It seems that many people still prefer to build their houses out of wood and bricks. However, the new trends aim to challenge the status quo of concrete construction worldwide. The latest hit in the industry seems to be the construction of modern concrete houses using concrete blocks or exposed concrete. Thanks to prefabricated modules, you can build a concrete house and construct the walls and other parts of your home as if you were playing with Lego bricks. So you can use this building material in different ways to create some very interesting designs. Additionally, due to various advancements in the cement industry, concrete has also become a very sustainable material for the environment.
Concrete is an extremely durable, versatile and sustainable building material, as you will see from the examples below. As a robust material, it can withstand extreme weather conditions and, as a non-porous material, is also low-maintenance. It is characterized by excellent thermal mass, which reduces energy consumption for heating and cooling. Compared to other materials, concrete also requires less energy to produce and has low CO2 emissions.
Forget your preconceptions – concrete can do much more than just stark, utilitarian structures. With a little creativity, this underrated and inexpensive building material can create architectural wonders that improve modern life. Enter the fascinating world of concrete construction and take a look at its advantages, because the material is anything but cold. So if you want to build a concrete house and are a fan of minimalist architecture, you can be inspired by some of our suggestions made from the raw, versatile material.
Maison 0.82 in France
This modern villa in the south of France combines textured concrete and warm wood. The architects have thus created harmony between the house and its surroundings. A significant portion of the floor plan is dedicated to a covered concrete patio, easily accessible via floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room. A circular skylight built into the patio canopy allows residents to dine al fresco while being protected from direct sunlight. It also opens up the living room and kitchen to natural daylight, which is particularly beneficial during the darker winter months.
Designed by Pascual Architecte, this unique feature gives the house an unexpected twist and emphasizes its modern minimalist flair. If you were to build a concrete house like this you might all too often associate it with dark and heavy spaces, but here a feeling of lightness is created by the wooden floorboard clad concrete ceiling, white plaster walls and neutral furnishings. The impressive project was completed with a reasonable budget of just EUR 425000.
A farmhouse in Australia
The architects came up with this highly exposed house with sea viewsthick concrete walls, which are supported by a steel frame. The angular concrete structure with sloping external walls was chosen for its durability and resistance to erosion and blends beautifully into the hilly rural landscape. The addition of floor-to-ceiling glass panels also creates an interplay between indoor and outdoor spaces and offers panoramic sea views. The designers created a central courtyard, an outdoor pool and outdoor support pillars using different shades, textures and surfaces of concrete.
Inside, the space emphasizes a minimalist aesthetic through the use of concrete, weathered hardwood, and glass as primary structural components. Built by Join Constructions, polished concrete floors provide a smooth finish that brightens the interior, while sliding glass doors provide access to theAllow pool area. An open plan kitchen/dining room with a light concrete ceiling slopes elegantly towards the sea, while a combination of polished concrete and wooden furniture enhances the clean overall feel of the property. Further full-length glass opens the kitchen towards a concrete terrace.
The so-called Reiterhaus in Argentina
Designed by Buenos Aires architects Luciano Kruk, this one-story concrete house on the Costa Esmeralda coast combines wood-concrete with wood, glass panels and a metal frame to create a quickly built home that is as cost-effective and beautiful as possible. Blackened wood and bronze aluminum window frames blur the boundaries between the house and the surrounding acacia forest, while textured concrete walls soften the overall feel and pale concrete floors create a clean aesthetic.
A central wood burning stove in the open living room also provides a cozy focal point for the winter months. The master bedroom has an ensuite bathroom, yoga room and private terrace. A built-in concrete wardrobe also offers a stylish storage solution. Additional concrete furniture can be found in the kitchen, which includes an industrial material countertop and dining table.
House Vila Matilde in Brasilien
This compact, modern house was designed by architects Terra e Tuma for an elderly lady. She lives in the municipality of Vila Matilde in São Paulo, Brazil. Due to the limited budget, the team used affordable concrete blocks and slabs as the main building material to build this house in a particularly tight space. Inside the narrow building there is a ground floor living room, kitchen, bathroom and master bedroom.
Light gray concrete walls provide a clean and modern aesthetic, while the poured concrete floors reflect natural light, brightening and accentuating what would otherwise have been a dark and cramped space. A small green courtyard also provides welcome light, ventilation and a private shaded area for the resident to enjoy nature. The upper floor of the property also offers a guest room and a roof terrace where a thriving vegetable garden is currently growing.
Layer house in South Korea
With its striking striped facade, the two-story house on the leafy outskirts of Icheon in South Korea proves that you can use concrete in a playful and creative way. This unique residence with an area of 2239 square meters is the work of the innovative architects STPMJ. The mesmerizing cream cake effect was achieved through a number of techniques, including optimizing the water-cement ratio and the amount of pigment used in the concrete.
