Architectural practice: DHaus. Project name/title: La Terre

Client name: Private Client. Location: Surrey, England

Completion year: TBC

A simple concept, to build a house from the material of which it sits. 

La Terre (meaning ‘The Earth’) is a one-off new-build home in Surrey, the south of England, by architects DHaus. Their first exploration into rammed earth wall construction, this four-bedroom dwelling has an elevated ground floor nestling it amongst the tall grass as though it were weightless. 

Within England there are many precedents of earth being used in construction, with approximately 60% of scheduled monuments being made from the material. The advent of modern technology has meant that stabilised rammed earth can now compete with the strength of concrete and durability and water resistance of brick while still outperforming them environmentally. 

The construction of Le Terre reflects the area of natural beauty in which it is built, sensitively harnessing readily available materials to fabricate a home which seamlessly reflects the land from which it belongs.