Concrete Homes

Brutalism is back! The term was coined in 1953 by British architects Alison and Peter Smithson from the "raw concrete”, or the French “béton brut”, a phrase used by Le Corbusier to describe the poured board-marked concrete with which he constructed many of his post-World War II buildings.

Today there’s a never-ending debate about the merits of this architecture style, but in the meantime, small doses of it, in the form of many a modern concrete home, continue to pop up all over the world, proving the versatility and appeal of the hefty material.

For proof, take a look at these completed projects, that prove Brutalism is back, and it’s amazing!

- Binh House (Ho Chi Minh City / Vietnam) - Vo Trong Nghia Architects

Binh house is one of the many projects in the "House for trees" series that strives to address Vietnamese cities' shockingly low green surface area per person.

Using sustainable materials such as natural stone, wood, exposed concrete combined with the microclimate, this house greatly reduces operational and maintenance cost. The architecture is not only to meet the functional and aesthetic concerns, but also as a means to connect people to people and people to nature.

Ph. © Hiroyuki Oki, Quang Dam

- Tiny House - (Puerto Escondido / Mexico) - Aranza de Ariño

Even if the beach is only 200 meters away, this house stands in the middle of green vegetation, so you can hear the waves, but what you see are trees, plants, and the Sierra Mountains in the distance. It’s about connecting to the outdoors.

Happily isolated, this holiday home consists of a kitchen, bathroom and open mezzanine bedroom, reached by simple alternating tread stairs.

While the house is small, the durable construction makes Casa Tiny feel opulent and secure.

The roof, floor slabs, stairs and furniture are all built out of concrete, which appears everywhere in the house, giving it a robust feel.

The other main building material is the native parota wood, a dark honey coloured timber less dense than other exotic hard-woods. This is used for the doors, windows, closets and shelves.

Ph.© Camila Cossio Photography

Ph. © Camila Cossio Photography

- MON Factory/house - (Buzen / Japan) - EASTERN design office

The holes in the facade are lined up on a cross shape. The hole is made on the architecture like the perforated line. This architecture is "House with Crest". A light that penetrates into the architecture always moves and never stays. It is a symbolical spectacle. A light that goes through the hole is projected in a circle shape, moves unlimitedly, and never stays. Occasionally, it disappears, and it appears. The site is located in Gojo, Kyoto. It is in a block of the typical division of a traditional residential area in Kyoto.

- 66MRN-House - (Singapore)- ONG&ONG Pte Ltd

Just off Stevens Road is this Zen-inspired dwelling with strong architectural lines and shapes that are further accentuated by the materials used. Comprising two main volumes, the front block houses the social spots, such as the living and formal dining areas, whilst service functions are relegated to the back, along with the kitchen. Although visually similar, the blocks are distinguished by texture – the social activity block is clad in granite and the service block in fare-faced concrete.