Bronwyn Barry (she/her/they/them/it/thingumie)
@passivehousebb.bsky.social
Searching for comfortable buildings in a democracy that works. (Optimist.) E-bike loving architect building Passive House in a climate that thinks it doesn’t need it. (Persistent.)
You always know when you’ve found your people.
[Unusually uncrowded day outside ODC, SF.]
cc.@americanfietser
[Unusually uncrowded day outside ODC, SF.]
cc.@americanfietser
July 6, 2025 at 8:37 PM
You always know when you’ve found your people.
[Unusually uncrowded day outside ODC, SF.]
cc.@americanfietser
[Unusually uncrowded day outside ODC, SF.]
cc.@americanfietser
Word. I’ve been kid-sitting in Roseville this week. I’ve driven more in five days than I usually do all year… the place is EXPLODING with housing, but the transit is non-existent and the ‘bike lanes’ positively murderous.
Now need Xanax.
Now need Xanax.
June 24, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Word. I’ve been kid-sitting in Roseville this week. I’ve driven more in five days than I usually do all year… the place is EXPLODING with housing, but the transit is non-existent and the ‘bike lanes’ positively murderous.
Now need Xanax.
Now need Xanax.
From my visit to SF MOMA today, evidence of Californian history on a repeat cycle:
June 10, 2025 at 3:07 AM
From my visit to SF MOMA today, evidence of Californian history on a repeat cycle:
Btw, the technical term for what we’re discussing here is ‘Form Factor’ - the relationship between exterior surface envelope to floor area. The simpler the #FormFactor, the more efficient the building is to build, heat+cool & maintain.
June 5, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Btw, the technical term for what we’re discussing here is ‘Form Factor’ - the relationship between exterior surface envelope to floor area. The simpler the #FormFactor, the more efficient the building is to build, heat+cool & maintain.
These are great, but all highly discouraged in America. Our city design guidelines PUSH for pastiche. Look at these examples from Sacramento & Redwood City…
June 5, 2025 at 4:31 PM
These are great, but all highly discouraged in America. Our city design guidelines PUSH for pastiche. Look at these examples from Sacramento & Redwood City…
Blast from the past: over-framing at the roof of my Sunnyvale project from 2016. Should be standard construction detail but I’m still struggling to get this done on the reg in my current projects.. [Sigh.]
May 19, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Blast from the past: over-framing at the roof of my Sunnyvale project from 2016. Should be standard construction detail but I’m still struggling to get this done on the reg in my current projects.. [Sigh.]
I navigate building codes professionally. AB 306 will only impact Reach and Energy codes, so it affects a tiny sliver of the multi-layered codes every project must navigate.
[There be BIGGER dragons upstream.]
Here's the code obstacle course all Californian buildings must traverse:
[There be BIGGER dragons upstream.]
Here's the code obstacle course all Californian buildings must traverse:
March 24, 2025 at 2:00 AM
I navigate building codes professionally. AB 306 will only impact Reach and Energy codes, so it affects a tiny sliver of the multi-layered codes every project must navigate.
[There be BIGGER dragons upstream.]
Here's the code obstacle course all Californian buildings must traverse:
[There be BIGGER dragons upstream.]
Here's the code obstacle course all Californian buildings must traverse:
Turns out that one of LA’s iconic post-war architects was effectively blacklisted by the U.S. Govt. Ain’s career was stifled because he believed in providing architecture to working class people…
January 12, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Turns out that one of LA’s iconic post-war architects was effectively blacklisted by the U.S. Govt. Ain’s career was stifled because he believed in providing architecture to working class people…
Looking forward to digging into this, to learn more about what we’ve lost, and how I might learn from the past to help design the future… #LAfires #Passivhaus
January 11, 2025 at 11:25 PM
Looking forward to digging into this, to learn more about what we’ve lost, and how I might learn from the past to help design the future… #LAfires #Passivhaus
Here are a few pics of more modern #Ecococon straw panel buildings, taken on my visit to Slovakia. Hoping to add some Californian images in 2025. (Watch this space!)
December 27, 2024 at 6:42 PM
Here are a few pics of more modern #Ecococon straw panel buildings, taken on my visit to Slovakia. Hoping to add some Californian images in 2025. (Watch this space!)
Great time of year for reflections. (Yeah, I’m cheesy that way. ;)
#17MileHaus
#17MileHaus
December 24, 2024 at 6:13 PM
Great time of year for reflections. (Yeah, I’m cheesy that way. ;)
#17MileHaus
#17MileHaus
Piling on to this lovely thread by @stephenjacobsmith.com with pictures of the ‘mini-vator’ in Rome:
December 21, 2024 at 9:50 PM
Piling on to this lovely thread by @stephenjacobsmith.com with pictures of the ‘mini-vator’ in Rome:
Here's a useful #techtool for the renovation market I'm excited to be onboarding [via a contractor collaborator]: LIDAR for documentation and as-built drawings.
How many 'duh' flubs can you identify in these screen shots taken from the 3D video's?
#ElectrificationLast #MoldyOldies #Whythespray?
How many 'duh' flubs can you identify in these screen shots taken from the 3D video's?
#ElectrificationLast #MoldyOldies #Whythespray?
December 17, 2024 at 9:23 PM
Here's a useful #techtool for the renovation market I'm excited to be onboarding [via a contractor collaborator]: LIDAR for documentation and as-built drawings.
