Couldn’t build higher. His Dugout backyard home grew upside-down

When David Hills and Deborah Saunt began plans to build a home in the backyard of a 19th-century house in London they had a height limit, so they decided to bury half the house underground. They also used mirrors as cladding to help hide the home, reflecting the surrounding vegetation instead.
Their home in Clapham Old Town is in a conservation area, surrounded by 23 neighbors who once overlooked the overgrown garden of sycamores and ivy. In order to replicate that lush environment, they planted a green roof, and Hills and Saunt designed a green roof with drought-tolerant sedum plants, which require only a very thin buildup and promote wildlife. They also planted new trees, like mulberry, around the home.
To create a secure and simple structure for an underground home, they started with a concrete box. “We dug a big hole to build the house in. It’s just a square box. That’s also cheaper. Every time you have to push in and out, then you’re building really complicated shuttering. So when you go down, the simpler you can make it, the better.”
Wanting as much daylight as possible, they dug sunken courtyards around the home to act as lightwells for the downstairs. Upstairs they used skylights and strategically-placed windows (to protect the neighbors’ privacy and theirs) to keep artificial light to a minimum.
With half the home underground, the earth helps maintain a stable temperature, but there’s a heat recovery system when heating is necessary. Rooftop solar thermal panels heat the home’s water.
On *faircompanies: faircompanies....

[@victoriarawlings689]

For info in response to comments about the trees - sycamores are invasive in the UK and crowd out native species and do not support much wildlife. The native planting and green roof will provide homes for much needed insects in the city (for birds) - I love this house - an architects own home is bound to be full of thought and consideration 👏

[@saal0]

people talking about the local sycamores as if they don't import hardwood from the tropics

[@WVgrl59]

Sycamores are messy trees whose leaves will cover other plants and kill them. We aren't talking about a mighty Oak people, we are talking about a messy, invasive tree.

[@samipso]

As an introvert myself, a place tucked away like that with a cosy underground section that's still connected to the outside is just perfection. Didn't think much of the overall design at first, but the more they walked around talking about all the little details the more I just started to see how it's just really works perfectly within the constraints set by the planners but also by the owner. I think houses designed like this tend to be very large and spacious, but this one feels like a cosy family home.

[@darrenleigh201]

You continue to raise the bar on showing us amazing, interesting architecture! Love this. Thank you for sharing!

[@meglange3595]

I have little appreciation for modern architecture, but this house is rather brilliant. It has it's own special character and is rather ingenious. Well done.

[@BankruptMonkey]

It's one of the only modern style buildings I've seen that isn't stark, and is thoughtful about the neighbor's views. It's just so thoughtful and cozy.

[@scottburbank3313]

Why more homes aren't built underground I don't understand. This family has a house that is quiet, open with a sense of space and is full of light and brightness There is seemingly no drawback. I love it.

[@philanders3705]

Depending on the location you could end up with unmanageable ground water seepage. Other than that it's a great idea. I've dreamed of a secret underground bunker since I was a little boy. Haha

[@kirstendirksen]

They do have a sump pump under the bottom floor.

[@waveydavie]

My memory may be playing tricks on me but weren't the basements of the terraced town houses in Pimlico built at ground level then the street level built up to just below ground floor level?

[@yeahbee8237]

Radon?

[@d3r4g45]

The reason people build under is regulation. If no regulation forces, no reason to. Building up is better in every way. It's cheaper, more light, cleaner, more air circulation, less humidity.. Only reason would be if you live in extreme climate, like very hot, so being burried underground is preferrable.

[@ClaudiaHelmkeMiller]

I love this gentleman’s voice and way of speaking. Such a perfect narration for the Architecturally stony London Garden Home! This home is really quite spectacular.

[@chloebelle4923]

*GORGEOUS* ~ Intelligence, determinism & imagination save the day again! 👏👏👏

[@becorations1]

What a brilliant work of architecture and art! Did I miss how the drainage works around the basement? It looks like a square “bowl” of sorts. So I would assume they have a way to drain or reroute rain water.

