Passive Powerhouse Takes Home RIBA Yorkshire Award

Sort Trae, an arresting Yorkshire passive house distinctive for its natural finishes, charred timber cladding and panoramic glazing, has just won the coveted RIBA Yorkshire Award for 2024.

About RIBA Yorkshire

The RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) Regional Awards are prestigious accolades presented throughout the UK in recognition of outstanding architecture. These awards celebrate projects that demonstrate excellence in design, innovation, and positive impact on their surroundings.

Sort Trae: The Project

Two charred black timber boxes, seemingly carved into the hillside, form this striking dwelling. Referencing agricultural buildings, these minimalist structures - one, a two-story house, the other a single-story studio - seamlessly blend with the landscape. The simplicity extends inside, where meticulous detailing and clever space utilization create a forever home – adaptable, ultra-low energy, and affordable.

Think Passive House, Think Norrsken

Norrsken’s triple-glazed aluminium clad timber windows and doors provide Sort Trae with glazing that matches the outstanding thermal performance of the building’s fabric. With our Passive range of windows and doors achieving U-values as low as 0.64, and an expert team well-versed in the Passive House world, Norrsken helps you achieve Passive House certification with ease.

Discover Passive Houses with Norrsken

"Amazing windows that I can recommend to anyone looking for high performance, quality and style. I’ve used them on several projects and always had an amazing experience. My clients love them."

- Terry Huggett, founder of Terry Huggett Developments and Main Contractor for Sort Trae

Contractor Terry Huggett Developments

Structural engineer JAM Structural Design

Environmental/M&E engineer Green Building Store

Sustainability Etude

Windows & Doors Norrsken

Discover More About Sort Trae

Read the case study, explore products used and see more of this fabulous project below.

Read THE Case Study

By working with the landscape of the plot, this home remains sensitive to its environment.

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Read the RIBA Journal Entry

"The use of natural, local materials and elegant detailing has created a calm, beautifully lit space."

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View the Gallery Page

See more images of this beautiful home and browse the Norrsken products used.

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Read Passive House Client Testimonials

“We chose Norrsken over several other companies and are very happy we did."

Learn Why

Did you know?

Sort Trae used our award-winning P31 triple glazed alu-clad outward opening window throughout the home and studio. With an average glass u-value of 0.53 W/m2 K, and whole window U-values as low as 0.67 W/m2K, the window achieves performance suitable for Passivhaus and low-energy homes.

Critically, it performs virtually identically in both all-timber and alu-clad timber options, creating an incredibly adaptable window that is just as suitable, in its all-timber version, for traditional cottage renovations as it is as an alu-clad window in modern new build projects.

Our most popular window, this versatile, durable model took the win in the 2023 Build It Awards for 'Best Window' from a shortlist for its superb thermal performance, beautiful appearance and versatile design and specification options.

Discover the P31