Amazing Concrete & Microcement Houses: Design Inspiration
Step into five incredible homes showcasing the versatility and beauty of concrete and microcement surfaces. These materials have become a prominent feature in some of the most beautiful contemporary residences. While they have some key differences that clients should weigh up when choose between the two; we can appreciate the roles that both innovative cement overlays and a traditional concrete slab play in bringing exciting designs to life.
The spaces in this blog cover a range of design styles and functions, from isolated country houses to an urban loft and a family’s forever home. What do they have in common? They elevate your perspective on what’s possible in modern architecture.
House JRv2
Part of House JRv2 is concealed by the land, with most of the residence constructed literally into the sloping terrain, and then topped by a cantilevered upper level. This forms a constant connection between the built environment and the natural surroundings. A restrained use of materials, kept to only timber and concrete, is very on-brand for the quiet luxury of modern minimalism.
The Blue House
Ricardo Bak Gordon's Casa Azul is a minimalist retreat where curated simplicity creates a tranquil ambiance. This design uses colour, proportion, and texture to simultaneously camouflage into its surroundings and stand out. The design is a merging of functionality with artistic expression. Inside and out, the rusty colour and patina of monochromatic cement pays tribute to the surrounding Portuguese countryside.
Sorrento House
DiBartolo Architects & Alt Construction, Mornington Peninsula
A 19th century limestone cottage turned Mediterranean villa; this family home is a masterclass in coastal luxury. Inspired by the mansions you find in the Italian countryside or Greek islands, the renovated floorplan orbits around a central courtyard framed by archways. Much from the 1800s shack has been preserved, but this outdoor space has been entirely reconfigured to become the heart of the home. Finished entirely in tactile X-Bond Microcement, if these walls could talk they’d tell stories from a totally different era. View more images here.
C Penthouse
In one of the world’s coolest cities, this penthouse apartment borrows elements from abstract cubism — a movement founded by Belgian artists. Inspired by industrial warehouses, it’s finished in all different kinds of concrete and microcement. Each textured, grey surface seamlessly melts into the next, creating an open flow between spaces. An industrial, artistic past meets the contemporary urban loft aesthetic in this a retreat above the river — one that has a deep connection to art, history, and place.
Hideaway House
This subterranean renovation of epic proportions has produced an elegant family home featured in iconic design publications such as The Local Project and Est. Living. Seizing the opportunity to expand their existing home by acquiring the neighbouring block, the client wanted a multi-purpose space for relaxing and entertaining. Sophisticated and moody, it’s a concrete bunker meets luxe private clubhouse — or "Mad Men meets Batcave" according to the architects.