[@BladeStar420]

This show is like national geographic but for people. It's really grown on me and changed my life honestly since I started watching so many years ago. I'm planning on going vanlife in my downsizing, minimizing journey.

[@veramentegina]

all the respect for this wonderful narrator, owner.. Love the house and its brilliant architecture and his respect for his surroundings.

[@brettwebb4613]

This is a fantastic house I love it. I also love your channel. The use of mirrors and angles are brilliant

[@doityourselfdiva6001]

Love this home! How is it that the underground home is brighter than the above ground homes? The skylights make all the difference. The only thing I would change would be the lack of color. I could definitely live in this home, but I would decorate with more color and art. The home owner could be a host of his own show, his voice is so soothing.😊

[@deekang6244]

You can color the concrete. It’s an extra expense, but possible. I’ve seen some very interesting concrete treatments. It’s done as part of the pour, not a surface treatment. And, you could put something in to hang paintings, etc, if you wish. (I would - I’m an artist and I have a small collection that is important to me.) Also - Accent walls.

[@vickiwalker3486]

Wow! Kirsten and co. do a brilliant job uncovering super creative housing. I love this KZbin channel!!!

[@StephBer1]

I love the natural light in the house but especially the hidden storage. There is so much wasted space in house walls. We're downsizing to a smaller house which we've already bought and the entryway and dining room have large walls in them that I'm getting a carpenter in to retrofit 'invisible" cupboards into, to house all our stuff into including collections. As much as my husband loves minimalism we also have a lot of stuff which we don't want to get rid of. I can now show this to my husband to show him what I was planning because he can't visualise it. Thank you!

[@SiarlW]

Beautiful, thoughtfully designed home and gardens. Amazing how “limitations” produced such opportunities for an exceptional building. Enjoyed Mr. Hill’s calm voice and eloquent presentation as well. I was particularly struck by their artful use of lighting. Intriguing to hear of their friend’s candlelit home without electrical lighting. That would be wonderful to visit as well.

[@eleanorcramer7986]

Incredible Tiny House builder RANDY JONES in Tennessee say “their insulated panel homes can be heated with a candle and cooled with an ice cube.” His scope is affordable housing including off grid features. I suggest people look them up. He is a funny guy who is developing communities for the multitudes seeking low cost and quality living.

[@lydiarowe491]

A home that has all the attention to detail..encompassing the natural light and truly working with the space to allow the garden and sky to be a total aspect of what was achieved….loved it all..thank you..the owner completed this offering ….😊

[@Nerd3927]

I do not like modern homes, but this one I love! Wonderful job! Very well thought out!

[@Jayapullani]

It is interesting especially some of the well thought out innovations, but prefer the pink house next door :-) .

[@eleanorcramer7986]

Yes there is much to appreciate for comfort and magic with reflections of nature.

[@Robert8455]

At first I did not think I would like it but the more I watched the more I appreciated all the different designs and the limitations he had to work with. Its very impressive. I didn't notice or see any HVAC. I'd also be a bit concerned about underground space becoming flooded or having a lot of moisture. The trickery with reflection gives this a very unique appearance. Thanks for showing us this property.

[@tiffinypie]

Love this house! The layout, the natural light that comes in and the lush green garden. It's a plus that in my book that it's off the street. Clean lines in the kitchen. The cook top blew my mind 🤯 I hate handles too 😒

[@goudagirl6095]

I love this home so much. And knowing that your electricity/HVAC savings are practically nil no matter the season. Brilliant design all around.

[@oyajiblues]

Reguardless of your subject, you bring them to me as they are and then let them show themselves. Wonderful. This guy was interesting for sure, but could easily come off as an English bore. But indeed he was not, he so enjoyed showing off and being proud. Presented clearly to me. I could live there. So nice.

[@riftalope]

Love the way space is played with. The smallest area seems wide.

