Zelené Átrium

LEED Platinum Passive House — A Residential Benchmark for Europe

This project is a pioneering residential development, setting a new standard for sustainable architecture in Slovakia and Central Europe. It is one of the very few residential buildings in Europe certified with both LEED Platinum and Passivhaus, proving that green design can deliver comfort, efficiency, and affordability.

Architect Ing. arch. Miroslav Marko, M.Arch., also the owner of the building, integrated sustainability into the very core of the design. From the start, he aimed for a building that would become a model of responsible architecture, demonstrating that sustainability does not come at a premium but as a natural part of smart design.

The project team included leading specialists:

• Energy-concept, s.r.o. — designer of the building envelope, blower-door testing, ensuring airtightness and energy performance below 15 kWh/m²/year
• ESM YZAMER — automation, metering, and user-friendly monitoring to make the building resilient to rising energy costs
• e-Dome, s.r.o. — energy modeling, daylighting and VOC measurements, and LEED process consultancy
• SALVIS — complete LEED certification services, including technical studies and simulations

Sustainability Highlights

• Among the few projects in Europe with both LEED Platinum and Passivhaus certifications
• First residential passive house in Slovakia, energy use below 15 kWh/m²/year
• Brownfield redevelopment, turning an abandoned site into a vibrant community
• Over 90 % of materials from the original building recycled (~1 500 tons reused for backfilling and site preparation)
• Zero-VOC policy for healthy indoor air, especially important for families with children
• Heat pump technology and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery
• Rainwater reuse for irrigation, reducing potable water demand

This project shows how sustainability and innovation can go hand in hand. It is not only a green building, but also a visionary model for the future of residential architecture in Europe.