Set in Stone: Concrete Homes are Back in Style
Once deemed cold and industrial, concrete is now one of the most desirable design motifs of our age
Once deemed cold and industrial, concrete is now one of the most desirable design motifs of our age
The stark, minimalist nature of exposed concrete has divided opinion for the better part of a century. Used in architecture as far back as Roman times, its heyday came with the dawn of Brutalism and would-be utopian architecture of the 1950s, ’60s, and ’70s. But as the go-to choice for Communist-bloc housing and controversial civic experiments, it’s no wonder concrete didn’t immediately join the likes of marble, rare timber, gold, and leather on the list of luxurious materials worthy of the most beautiful homes on the planet.
Not immediately, anyway. Swiss architect Le Corbusier did provide inspiration for the emerging concrete movement in the early 20th century, and Marcel Breuer, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and Frank Lloyd Wright all dabbled with the material. Some considered it a blight on the face of cities, while others revered its functional, unyielding quality as a symbol of the future.
Anyone who loves contemporary architecture appreciates the concrete aesthetic
“Anyone who loves contemporary architecture appreciates the concrete aesthetic,” observes Zackary Wright, executive director of Christie’s International Real Estate in Asia and North America. “For the right buyer, it’s a major selling point. It’s versatile, tough, long-lasting, and easily maintained. While some view it as cold, others see it as cool and edgy.”
Contemporary concrete
Arizona-based architect Rick Joy has designed homes for clients in the Southwest of the United States, Mexico, and the Caribbean, using concrete to impressive effect. Perched on a hillside in a sprawling piece of desert outside Tuscon, Ventana Canyon House is a contemporary masterpiece that uses concrete as a sensual, textured backdrop to Zen-like interiors and spectacularly framed views. But Joy is keen to point out that perceptions of the material have changed.
Natural materials like concrete absorb and radiate light—and the sturdiness is appealing
An expressive material
San Francisco architect Craig Steely agrees that people are now more open to concrete than ever before. “Our clients are much more literate in terms of architectural history, and the heroic and optimistic nature that concrete structures of the past represent,” he says.
Steely’s Lavaflow 7 house in Hawaii uses precast concrete slabs to create a seamless connection between inside and outside living—a concept reminiscent of Brazilian modernism. “I think South American architects use concrete the most expressively—in particular, Paulo Mendes da Rocha. To me, the expressiveness of concrete fits the kind of buildings that we are imagining,” Steely says. Furthermore, in a location like Hawaii, where termites and weather can eat away at a typical wood-framed house, concrete is a rather efficient solution.
For those wanting to dip their toe into the trend, there are ways to subtly incorporate it. Chris Eaton, head of residential architecture at UK practice Stiff + Trevillion, chose concrete for a kitchen island in a London home and precast concrete tiles for the floor of an old vicarage. “Concrete is not just for walls,” he says.
“Concrete has been used by architects as a finish for years, but the move into the luxury market has been somewhat slower,” says Rodrigo Moreno Masey. “What has changed is acceptance of the material, with its swirling imperfections and blemishes, as beautiful in itself. When done right, both warm in color and soft to touch, it is perfect for open spaces, and brave clients should embrace it.”