[@inthechairwithcloochy8102]

Fox walking for the first time is EVERYTHING!!! XOX From Ireland

[@christielee1840]

Fantastic intro for guidelines!❤🎉❤ 😊 love it!

[@NHWildlife]

The best channel on KZbin with another unique house!

[@oldnewsclipster]

I've been watching your videos for years, and they just get better and better. THANK YOU!!!!!

[@dubs31]

Lots of food for thought taken away from this one...Thanks very much for sharing.

[@Sassyglbeauty]

I really hope someone preserves all of the work of this channel. It’s such an amazing collection of interesting architectural histories.

[@milkwasabadchoice6969]

I dig this groovy abode. I can see that they have a true affiinity for modernism.

[@collinmoeller1345]

Such a great home. Felt cozy, warm, and bright even amidst overcast dreary weather. Mirrors, flush doors & cabinets, and use of angles for optimal light is amazing.

[@loriturner609]

This house is inspirational! Thanks for another glimpse into a creative, thoughtful home. I love how they worked with their limitations. I believe the best ideas come from that place. The more I learn about how traditional homes are currently built (in the US) the less likely I am to buy one, and every time I watch one of these video tours I am more inspired to build my own! 🏠

[@laverite1050]

My Grandfather had a highly prolific vegetable and fruit garden that he grew at his modest, small home in South London during WWII. It was written about in the "SO London Press" on Friday March 1,1946. It's fascinating how much he food he grew to nourish his family and others, while he served in the war as a policeman. He was assigned to all the falling bombs that had not detonated in London. Tick Tick Tick

[@dixiechicken2643]

What an impressive man, and a crazy job to go to every morning. You certainly wouldn't be sure of coming home each evening. That garden must have helped to keep him not just fed but sane too.

[@laverite1050]

​@@dixiechicken2643 Yes it did keep him sane. You are an intuitive person.

[@blessingsoutlaw]

🌱🌱👍

[@missinformed9550]

Victory garden.

[@seattlegirl2077]

Really interesting. Thank you.

[@timsagitoff]

thanx for this episode! David is a really great storyteller)

[@JacquelineHahn1]

So very clever and so very liveable. I would have been tempted to put a veggie garden on the roof

[@carmenortiz5294]

One of the most interesting homes I have ever seen!

[@mwmentor]

Awesome house - really nice design features... right down to the east facing window on the ground floor... Thanks to you and the owners for generously sharing it with us. 🙂

[@Wolvesintheclearing]

I LOVE this house and maybe even more some of the amazing furniture!!! Wow🎉🎉🎉

[@zukzworld]

This house, the whole concept of living in this place … is really really amazing! Yes, an architect’s marvelous creation.

[@nataliapieta]

it is an amazing house. Thanks for sharing it!

[@nuzinuz6627]

hmm nice inspar. again thank you ms.Dirksen

[@janel4582]

I love how this house hasn't been staged for this video, you get a real sense of life. I think this house was on an episode of Grand Designs, no? Stunning!

[@bps3013]

The indoor lighting scheme is brilliant, would have loved to have seen it on display after dark!

[@playGEMJI]

A fine piece of architecture, for sure. Thank you for filming it.

[@nancyspringston8547]

Oh how I love this home, and everything about it. We have a walk-out basement in our home and every room has windows, and we walk into the back yard through glass doors. So, this design is absolutely perfect for living partially below ground and not feeling at all like it. If we every build another home, this would be my inspiration. Beautiful and thank you for sharing it

[@ko6el]

Well done Mrs Architect ✨ Love the low lighting an ongoing battle with offspring.. reaches for overhead light Me..Stop

[@TrueChessKnock]

Simply perfect!

[@caraalex7880]

Magnificent design!!! Cheers from Canada!

[@shlby69m]

I applaud the Architect(s) & choices for natural elements. This is a Fr. Lloyd Wright-esk level Beauty!

[@dottiebaker6623]

Recently, I've been dreaming about building a house that also serve as way to track the solstices, equinoxes and positions of the stars and constellations. Love that small window whose light allows you to track the hours of the day!

