The Covert House

Designing their own house in the heart of a conservation area in Clapham Old Town, London, DSDHA tested several hypotheses that span from interrogating the idea of the ‘domestic’ through to how sustainability might be integrated into design.

Set in a pastoral landscape of mature trees and gardens, the house acts a case study for testing several hypotheses.

These span from interrogating the idea of the ‘domestic’ at the beginning of the twenty-first century, through to how sustainability might be integrated into high quality design without compromise. In addition, at a strategic urban scale it asks how a global city like London might provide new housing within its fiercely defended low-density backlands, close to the historic centre.

DSDHA, The Covert House, Clapham, London. <b>Top</b>: photo Christoffer Rudquist. <b>Above</b>: photo Helene Binet — DSDHA, The Covert House, Clapham, London. **Top**: photo Christoffer Rudquist. **Above**: photo Helene Binet

As a modest family home, the house is designed with a few simple rules; to use the most sustainable design principles possible whilst deploying a limited material palette, yet creating a sense of domesticity within a concrete armature, that does not disturb its sensitive setting and the 23 neighbouring properties adjoining the site. Materials are either concrete – cast on site, left raw and unfinished, or precise and highly articulated – read against ‘whiteness’, be it in the form of natural light, controlled and carefully calibrated to bring animation and delight deep into the plan, or represented though the use of white as a finish for all the remaining surfaces beyond the concrete. The resultant design is precise and sculpted; materially rich yet calm as a place in which to live.

DSDHA, The Covert House, Clapham, London. Photo Helene Binet

Set partially into the ground to limit its height and provide thermal mass, the house has lower floor lightwells and an elegant white concrete stair that effortlessly mediates the spatial experience between levels within a double height space.

At a time when standardisation and off-site construction are widely promoted, the project represents an insistence on combining everyday needs with a search for new forms of beauty.

DSDHA, The Covert House, Clapham, London. Photo Helene Binet

DSDHA, The Covert House, Clapham, London.Photo Christoffer Rudquist

DSDHA, The Covert House, Clapham, London. Left: photo Helene Binet. Right: photo Christoffer Rudquist

DSDHA, The Covert House, Clapham, London. Axonometrical view

DSDHA, The Covert House, Clapham, London. Axonometrical view

DSDHA, The Covert House, Clapham, London. Axonometrical view. Lower ground floor plan

DSDHA, The Covert House, Clapham, London. Axonometrical view. Upper ground floor plan

The Covert House, Clapham, London
Program: single-family house
Architects: DSDHA
Project Team: Deborah Saunt, David Hills, Matt Lambert, Emma Canning
Contractor: Whiterock Engineering
Structural Engineer: Price & Myers
Services Engineer: Max Fordham LLP
Enabling Architect (Construction phase): Knox Bhavan
Area: 135 sqm
Completion: 2015

The Covert House

Designing their own house in the heart of a conservation area in Clapham Old Town, London, DSDHA tested several hypotheses that span from interrogating the idea of the ‘domestic’ through to how sustainability might be integrated into design.

Latest on Architecture

Latest on Domus