The Covert House by DSDHA seems to encompass both of these seemingly opposed ideals: a subterranean unfinished concrete core blends effortlessly into airy garden surrounds. A white staircase serves as the linking element between these realms, descending from the highly articulated concrete of the upper floor into the raw environs of the lower floor, which is illuminated by lightwells.

Located near the dense urban core of London in a conservation area in Clapham Old Town, the house is also an exploration of how to make the most of one of the city’s most rapidly dwindling resources: space. Where domesticity may have once been predicated on the ability to expand without having to account for one’s neighbors, this new house is sited within close range of 23 other properties. 

This siting also investigates how to make the best use of a carefully curated, sustainable set of materials that can still provide a sense of well-being. This is partly why the connection to nature is so highly emphasized; all light wells and windows are designed to provide views of the surrounding vegetation and trees in order to fully integrate the house into its surroundings.

However, the house has been designed to have a minimal impact on its site. The architects have included solar panels, heat recovery systems, and rainwater harvesting in their design, resulting in a home that exceeds Code 4 environmental performance while meeting Passivhaus standards. In the architects' words, "The project represents an insistence on combining everyday needs with a search for new forms of beauty."

This balance between engagement and privacy and beauty and pragmatism defines the Covert House, which has won a RIBA London Award in 2015 and is now on the long list for the RIBA House of the Year Award.

Check out more shots of Covert House in the image gallery below.

This piece is part of our special editorial theme for July 2016, Domesticity. Check out related content here.