Simple house plans — economy of form and the best base for a passive house

On a limited budget, or for maximum energy saving, it is worth building a house of simple form. This section gathers projects as close to that principle as possible: a plain box, a plain roof, no needless costs.

Economy of form

The closer a house is to a cube, the smaller the external wall area for the same usable space. And external walls mean both materials and heat loss. Against an elongated rectangle, the saving on building materials with a simple form reaches 25%. Add a plain roof and no balconies or bay windows, and the build cost falls further still.

A simple form is the base for a passive house

A house of simple form is far easier to make passive: a compact volume with minimal walls already works for energy efficiency. Such a form is also undemanding about the plot — it is easier to orient correctly to the points of the compass.

How a simple house becomes energy-saving

A plain box still needs optimising. That means: placing the house on the plot with the energy gains and losses through windows in mind, insulating the whole external perimeter well, and using energy-saving equipment for heating, water and ventilation. We build each of these steps into the project itself.

How we help

With a project ordered from us, you get support at any stage — from selecting equipment to construction and finishing. We will adapt a ready-made project to your needs or develop a new simple, economical house from scratch.

Related sections

Passive houses · houses up to 100 m² · timber-frame houses · full catalogue

Choose a simple plan

Plans in this category are designed by Alexei Biryukovich, architect at AkvilonPro with over 45 years of experience. Choose a ready-made simple plan or order an adaptation to your plot and budget — get in touch.