[@My-Hero-]

Very nice home with meaningful design.

[@jozefkovac6858]

Superb and stunning!

[@rickallman1318]

This guy is an ideal neighbor!

[@eleanorcramer7986]

This home is a treasure for the community. Bravo! it’s simple-E genius.

[@in2biz160]

I always find some peace watching your work. You beautifully enable others to share their story’s

[@BrendanRobin]

Kirsten, another great video. Giving me tons of great ideas for my future home!

[@MichaelNatrin]

Fantastic video & beautiful, innovative home.

[@AzazelBathory]

I absolutely love how tucked away it is, I love walkways like that, it’s so cozy and secure feeling

[@nofurtherwest3474]

There's a lovely bit at the very end where you opens the door to the patio. I wish that outdoor space had been explored more.

[@monosagitario]

What a gem! One of the best house I've seen on your channel!

[@wifi2118]

Beautiful and creative.

[@wilsonmaghari4492]

WOW! LOVE IT. ❤❤❤

[@qutbuddin_aibaq7584]

What a beautiful house and so much thought has been put to everything... I love it... Its like a behance render project.

[@PavolCeluch]

I love all the decisions about the light that went into this house.

[@bdmenne]

Well done documenting this.

[@debbralehrman5957]

People are getting so creative with their spaces.

[@Mr1drumlover]

Absolutely brilliant!

[@Tonezinator]

YIKES. Looking forward to your LA container home rental.

[@ScottJWaldron]

A fantastic and novel building made to work with the available land! Great job on the video.

[@shoshannafachima1306]

This home is absolutely extraordinary and beautifully planned and designed

[@T0beyeus]

Amazing house, very unique. I am not sure I could handle the lighting situation at night, I think I would fall asleep but I love the use of natural sunlight during the day

[@DerSolinski]

This wasn't build to house people. This was build to live in. Adjusted to the need of the owners. Concrete often gets a bad rep for all the ugly brutalism structures and its environmental impact. But this shows that done with care it can be a very comforting material. Thank you for sharing this.

[@bloomon40]

I’m ready to move in 😊 What an exceptional home!

[@streetscienceofficial8675]

Yoo lady y'all lookin stunning, gatta Sayya Mutchaa

[@cyberviking001]

Amazing house, thank you

[@margaretjames6611]

This house is timeless..

[@ThrivingNotDying]

Love this home. Love how hidden it is! And love the garden.

[@economieliberale5189]

I love this style of hidden house with small alleys that only the owner knows to access the house.

[@donwyates]

Very cool find! Lovely house. To me, there's a real juxtaposition there; the aerial view with surrounding properties gave me a somewhat claustrophobic feeling, but the "feel" of the house and property is open & spacious. I just love this channel - I'm always amazed by what y'all find.

[@staticpurge]

Very cool, a similar house was featured in a 2008 episode of Grand Designs (S8,E1). The whole time I was watching wondering if it was the same house! (It’s not).

[@lisamarcel1]

Phew! Glad you cleared that up for me. I too was thinking I’d seen the house before.

[@travelfeet]

Same!

[@Roheryn100]

@@lisamarcel1 Ditto !

[@EricaGamet]

I had that brief thought, too but remember the build out and it wasn't the house within a box like here. Also, the owner here at first reminded me of the host of Grand Designs... or an English Stanley Tucci lol.

[@dwylhq874]

Really curious exactly how they insulated this to avoid damp/humidity. We are planning something similar but very concerned that builders won’t know how to do it properly. 💭

[@blueman5924]

Expertly placed membranes and drainage.

[@TheFunkybert]

Fresh air and breathable interiors is what prevents mold and mildew

[@mowcius]

In any modern build your MVHR system is likely to be one of the most important aspects determining the quality of environment you end up with. As people's knowledge of these kind of systems is often pretty limited, I'd recommend a dedicated contractor to handle this aspect of the build.

