The latest project by architecture studio Alma-nac is located in Brockley, south London and the development bears the name 'House-within-a-House.'
The playful titled refers to the approach Alma-nac undertook for completing the family home—one that was set on creating a space that celebrated the modern and preserved the historic. At the core of the project is a "modest two-story property that dates back to 1975" when it was built to replace a bomb-damaged, semi-detached home. Alma-nac extended and renewed the dwelling with the addition of a grey-brick skin. The idea behind the exterior of the House-within-a-House was to "match the materiality of surrounding properties," therefore creating a sense of uniformity in the neighborhood.
Concrete House-Within-a-House Designs
Alma-nac Fuses Modernity with Architectural Heritage
Trend Themes
1. Heritage Preservation - Opportunity for innovative construction techniques that blend modernity with architectural heritage, as seen in Alma-nac's House-within-a-House project.
2. Modernizing Existing Structures - Opportunity to transform and update older buildings with contemporary design elements, like Alma-nac did with the 1975 property in Brockley.
3. Community Uniformity - Opportunity to create a sense of visual harmony and cohesion within a neighborhood through matching materiality, exemplified in the House-within-a-House development.
Industry Implications
1. Architecture - Architecture firms can explore innovative approaches to blend modern and heritage elements, similar to Alma-nac's House-within-a-House project.
2. Construction - Construction companies can experiment with modernizing existing structures to meet contemporary design expectations, following the example of the Alma-nac project in Brockley.
3. Real Estate - Real estate developers can consider preserving and incorporating heritage properties into new projects, like Alma-nac did with the House-within-a-House development in south London.