Certified Passivhaus projects in Australia have more than quadrupled in under four years, making this year’s open day the biggest yet. From 13 to 15 November, over 40 certified buildings will open their doors to the public in Australia for International Passivhaus Open Days 2026.

Passivhaus certification is on the rise in Australia, growing from 48 buildings at the end of 2022 to 201 at the time of writing in October 2026. Projects span new homes, schools, offices and community facilities across Australia, as well as EnerPHit retrofit projects (the Passivhaus standard for reuse projects) and commercial projects.

“For too long the conversation about Australian housing has been about how many homes we build, not how well they perform,” says Stalin Chakrabarty, CEO of the Australian Passivhaus Association. “We spend most of our lives indoors, yet we rarely consider how much our buildings shape our health. Poor air quality, moisture, mould and extreme indoor temperatures hit children, older Australians and people with respiratory conditions hardest.”

For both design lovers and the Passivhaus-curious, the open day provides a chance to walk through Passivhaus buildings and experience the difference first-hand. Visitors can walk into homes that families live in every day, experience the stable indoor temperatures and quiet acoustic quality for which Passivhaus projects are known.

In a first for the program, this year’s open day also includes buildings currently under construction, giving designers and visitors alike an insight into the insulation, detailing, ventilation systems and glazing systems that would otherwise be hidden away.

“You can read about energy efficiency and compare ratings, but there is nothing like standing in a finished Passivhaus home on a hot afternoon and realising how comfortable it is without the air-conditioning running,” says Chakrabarty. “Then walk through one mid-construction and you see exactly why. Finished buildings show you the result. Construction sites show you how it’s done.”

It’s not all about the houses though. You can also take a sneak peek inside the Eclipse Factory in Seven Hills to see how it makes its high-performance prefabricated panels. There are also schools and community buildings taking part, including Glenroy Community Hub by DesignInc and Ballarat Clarendon College Junior School Arts Building by Williams Boag Architects.

Tours are free, but places are limited. Registrations close Monday 9 November. Explore participating projects, view tour times and secure your spot on the International Passivhaus Open Day website..

Top image: Hillview House by Studio Origami.

Photos: Supplied by Australian Passivhaus Association.