[@abdulrahmanraheem423]

I'm a flooring contractor and in my opinion the best way to protect the walls and floors from moisture is with an Epoxy. They more expensive one last 20yrs, and they can be painted(sprayed) on. But I recommend get a professional because the epoxy is very precise application. Once it's applied it can be painted or decorated as u like.

[@briancotten9245]

What a uniquely simple and beautiful home!

[@stephaniemedina1848]

Excellent and innovative 🐱💃🌹

[@RVBadlands2015]

Love all the light in this home.

[@PeaLoop]

What a magnificent house. Beautiful!

[@streetscienceofficial8675]

You mean expensive cost, homie

[@Theclovenpine]

What a great house. I think underground requires a very smart air circulation system. The dampness and concrete equal dank.

[@guillermo.gonzalez]

I just love it, looks lovely to live in London

[@travelfeet]

I'd have like to know more about the mechanical systems. They have a heat pump for heating (and cooling? if needed) and perhaps dehumidification as well, but the solid concrete structure does not have room for ductwork. I didn't see any or any other transport mechanism. Hydronic delivery in the slab would provide heating, but not cooling or dehumidification so I'm left with questions.

[@aphextwin5712]

You very rarely find AC in residential buildings in my homeland of Germany (I’ve never seen one); in the more northerly UK with its even more oceanic climate it must be even rarer. I’ve also never seen heating by forced convection in Germany either (heating is overwhelmingly done via hydronic delivery, either via exposed radiators or underfloor heating, with some electric underfloor heating and stoves making up the rest). From all I’ve from the British Isles, it’s not much different there. Even any forced ventilation is very rare, but I’ve seen dehumidifiers in homes in even more wet and humid Scotland. And you can cool things somewhat with ground-based heat pumps and underfloor heating setups; but temperature in summer is mostly controlled by having thick insulated walls and window blinds.

[@beehive5835]

Beautiful result!

[@starnejme6902]

Wonderful home.

[@waveydavie]

I love this including the finished bare concrete walls which I'm not usually a fan of. The little square window at the end is a nice touch, almost acts like a pin hole camera. If they had a piece of card with a pin hole in it......

[@snowwhite-jt9cj]

Beautiful design..... build more lights/space/garden in city living 🌞

[@Bobrogers99]

This place is unobtrusive and private, and although I've seen architect-designed homes where form limited function, this house looks livable! I'm not fond of all the raw concrete, and I would be concerned about the possibility of dampness, but I appreciate the natural light from all those windows. This is a unique use of a unique lot!

[@Daytona2]

Interesting to see, I remember seeing it on Grand Designs in 2016 (UK, Channel 4, Grand Designs: House of the Year - Series 2 Episode 2)

[@Brian-os9qj]

Spectacular, unique & unexpected components

[@Emperor1118]

Truly amazing.. 💐🥇

[@sherrystone3307]

Love this house !!! Thank you so much

[@danithaman4610]

Beautiful house

[@_orodrigofernandes]

Really cool space. Amazing actually. I cannot factor, though, the amount of time and effort put into planning and designing all the features present in the house. Was it designed by god? Cause it doesn't look like it had any "Oops, I should have thought about that!" Just MARVELOUS!

[@nobody-q8d9z]

Dude i love your induction cooker.

[@SoCalFreelance]

Yeah, Londoners expanding their living space underground has been a hot architectural topic for several years during the real estate boom, especially for billionaire homes, For them it's almost like a competition to design the most elaborate underground spaces.

[@subramaniampalghatbalasubr3208]

Amazing! The only gripe I have about western kitchens and this one also , the oven and freezer are placed side by side. Something that gets to the highest temperature in the kitchen is placed besides something that has to keep things at the lowest temperature. The losses incurred because of this and this infuriates me. Also how is the oven vented?

[@deekang6244]

Not everyone does that. We don’t in our kitchen. There would have to be excellent insulation between the two. If the oven is electric, it probably doesn’t require venting. Ours doesn’t. But, you can run venting lines through the floor and out of the house.