# Concrete House-Within-a-House Designs Alma-nac Fuses Modernity with Architectural Heritage By Kalin Ned | Published 2020-05-28 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/housewithinahouse References: [dezeen](https://www.dezeen.com/2020/05/28/house-within-a-house-architecture-london/) & [alma-nac](http://www.alma-nac.com) 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](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/no-ordinary-house)—one that was set on creating a space that celebrated the [modern and preserved the historic](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mygunyah-by-the-circus). 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](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/arch-house). 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. Image Credit: Jack Hobhouse ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.0/10 - Popularity: 57% | Activity: 25% | Freshness: 9% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Heritage Preservation:** Opportunity for innovative construction techniques that blend modernity with architectural heritage, as seen in Alma-nac's House-within-a-House project. - **Modernizing Existing Structures:** Opportunity to transform and update older buildings with contemporary design elements, like Alma-nac did with the 1975 property in Brockley. - **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. ### Where This Applies - **Architecture:** Architecture firms can explore innovative approaches to blend modern and heritage elements, similar to Alma-nac's House-within-a-House project. - **Construction:** Construction companies can experiment with modernizing existing structures to meet contemporary design expectations, following the example of the Alma-nac project in Brockley. - **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. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [70s London Home renovations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/elemental-house.md) - [Materially Expressive Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/alma-switch-house.md) - [Tropical Modern House Extensions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/plaster-house.md) - [Timber-Framed Brick Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/erbar-mattes.md) - [Textured Modern House Extensions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hemp-house.md) - [Cast Concrete London Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bureau-de-change-1.md) - [Sandstone Brick Home Extensions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/stone-and-steel-house.md) - [Textured Home Extensions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/basalt-house.md) - [Concrete Modern Extensions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/t-house-extension.md)