House of the Brick Veil: A Passive House Design Tailored for Urban Density

Designed by Hazal Turgutlu, the House of the Brick Veil reimagines passive house design for compact, high-density urban neighborhoods. Located on a narrow interior lot facing a busy pedestrian street, the project addresses environmental and social challenges by weaving together privacy, light, ventilation, and spatial fluidity through innovative architecture.

The dwelling is created for an extended family of six—a couple who are both architects, their three children, and the grandmother. Despite its limited footprint, the house unfolds across multiple half-levels, interconnected by stairways and bridges, enabling natural light and airflow to penetrate every corner while maintaining spatial efficiency.

Brick as a Breathing Veil

The standout feature of the house is its undulating brick facade. Designed as a permeable screen, it acts as a protective veil against the bustling street while allowing filtered daylight and cross ventilation. The perforated brick pattern also minimizes direct visual exposure, offering privacy without enclosing the structure entirely. This architectural element is not just aesthetic but performs as a passive climatic filter, aligned with principles of sustainable urban design.

Three main materials define the material palette: brick, exposed concrete, and teak wood—all sourced locally. The warmth of the wood balances the raw textures of brick and concrete, crafting a harmonious environment that is both modern and contextual.

Maximizing Air and Light: A Passive Approach

The design makes extensive use of passive house design strategies. Openings at both the front and rear of the building promote cross ventilation, reducing dependence on mechanical systems. Folding windows and internal vegetation like green walls and central trees act as air filters and cooling agents. The central inner courtyard acts as a lung for the house, splitting the plan vertically and creating more exposed surfaces for natural light and fresh air.

Each half-level serves a different function:

• Basement: Multipurpose guest room and bathroom
• First Floor: Entry mudroom, lounge, kitchen/dining, and an inner courtyard
• Mezzanine: Home office
• Second Floor: Grandmother’s room and multipurpose space
• Third Floor: Children’s bedrooms
• Fourth Floor: Parents’ bedroom, living room, and en suite

This layering allows shared and private spaces to co-exist without conflict, reflecting the diverse needs of multigenerational living.

Rooted in Lifestyle, Climate, and Context

The lifestyle imagined centers around the grandmother, whose love for greenery and limited mobility informed the integration of biophilic design. The parents—as working professionals and hosts—needed dedicated spaces for client interaction and downtime, while the children’s areas focus on study and play.

Situated in a tropical climate, the house addresses humidity through passive cooling. The perforated brick facade, indoor greenery, and window design come together to naturally reduce heat while maintaining airflow. These thoughtful integrations make the structure a model of passive energy efficiency in a space-constrained setting.

Lessons for Future Urban Living

The House of the Brick Veil offers a new blueprint for passive house design within dense urban fabrics. Through multifunctional planning, sustainable materials, and responsive architecture, it overcomes limitations of space, climate, and privacy. It exemplifies how architecture can serve both environmental goals and the nuanced needs of a modern, multigenerational household.

Project by: Hazal Turgutlu