Trueform Concrete in Highland Passive House: Crafting Sustainable Design

Setting a New Standard in Sustainable Design 

The Highland Passive House is North America’s first certified multi-use Passive House warehouse, an industry milestone and a statement of intent. With certifications in Passive House, Net Zero, and Carbon Neutrality, this ~12,500 ft² design studio and showroom for real estate and short-term rental staging in the Hudson Valley (New York) redefines what it means to build responsibly.  

What does Passive House certification require? 

Passive House (or Passivhaus) certification is a performance-based standard governed by rigorous metrics that assure comfort, efficiency, and reduced carbon footprint. Achieving certification demands: 

• Ultra-low heating and cooling loads (≤ 15 kWh/m² per year; peak heat demand ≤ 10 W/m²), 
• Airtight building envelope (≤ 0.6 air changes per hour at 50 Pa), 
• Thermal-bridge-free design, superinsulation, triple‑pane windows, and heat recovery ventilation systems 
• In North America, certification is administered via PHI protocols with onsite QA/QC verification by accredited raters. 

Cathy Hobbs: Inspired by Europe, leading in North America 

For Cathy Hobbs, LEED AP, ASID, and Emmy-award winning designer, bringing the ethos of German-style sustainability to the US has long been a mission. With her German husband and years of travel, Cathy has drawn from European sustainable design principles to create a building that's both aspirational and approachable. Highland Passive House is her headquarters, a functioning showroom and design center for her real estate and short-term rentals staging business, and a lived vision for clean design rooted in ecological responsibility. 

Building Features That Back Up the Vision 

Beyond Trueform’s contributions, Highland Passive House incorporates multiple systems and details to earn certification and operational performance: 

• Panelized prefabricated envelope rigorously tested for airtightness and thermal bridging avoidance  
• Super‑insulated walls and high‑performance PVC or thermally broken window systems (triple-pane glazing). 
• Heat Recovery Ventilation (HRV/ERV) ensures clean fresh air while recovering warmth or coolth, crucial in airtight buildings. 
• PV solar array powers building operations, driving net-zero energy. 
• EV charging stations support sustainable transportation for staff and visitors. 
• Panelized structure with energy modeling to optimize foundation, shading, and orientation from early design onward. 

“From its inception, Passive House standards were a central goal for the project,” shared the Ingui Architecture team.

“Because building health and performance were so important to the entire team, using materials and selecting finishes that worked well for the space was equally important.” 

Trueform’s Custom Concrete: Crafted for Performance + Aesthetics 

When Cathy envisioned sculptural, high-durability surfaces that align with sustainable values, Trueform answered with six custom handcrafted pieces, each serving both beauty and function: 

• Three custom sinks (Pewter Color / Classic Finish) 
• Kitchen island top with waterfall leg (Shadow color / Classic Finish)  
• Kitchen perimeter seating area countertops (Shadow Color / Classic Finish) 
• Kitchen Countertop (Grove Color / Woodform finish) 
• Concrete conference table (Linen Color / Classic Finish) 

These pieces bring visual warmth and textural contrast to the super‑insulated, modern interiors. 

“These aren’t just surfaces, they’re statements,” Cathy shared. “Trueform products brought a sculptural quality to the design. You feel the craftsmanship the moment you touch them.” 

“We opted for Trueform Concrete because the material is truly functional, durable, feels good, and looks great,” said the Ingui team. “It was important to us that everything chosen reflected the ethos of Highland Passive House.” 

Why Trueform makes sense for a Passive House 

• Trueform is a build-on‑demand company that neither overproduces nor holds product inventory. 
• Only the amount of concrete required to create each piece is mixed and used for casting, drastically reducing waste.  
• Woodform products are cast against reusable master forms and do not require old-growth trees to be harvested.  
• All concrete pieces are cast 1″ thick and hollowed out on the underside for significant weight and material reduction. 
• Once cast, concrete cures naturally by a reaction called hydration. No high‑energy ovens or industrial equipment are required for fabrication.  
• All the water used for wet processing is recycled by means of a closed-loop system. 
• All pieces are hand‑crafted in New Jersey, lowering embodied carbon and local economic support. 

“Our work is about far more than simply what we make, it’s about how we’re making it,” says Paul Grech, Creative Director at Trueform.

"We believe in acting as responsible stewards of our materials, energy, and resources. And we go to great lengths to ensure our products and processes impose a minimal burden on the environment. This ethos informs everything we do.” 

Impactful Resident Benefits and What You Future‑Proof 

High upfront costs (~5–10% more than conventional builds) are typical for Passive House projects, but the long-term payoff includes: 

• Significantly reduced heating and cooling bills (up to 75‑95% energy savings). 
• Year-round thermal comfort, improved indoor air quality via HRV systems. 
• Increased resilience in extreme conditions (airtightness can resist smoke, wildfires, and thermal shocks)  
• Longevity and minimal maintenance, especially with materials like Woodform’s GFRC that resist warping, rot, insects, or fire. 

A Partnership of Vision + Values 

Trueform’s involvement in Highland Passive House was part of a creative partnership, aligned by purpose and driven by multiple collaborators, including:  

• Architecture by Ingui Architecture 
• Build by Baxter Building Corp. 
• Engineering by Praetorius & Conrad P.C. 
• MEP by RJD Engineering 
• Passive House consulting by bldgtyp 
• Trueform’s sustainably manufactured sinks and counters 

As Ingui Architecture noted, integrating sustainable strategies isn’t about one feature, it’s about starting early and designing with intention. 

“Creating a truly sustainable home requires early planning to ensure you include as many sustainable options as possible, rather than treating sustainability as an afterthought. We’re finding it easier and easier to incorporate sustainable solutions into our projects because often, the most beautiful materials are also the highest performing. Just like Trueform Concrete.” 

From the first design meeting to the final installation, the Highland Passive House reflects what’s possible when vision, values, and craftsmanship align. As sustainable building practices gain momentum, spaces like this serve as both inspiration and invitation, showing that environmental responsibility and high design aren’t just compatible, but deeply complementary.  

Trueform is proud to have played a role in this landmark project, and even prouder to continue helping architects, designers, and clients realize their own purposeful spaces through bespoke concrete solutions. 
 
As Cathy puts it: “Trueform saw this not just as a placement, but as a partnership. They didn’t want to just display product, they wanted to help define the space. And they did.” 

Have a space or concept you’re designing with intention? 
Explore what’s possible with custom concrete from Trueform