The Folio profiles Darren Jessop and the Coolhouse philosophy — passive-standard performance, modular flexibility, and a 'living cool' ethos grounded in Australasia's first certified Passive House.
The Coolhouse story begins with Darren Jessop's groundbreaking project: Australasia's first certified Passive House. That experience fuelled a philosophy that champions living beautifully and responsibly — homes that inspire while leaving a light footprint on the environment, an approach the studio calls 'living cool'.
Built to the rigorous Passivhaus standard and drawing on modernist and Palm Springs vernacular architecture, each Coolhouse delivers exceptional thermal performance through airtight construction, high-specification joinery and continuous insulation. The result is a consistently comfortable indoor temperature year-round, without leaning on active heating or cooling.
Modularity is a core feature of the collection. From the compact Mini to the family-scale Master, designs are made to work independently or in combination — start with a Mini and later add a Mint or Crib as needs change, without sacrificing a low-impact footprint. Prefabrication is an option for many sites, sidestepping weather-related delays common to on-site builds.
The Snells Beach home featured in The Folio was built from the Crib plan, with interiors curated by homeowner Hilary Durant. Her reflection captures the intent of the collection: a home that makes the most of a challenging site, cosy in winter, cool in summer, and connected to the life of the beach while still offering privacy when it's wanted.
Read the full feature at The Folio: https://www.thefolio.nz/cool-boy-real-cool/