In a process that took 22 days, concrete workers carefully poured the patterned walls, using a different mix each day. Arranged at right angles, the property's separate two-story buildings can accommodate up to three families at a time. Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors and aspacious stone terracereinforce the relationship between indoor and outdoor spaces. White surfaces and wooden floors reflect the simplicity of the building.
Building a concrete house – House R in Italy
This compact home in Valdere, northern Italy, was designed for a couple who wanted to build a cost-effective vacation home. A 45-degree angled roof slopes upward toward its highest corners, creating two sleeping areas in the attic. The architects chose reinforced concrete as the building material, which helped further reduce costs. The team deliberately exposed the concrete walls inside, while polished concrete floors help distribute light throughout a predominantly open space.
A double-height ceiling in the living room emphasizes length and proportion, creating a light and airy environment in a small space. Wooden windows and sliding glass doors let in sunlight and provide access to the private courtyard. Solid wood elements in the kitchen, living room and bathroom create a connection between the house and the surrounding forest landscape. In this way you soften the cool concrete walls and floors. Designed by 35a Studio, the home also features two mezzanine sleeping areas, both of which overlook the living room. An abundance of natural light filters into every room with a little help from well-thought-out skylights.
Mami Haus in Portugal
It's hard to believe, but this house near Porto was built for less than 102000 EUR. Faced with the task of building a single-family home on a budget, the architect decided to build a simple cuboid building using concrete as a building material. So in this way the architect was able to keep the structural costs low. To stay within the project's budget, the interior of the property was furnished with simple materials of raw concrete slabs and wooden furniture.
Simple, floor-to-ceiling glass panels in the living room, kitchen and bedrooms allow light in while you enjoy garden views. Opting for a bright, open layout created the illusion of a much larger space on the compact property, yet hidden spots like this kitchen island and breakfast bar were designed with a cozy, family-friendly atmosphere in mind. Designed by NOARQ, the property has three bedrooms, a master suite and two smaller rooms. All bedrooms have been designed minimally with raw concrete walls and wooden floors. Wood-framed glass panels highlight the concrete walls and flood each room with natural light.
The Kontum House in Vietnam
This one-story house in Vietnam was built from concrete blocks shaped and cast by the owners. A cost-effective solution to save energy was created by constructing a perforated concrete facade that ventilates the property and keeps it cool in Vietnam's sun-kissed climate. An open-plan living room and kitchen at the front of the property offer stylish, industrial-inspired living spaces. The perforated concrete creates playful patterns of light and shadow on the walls, while the polished concrete floor helps reflect light around the room.
The property is just 246 square meters and offers lots of clever features in a small space. Using over 1300 square concrete blocks, the geometric screen flanks a wall of windows at the front of the house. The residents can open these so that a cool breeze flows through the main living space. So this was particularly important for Khuon Studio given the house's tropical location, which suffers from strong sunlight.
Casa Caja in Mexico
Thanks to the help of S-AR Architects and the Comunidad Vitex housing project, a family of five in Monterrey, Mexico has finally realized their dream of owning their first home. Constructed of concrete blocks, the two-story house was as inexpensive to build as it was stylish. La Casa Caja or the “Box House” consists of a series of box-like structures slotted neatly next to and on top of each other. The central box offers an open living and dining area with exposed concrete stone walls and concrete floors.
So if you build such a concrete house, it can be more than just an affordable building material. The building material also helps keep the house cool in hot weather conditions. Large panes of glass create the illusion of space while allowing light to flow into the living area. Charitable and construction assistance from the local community reduced the total cost of building Casa Caja to EUR 9,000, making this house an exceptionally cost-effective project that could pave the way for affordable housing projects in the future.
Building a concrete house – Stamp House in Australia
At first glance, the Stamp House looks as if it is floating on the surface of a lake. In reality, the otherworldly concrete residence juts out from the edge of the shoreline, creating the ultimate optical illusion. With a distinctive dented facade, the property resembles its namesake. This is particularly appropriate since the house was built for a stamp collector. While the architecture is pretty incredible, the futuristic design also has a practical function. The sturdy concrete house was built to withstand the area's strong hurricanes. At the same time, the self-supporting structure also minimizes the effects of flooding.
The interior of the home, designed by Wright Architects, is equally impressive. A large open-plan living room houses the kitchen, dining area, living room and gym. All of these rooms are protected under a vaulted ceiling made of concrete beams. Bedrooms flank this area in secluded wings, providing private spaces for relaxation and sleeping. The residence is completely off-grid. Solar panels generate electricity and a water system recycles the drinking water. The favorite feature, however, has to be the swimming pool, located in the courtyard.
