19 Gorgeous Concrete Houses With Unexpected Designs

The idea of living in a concrete house doesn’t sound that appealing because of the material’s cold nature. Concrete is not soft or pleasant to the touch like wood which gives it a bad reputation in a sense.

concrete house

But what we don’t take into consideration is the versatility, durability, and beauty of concrete. Architects and designers exploit the concrete characteristics with these dream concrete houses.

Architects and contractors use concrete to build homes all over the world. Besides being a familiar material, it’s durable and can withstand various weather conditions. You can creatively use concrete to create a diverse and sustainable home.

Concrete House Design Ideas


1. Konieczny’s Ark in Krakow, Poland

Konieczny’s Ark

Would a concrete house look out of place in a forest clearing? Well, yes and no. Look at Konieczny’s Ark, a project developed by KWK Promes in Krakow, Poland.

It’s a house-shaped by the site on which it stands. Given the remoteness of the location, security was an issue. So, the architects designed the house so that only one corner touches the ground while the rest of the building hangs over the hill’s edge.

 This solution also reduced the landslide risk as rainwater flowed under the house. So, even if this concrete box doesn’t seem to blend in at first, it’s actually very well adapted to its location.


2. Anako Architecture Concrete House in Switzerland

Anako Architecture Concrete House in Switzerland

The idea of living in a fortress can sound pretty awesome. You’d have plenty of privacy and security. But what would such a structure have to look like so it could more or less fit in a usual urban or rural setting? The answer is the house designed by Anako Architecture along the Rhone in Switzerland.

The project uses concrete as a primary material. And the house looks a lot like what would be a modern and stylized version of a fortress. It has an unusual form that mimics the Alps’ silhouettes visible in the distance. Walls of raw concrete define the facade. And they set a border between the interior spaces and the surroundings.


3. Modern Concrete House in Mexico City

Modern Concrete House in Mexico City

But not all concrete houses look like compact boxes or fortresses. This house in Mexico City proves that a concrete home can also be open to the surroundings. This was a project by JJRR/Arquitectura.

The architects made sure that the house took full advantage of its location. And especially the views by elevating the building 1.3 meters above the ground. Full-height windows and a green roof terrace allow the house to blend in and open up to the vast outdoors.


4. Glass and Concrete House in Argentina

Glass and Concrete House in Argentina

This house that tries to close itself off as much as possible in respect to the street and the neighbors. But this family home has surprisingly open spaces and facades. Moarqs + OTTOLENGHI blends concrete and glass to achieve this contrasting combination.

The design strategy was to have a more open ground floor and close the first floor making it private. Both floors have full-height glass walls. But the difference is that there’s a concrete shell that wraps around the upper floor. This frames the spaces and blocks the views while allowing them to be open to the courtyard.


5. The Jellyfish House

The Jellyfish House

This is the Jellyfish House, built by Wiel Arets Architects in Málaga, Spain. It’s an attractive house for several reasons. First, it’s an inspiration for other projects because of the way it overcomes the neighbors blocking the sea view.

They designed the house on four levels with a rooftop pool that cantilevers nine meters to the South-West. They designed it this way so that you can admire the views of the sea while relaxing on the terrace or swimming in the pool, which, by the way, has a glass bottom.


6. The U Retreat in South Korea

The U Retreat in South Korea

You’d think that a concrete house wouldn’t have much in common with nature, but you’d be wrong. Just look at this gorgeous retreat in South Korea. with its unique design; the cliff formations and trees were inspirations for the forms and layouts of the concrete structure.


7. Concrete House for Trees

Concrete House for Trees

Concrete and greenery are an excellent combo. And what better way to show you this than with a project called House for Trees? It’s a series by Vo Trong Nghia Architects developed in Ho Chi Minh City.

The main idea behind the project was to reconnect the city and nature by bringing more greenery into the area. This is the Binh House, one of the structures in the series. It has several terraces that act as small gardens. And you can also see the vegetation made its way inside the house.


8. Concrete Block House in Mexico City

Concrete Block House in Mexico City

Making a house look natural in its setting like it grew on the plot is no easy task. Yet architect Tatiana Bilbao did a great job designing this family home in Mexico City. The project is a five-sided concrete block that naturally emerges from the hillside. There’s panoramic views towards Monterrey. Each block is strategically oriented to capture and frame different landscape parts.


9. Belgian Inspired Concrete House

Belgian Inspired Concrete House

When dealing with a lot of concrete, it’s often nice to balance out its coldness with some warm wood elements. Studios Clauwers & Simon achieved this when designing this house in Belgium. They structured the building around a courtyard.

And created it as a tribute to Belgian architect Juliann Lampens. She is known for the extensive use of concrete inside and outside of the buildings designed back in the 1960’s. The timber and the views of the large garden soften the impact of the concrete in this particular case.


10. Crystal Shaped Concrete Home

Crystal Shaped Concrete Home

Sometimes we want our homes to blend in and to coordinate with its neighbors, but other times it’s nice to stand out. This three-story family home in Pliezhausen, close to Stuttgart, is one of those cases.

