Our Vision
We’ve always dreamed of creating a venue that wasn’t just a place to enjoy a drink — but a living, breathing source of energy efficiency. Until now, that dream felt out of reach.
Bars naturally attract large groups of people. The laughter, conversation, music, and movement all generate incredible amounts of body heat. Anyone who’s walked into a buzzing, crowded bar knows how quickly the temperature rises. But here’s the problem — in a typical bar, all of that energy is wasted.
At Intelligent Membranes, we asked a simple question: What if we could capture and retain that energy?
The result is the world’s first airtight bar, designed and built right here in Cambridgeshire. By using our Passive Purple liquid airtight membranes, we’ve created a venue that doesn’t leak precious heat, dramatically reduces its reliance on heating systems, and slashes energy consumption.
This isn’t just a bar — it’s a Passivhaus-standard showcase of innovation, proving that airtightness and smart ventilation can transform how we think about commercial spaces.
What is an airtight bar?
The Airtight Bar: A Passivhaus Approach to Sustainable Hospitality
What Is an Airtight Bar?
An airtight bar is a revolutionary way to design hospitality spaces with sustainability at the core. By using advanced airtight membranes to completely stop air leakage, the bar retains all the warmth generated inside — from people enjoying their drinks, the fridges, the lightbulbs, and appliances.
Instead of constantly losing heat through gaps in the building fabric, an airtight bar consumes as little as 10% of the energy of a traditional bar. That means lower running costs, fewer carbon emissions, and a building designed for the future.
Why Airtightness Matters in Hospitality
Bars, restaurants, and pubs are notorious for being energy-hungry spaces. From heating and cooling to lighting and refrigeration, the costs add up fast.
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Eliminating air leakage prevents draughts and wasted energy.
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Retaining natural warmth reduces the need for expensive heating.
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Cutting energy bills makes your bar more profitable and resilient.
With energy prices at record highs, airtightness is no longer just a nice-to-have — it’s essential.
Fresh Air Without the Waste: Passivhaus Ventilation
You might imagine an airtight bar as a stuffy, airless space — but the opposite is true. Passivhaus design combines airtightness with mechanical ventilation and heat recovery (MVHR) systems.
This clever system pumps in fresh, filtered air while keeping the heat from the room inside. The result is:
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A warm, comfortable environment.
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Constant fresh air circulation.
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No condensation, damp, or stale smells.
Your guests enjoy the perfect indoor climate — and you enjoy the savings.
The Passivhaus Bar Concept
The airtight bar is built on the same principles as Passivhaus construction, the world’s leading energy efficiency standard.
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Minimal energy demand: Heating is reduced by up to 90%.
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Better comfort: No draughts, no cold spots, no overheating.
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Future-proof: Built to meet Net Zero and sustainability targets.
For new builds and retrofits alike, airtight vapour control membranes and airtight paints from Intelligent Membranes make it possible to bring Passivhaus performance into the hospitality sector.
Energy Savings That Pay for Themselves
By cutting heating demand, improving comfort, and reducing maintenance issues caused by air leakage, an airtight bar delivers long-term cost savings that quickly offset the initial investment.
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Lower utility bills.
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Reduced carbon emissions.
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Enhanced building fabric lifespan.
It’s good for the planet, good for your customers, and good for your bottom line.
Airtightness: Raising the Bar in Hospitality
The airtight bar is more than just a building innovation — it’s a statement. A statement that hospitality can be sustainable, profitable, and comfortable all at once.
With the right combination of airtight membranes, vapour control systems, and Passivhaus expertise, any bar can be transformed into a low-energy, high-performance space that sets the standard for the future.
✅ Ready to make your bar airtight?
Contact us today at info@intelligentmembranes.com and discover how Intelligent Membranes can help you design and deliver the next generation of sustainable hospitality spaces.
Perfecting the design
With the accolade of creating the world’s first airtight bar, we knew the design had to match the groundbreaking performance. This wasn’t just about energy efficiency — it was about crafting a space that looked as impressive as it performed.
For the interior, we partnered with the visionary designer Mario Romano, whose bold and vibrant 3D wall installation became the centrepiece of the bar. To complement this, we collaborated with Corian, world leaders in innovative and sustainable countertop design, ensuring every detail was as functional as it was beautiful.
On the 26th of April, our vision became reality: a stylish, sustainable, and fully airtight bar that proves hospitality can achieve design excellence and Passivhaus-level performance in one.
But what about the pints?
At Intelligent Membranes, we’re not just about airtight buildings — we’re about building communities and making a difference. That’s why we launched our very own charity beer range, boldly titled ‘Phuck Off Beer’. The name reflects exactly how we — and the rest of the world — feel about cancer: it has no place here.
The world’s first Passivhaus airtight bar isn’t just about energy efficiency and sustainable design — it’s a hub for community, charity, and positive change.
👉 Stay connected with us on social media for the latest updates on the Passivhaus Bar, our charity beer, and upcoming projects — or reach out to us directly if you’d like to get involved.