8 Statement-Making Black Buildings
As one commenter on popular design site Dezeen put it: “What is this fetish with black or burned-timber structures?” It’s true: There’s been a burgeoning interest in the architecture world for this singular aesthetic. Some call it goth, others basic; either way, the result is undeniably striking, in every case highlighting the simple geometries of these inky structures. In our search for some of the best examples of buildings en noir, we uncovered gems like Rodic Davidson Architects’ dramatic take on a shore house in the seaside county of Kent, England. The firm played with the region’s vernacular, using blackened timber reminiscent of the bitumen-stained siding of traditional Dungeness fishing huts. Or there’s Odile Decq’s looming Saint-Ange residence in Seyssins, France, a monolith that seemingly erupts from a hillside in country’s Grenoble wine region. And those are just a few: Read on to see more of the bewitching buildings pushing the boundaries of this all-black trend.
North Vat House, Kent, England
Rodic Davidson Architects Completed earlier this year, Rodic Davidson Architects’ North Vat House makes a bold statement against the sandy coastline of England’s Dungeness beach. The London-based firm took inspiration from local fishing huts, using sleek glass passageways to connect three simple black-stained gabled structures.
Troll Hus, Donner Summit, California
Mork-Ulnes Pulling inspiration from its home bases in Oslo and northern California, Mork-Ulnes offers a dramatic take on the classic ski chalet in Troll Hus. With tar-coated timber exteriors and a concrete base, the Lake Tahoe home is a Brutalist-Alpine love child.
Villa S, Flatanger, Norway
Saunders Architecture Norway-based Saunders Architecture created the snaking structure that is Villa S in the country’s coastal region of Flatanger. Home to none other than firm principal Todd Saunders, the residence is, in the architect’s words, purely functional, each geometry distinguishing a different area of use.
Le Jeune Residence, Montreal
Architecture Open Form A historic Montreal home received a dramatic face-lift from Maxime Moreau of MXMA, formerly Architecture Open Form, who restored the building’s original wood exterior and then stained it black. The result is a standout on an otherwise traditional block in the city’s Plateau-Mont-Royal neighborhood.
Cabin Vindheim, Lillehammer, Norway
Vardehaugen Creating a haunting juxtaposition against Norway’s snowy landscape, the architects at Oslo-based Vardehaugen studio used simple, low-hanging forms in Cabin Vindheim. Covered in black-stained pine, the Lillehammer residence adapts to become a ramp for winter sports when it snows.
Corbett Residence, Bahama, North Carolina
In Situ Studio A trend on this list seems to be black houses in the middle of forests, and In Situ Studio’s Corbett Residence is no exception. Clad in blackened wood, the North Carolina home is a long box whose shape recalls the work of modern greats like Philip Johnson and Mies van der Rohe.
Wallace Street House, Vancouver
Leckie Studio Leckie Studio employed the traditional Japanese practice of shou sugi ban by burning the wood siding on its Wallace Street House, preserving the exterior material and protecting it from potential mold and pest harm. Also unique about this Vancouver residence is its passive energy status, meaning that it requires a marginal amount of energy for heating and cooling.
Fahouse, Eastern Townships, Quebec
Jean Verville In Fahouse, architect Jean Verville put a playful spin on the simple A-frame silhouette with a series of mismatched windows puncturing its black corrugated-steel siding. No space is wasted inside, where features like lofted beds make use of the residence’s soaring ceilings.