Steimle Architekten designed the house and gave it an unusual crystal-like shape. The angled concrete facades offer an unexpected advantage: beautiful views of the surroundings. It’s a design that opens the house to the outdoors in an unusual but significant way.

This house in Brissago, Switzerland looks simple, like a concrete monolith with cut out windows from place to place. It looks as if it’s been on that slope all along and only recently carved into a home. It’s a great look managed by Wespi de Meuron Romeo Architects. Because it sits on a steep slope, the houses have the top floor entrance and the parking lot up on the roof level. And the interior matches this look.


11. The City Villa in South Africa

The City Villa in South Africa

The geometry of the City Villa is fascinating. It’s the defining feature of the design ARRCC created just for this project. This is a modern family home located in South Africa. Its design is a collection of rectangular volumes placed on top of each other.

Some of these volumes cantilever to the sides, forming terraces. A stone wall contrasts with the concrete, adding texture and diversity to the design. Other contrasting elements include the brass front door, which was custom-designed, and all the glass surfaces.


12. The Concrete House in The Forest

The Concrete House in The Forest

This forest house is in Mar Azul, Argentina. BAK Architects it on a site full of challenges. The owners wanted it to be away from the sea and populated areas and serve as a private, intimate and remote refuge. At the same time, they tried to connect with nature and the landscape.

The architects responded with a single-level design for a structure with a concrete shell and vast openings. It sits on a flat section of the site, and it offers uninterrupted views of the surrounding landscape.


13. The Dune House in Buenos Aires

The Dune House in Buenos Aires

This dune house is located near Buenos Aires and was built by Luciano Kruk Arquitectos. It’s a concrete structure designed to be a summer house and enjoyed during the warmer months.

The site on which it stands has an uneven surface, sloping towards a pine forest. The house follows the natural topography of the land and becomes embedded into the slope. This helps it better communicate and blend in with the dune it traverses.

14. Wood And Concrete House in Southern France

Wood And Concrete House in Southern France

Another fascinating project on our list is a gorgeous concrete and wood house located in Southern France. Pascual Architecte studio designed it with large glass doors that open up the living spaces to the garden. And they provided a large circular skylight carved out into the terrace roof.

The skylight is an unexpected and unusual detail. It opens the outdoor spaces to views of the sky, and it lets more light into the kitchen, which is excellent, especially in the winter. What’s especially beautiful about this house is the concrete and the wood, two materials that complement each other.


15. Sci-fi Inspired Concrete Home

Sci-fi Inspired Concrete Home (1)

Located in Brazil, this beautiful house has an exciting design. The studio modeled it not after the surroundings, but after another place in a filming location for a sci-fi movie. Studio Costaveras Arquitetos used the location as a reference to come up with an original design.

Thus, this fantastic two-story concrete house with an organic connection to the outdoors. And it has a spacious, bright and inviting interior. It has its own home theater, and a beautiful balcony that frames a great view of the surroundings.


16. Spanish Concrete House with Neighboring Golf Course

Spanish Concrete House with Neighboring Golf Course

The inspiration for this concrete house in Spain was the site itself, overlooking a golf course. Studio Eneseis Arquitectura came up with a design, making most of the view. And also overcame the challenges presented by the location.

The site is uneven and has neighboring plots on all sides except for the one facing the golf course. As such, this became the focal point of the entire construction. The house is a U-shaped layout, allowing it to maintain the neighboring structure’s privacy and remain open towards the view. The palette of materials used throughout the project emphasize the landscape and scenery.


17. Space and Architecture Concrete House in San Francisco

Space and Architecture Concrete House in San Francisco

The owners chose a beautiful site in San Pancho, San Francisco, for the new home. The owners worked with RVO Studio to turn their vision into reality. They wanted a spacious, large house that felt like a holiday home and comfortable for long-term use.

The architects created a beautiful, three-level structure with two main areas. One was for everyday activities and the other for guests. They used concrete and bricks to give the exterior of the house a welcoming appearance.


18. CL76 House in Argentina

CL76 House in Argentina

This is the CL76 House, a modern and beautiful lakeside home in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It’s the result of a collaboration of El Aleph Arquitectura and Fritz and Fritz Arquitectos.

These two studios came up with a design that suits their client’s style and requirements. The house has a simple exterior, looking almost unfinished due to the exposed concrete surfaces. Significant, full-height windows point towards the lake, seamlessly blending the indoor and outdoor. The ground floor has easy access to the garden, the pool, and the terrace that frames it.


19. The Razor House in La Jolla, California

The Razor House in La Jolla, California

You should always take advantage of a great view. And the Razor House offers stunning views as it sits on the edge of a cliff, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Architect Wallace E. Cunningham built the Razor House in La Jolla, California, in 2007.

It has very sleek and sharp lines. And the side facing the ocean is glass, a vast panorama window providing a breathtaking view. The interior is spacious, modern, and inviting. And it features a two-story living area at the center with a curved staircase leading up to a lounge.