How many 'duh' flubs can you identify in these screen shots taken from the 3D video's?
#ElectrificationLast #MoldyOldies #Whythespray?
How many 'duh' flubs can you identify in these screen shots taken from the 3D video's?
#ElectrificationLast #MoldyOldies #Whythespray?
Some Friday Fun - because god knows we all need it. (Thanks to the #Ardfert Mermaids & Seahorses of #BannaStrand for always keeping it real.)
December 13, 2024 at 11:07 PM
Some Friday Fun - because god knows we all need it. (Thanks to the #Ardfert Mermaids & Seahorses of #BannaStrand for always keeping it real.)
8. He closed by listing all the wonderful co-benefits these upgrades would deliver to the owners of these buildings, and the people living in them.
(Which begs the logical question: why isn't this the new NORMAL in California....?)
(Which begs the logical question: why isn't this the new NORMAL in California....?)
December 3, 2024 at 8:01 AM
8. He closed by listing all the wonderful co-benefits these upgrades would deliver to the owners of these buildings, and the people living in them.
(Which begs the logical question: why isn't this the new NORMAL in California....?)
(Which begs the logical question: why isn't this the new NORMAL in California....?)
6. Which will save a lot of money on PV panels and need a lot less roof area to achieve Net Zero energy targets.
7. Matt summarized the upgrades needed in each climate to meet PHI’s Classic targets (which really aren’t significant.)
7. Matt summarized the upgrades needed in each climate to meet PHI’s Classic targets (which really aren’t significant.)
December 3, 2024 at 8:01 AM
6. Which will save a lot of money on PV panels and need a lot less roof area to achieve Net Zero energy targets.
7. Matt summarized the upgrades needed in each climate to meet PHI’s Classic targets (which really aren’t significant.)
7. Matt summarized the upgrades needed in each climate to meet PHI’s Classic targets (which really aren’t significant.)
5. Despite the fact that Title-24 code meets PHI's total source energy use intensity (EUI) target in all four climates, we could easily do 50% better in San Jose and LA, and 25% better in Sacramento and San Diego.
December 3, 2024 at 8:01 AM
5. Despite the fact that Title-24 code meets PHI's total source energy use intensity (EUI) target in all four climates, we could easily do 50% better in San Jose and LA, and 25% better in Sacramento and San Diego.
4. The results for heating and cooling demands in all four climates showed Title 24 still has plenty of energy efficiency juice left to squeeze.
December 3, 2024 at 8:01 AM
4. The results for heating and cooling demands in all four climates showed Title 24 still has plenty of energy efficiency juice left to squeeze.
2. Matt used DesignPH and PHPP energy models to compare predicted results.
3. He modeled the same building in four of California's most densely populated climate zones: Sacramento, San Jose, Los Angeles and San Diego.
3. He modeled the same building in four of California's most densely populated climate zones: Sacramento, San Jose, Los Angeles and San Diego.
December 3, 2024 at 8:01 AM
2. Matt used DesignPH and PHPP energy models to compare predicted results.
3. He modeled the same building in four of California's most densely populated climate zones: Sacramento, San Jose, Los Angeles and San Diego.
3. He modeled the same building in four of California's most densely populated climate zones: Sacramento, San Jose, Los Angeles and San Diego.
1. Matt used a real multifamily building design to compare Passive House (PHI Classic targets) to current Title 24 code requirements.
December 3, 2024 at 8:01 AM
1. Matt used a real multifamily building design to compare Passive House (PHI Classic targets) to current Title 24 code requirements.
My copy of @holz-bau.bsky.social new book ‘Building for People’ just arrived and I’m truly flattered to be called out in the acknowledgements. Thx Mike!
December 2, 2024 at 3:49 AM
My copy of @holz-bau.bsky.social new book ‘Building for People’ just arrived and I’m truly flattered to be called out in the acknowledgements. Thx Mike!
I hear indoor bike parking is trending on @dwell.bsky.social.
November 27, 2024 at 12:49 AM
I hear indoor bike parking is trending on @dwell.bsky.social.
Hear you on the challenges of integration, but I'm SOOOO tired of cobbling together multiple HVAC items, none of which are optimized for low-load buildings.
Can we at least combine two? I'm enamored of these small H/ERV+heat pump +monitoring combo units. (Similar to the Italian Ephoca units.)
Can we at least combine two? I'm enamored of these small H/ERV+heat pump +monitoring combo units. (Similar to the Italian Ephoca units.)
November 26, 2024 at 11:27 PM
Hear you on the challenges of integration, but I'm SOOOO tired of cobbling together multiple HVAC items, none of which are optimized for low-load buildings.
Can we at least combine two? I'm enamored of these small H/ERV+heat pump +monitoring combo units. (Similar to the Italian Ephoca units.)
Can we at least combine two? I'm enamored of these small H/ERV+heat pump +monitoring combo units. (Similar to the Italian Ephoca units.)
With all the crazy going on in the world, I’m so looking forward to watching oversized men pummeling the shizz out of each other. For sport. #RugbyWorldCup #GoBokke #SuperWellOrganizedViolence.
October 14, 2023 at 12:37 AM
With all the crazy going on in the world, I’m so looking forward to watching oversized men pummeling the shizz out of each other. For sport. #RugbyWorldCup #GoBokke #SuperWellOrganizedViolence.