The Government organized a competition to produce 87 exemplar, very low energy, retrofit projects. pd+p, with partners Octavia, Eight Associates and Ryder Strategy, submitted proposals and successfully got through the two-stage selection process.

The exemplar building is a four storey, Victorian house in Princedale Road near Holland Park within a Conservation Area.

The design produced to achieve the target 80% carbon emission reduction for this property is both innovative and effective. This will be achieved with very low energy demand together with the omission of the conventional gas energy source. The heating energy demand requirements will be reduced thanks to the implementation of PassivHaus principles, the installation of a below ground labyrinth and the complete elimination of cold bridges. Three solar-thermal panels will produce hot water.

The project was completed in October 2010 and was the first UK victorian retrofit project awarded Passivhaus accreditation.