 150mm mineral wool with brick skin |
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Floor: 0.101 W/m2K 225mm RC concrete slab with screed, 210mm PIR, 50mm screed |
Further information can be found at the International Passivhaus Database listing
Working closely with Passivhaus consultant Etude, the design team ensured that architectural expression reinforced - rather than compromised - performance. Ancillary spaces such as bin stores, colonnades and entrances are contained within the primary thermal envelope, maintaining continuity of insulation and airtightness.
Homes feature dual-aspect layouts, triple-glazed windows, solar shading, mechanical ventilation, green roofs and communal gardens while strategic cutaways at corners and edges articulate the façades and frame views through colonnades and balconies, all while preserving the clarity and simplicity essential to Passivhaus efficiency.
A tailored pack of construction details was developed pre-tender to communicate the importance of the most influential thermal bridges. Reducing complexity in the building form also minimised material quantities, reducing the development’s up-front carbon. Early structural and building services studies identified linear options for grid spacing, column sizing, foundation type and duct lengths. Careful selection of durable, low-maintenance materials was also essential for reducing life-cycle emissions.
Building performance
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Around 2018, our chief executive became very keen on removing gas from our developments. Given my training as a Passivhaus designer and assessor, I felt designing to Passivhaus standards was the best approach to reducing gas dependency without leaving residents with high electricity bills. Steve Connor, Development Manager, Phoenix Community Housing |
Passivhaus performance extends well beyond the building’s form to the careful integration of services. The blocks were carefully angled to maximise solar gain and optimise the volume-to-surface area ratio, while the fabric-first design approach allowed the use of fossil free, direct electrical heating and hot water. This helps minimise fuel poverty and future-proof the scheme as the grid decarbonises. On-site renewable energy generation is provided through roof-mounted solar PVs, further reducing the development’s energy and carbon footprint.
Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) is central to the strategy, while compact, low-temperature heating systems reflect the building’s drastically reduced heat load. Crucially, MVHR units and heating infrastructure are located within the insulated, airtight thermal envelope, preventing efficiency losses and protecting performance.
Although this level of coordination requires significant design diligence, it strengthens long-term Passivhaus outcomes. Locating services off access walkways allows maintenance and filter changes to be undertaken with minimal disruption to residents, supporting consistent system operation over time. The result is a building where form, orientation and detailing work together to deliver verified ultra-low energy use, consistent comfort and long-term resilience ensuring comfort and affordability for residents.
Designed energy performance |
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East Block |
West Block |
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Airtightness n50 (≤ 0.6ACH @ 50 Pa) |
0.6@ 50 Pa |
0.5@ 50 Pa |
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Space Heating Demand (≤ 15 kWh/m².a) |
17 kWh/m².a |
15 kWh/m².a |
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Heating Load (≤ 10 W/m²) |
10 W/m² |
10 W/m² |
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Primary Energy Renewable (PER) Demand (≤ 60 kWh/m².a*) |
68 kWh/m².a |
66 kWh/m².a |
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Primary Energy Renewable Generation |
26 kWh/m².a |
20 kWh/m².a |
*+/-15 kWh/m².a allowance if offset by energy generation. See Passivhaus criteria.
Challenges & lessons learned
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Orientation constraints demanded early PHPP testing: The east–west site orientation limited ideal solar gain and required careful optimisation from the outset. A major lesson was the importance of early and iterative PHPP modelling to test window sizing, shading risk and form factor before the design was fixed.
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Protecting the thermal envelope requires ongoing coordination: Maintaining airtightness and thermal continuity across colonnades, entrances and ancillary spaces proved challenging. The project reinforced that seemingly small architectural moves can have unexpected impacts on Passivhaus performance. Early contractor engagement, clear detailing and rigorous site oversight were essential in avoiding thermal bridging and performance gaps during construction.
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Resident engagement is crucial to ongoing performance: Alongside individual walk-throughs, a detailed home user guide was produced for residents to explain how each home and its energy-efficient systems operate, ensuring the building will continue to perform as designed over the long term.
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Melfield Gardens is a pioneering project that sets a new standard for affordable, sustainable intergenerational housing. We’re already seeing the huge benefits of bringing generations together and supporting neighbourly connections. Irene Craik, Director, Levitt Bernstein |
Key team
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Melfield Gardens is a project that sets a new benchmark for inclusive, sustainable and energy-efficient housing in London. The project is more than bricks and mortar - it’s a living example of what can happen when imagination, community and care are the drivers for new housing design. Historically, intergenerational support often happened naturally: families lived next to older people and relationships formed over time. Projects such as Melfield Gardens are ambitious in their dedication to engineer some of these social dimensions, delivering long-lasting social, environmental and economic benefits.
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Celebrating the completion of Melfield Gardens is a proud moment for both Phoenix and we think our sector too. The Passivhaus homes are the most sustainable homes we’ve ever built, and the intergenerational nature of the scheme will support our residents' wellbeing and help them to thrive. Denise Fowler, Chief Executive, Phoenix Community Housing |
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Further information
Melfield Gardens - Levitt Bernstein
Passivhaus Client Clubs - Social Housing
Passivhaus for Educational Buildings
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Previous PHT Story: Phoenix brings Passivhaus regeneration to Lewisham - 25 November 2022
Camden |
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Agar GroveAtter lessons learned from building 52 Passivhaus homes at Chester Balmore, Camden Council is undertaking an ambitious phased council housing regeneration scheme that aims to almost double its housing capacity on the same estate.
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25th February 2026
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