Modern concrete homes.

[Vic Vega]

I became interested in modern concrete homes about twelve years ago and spent a few years learning but eventually gave it up. Things have really advanced in this industry though and I would love to build one.

Let's get even geekier. Who remembers the farmer's house in Knights of the Old Republic on Dantooine (could be another planet, trying to remember). I remember playing the game thinking it was an amazing house and I'd love to build something like it. Well, someone did:

http://worthgem.blogspot.com/2010/08/modern-concrete-house.html

Anyway, it's an interesting subject to me and there are lots of possibilities. Right now my wife and I have a traditional southern colonial three story home, built in 1987, and it's lovely. It also isn't much different from homes built in this part of the country in 1887 or 1787. In fact, not far away are homes from the late 1880s which look about the same, just smaller dimensionally. I would love to "move" into the next century and build a modern, self suffient home.

Some more examples. The Europeans have done more to further this design than anyone else in the last few years. Most of the homes you see online are in somewhere in Europe, mostly in Germanic counties, or strangely, in Brazil.

 

[Howard]

I like ICFs a lot.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Those look awesome! If I lived in a hurricane or tornado prone region I'd totally build all concrete like that.

I wonder how well these do in long term though. Wood can flex/expand etc without cracking, concrete is not as tolerant of that. Guess as long as the foundation is very good, and all concrete is water sealed and there is no possibility of standing water, should be fine.

 

[Howard]

Those look awesome! If I lived in a hurricane or tornado prone region I'd totally build all concrete like that.

I wonder how well these do in long term though. Wood can flex/expand etc without cracking, concrete is not as tolerant of that. Guess as long as the foundation is very good, and all concrete is water sealed and there is no possibility of standing water, should be fine.

Have you not seen concrete used in wet environments before?

 

[Vic Vega]

This thing is awesome. Simple design, very functional, clean, bold. Needs a garage.

http://www.trendir.com/house-design/hovering-house-among-the-treetops.html#more

 

[K1052]

You can do a lot of cool stuff with concrete and low-e insulated glazing these days. If I ever did a custom built house I'd probably do something along the lines of picture #3 in the OP.

 

[mmntech]

Those look awesome! If I lived in a hurricane or tornado prone region I'd totally build all concrete like that.

I wonder how well these do in long term though. Wood can flex/expand etc without cracking, concrete is not as tolerant of that. Guess as long as the foundation is very good, and all concrete is water sealed and there is no possibility of standing water, should be fine.

Concrete is a great building material for houses. Doesn't rot, weathers exceptionally well, resists extreme weather. It'll handle as much as any other reinforced concrete structure. Especially since the loads on a house are a lot less than a bridge or office tower.

Unfortunately, lumber is just a lot cheaper. It's amazing how quickly and how cheaply they can slap together a house these days. Of course build quality is rubbish, then they have the gall to charge $500k for it. Building concrete structures like the ones above requires a more specialized workforce. Welders, carpenters, engineers. Timber houses are all pre-cut and get assembled like a Guillows model kit. Insert 2x4 A into slot B. Any idiot can do it.

 

[Vic Vega]

http://www.trendir.com/house-design/platform-house-design-overlooking-hudson-river.html#more

Reminds me of Kevin Flynn's house from Tron Legacy.

A little open for me, but awesome.

 

[MichaelD]

I'm all for concrete-based structures...but not in the same sense as discussed here. All that GLASS provides a great view but lets too much sunlight in, increasing your cooling costs. Also, from a security POV, glass is easily breechable. I'd hate to be sitting in my living room with my family, looking out at our 3903 square mile view when two lowlifes break a window with a tree branch and threaten my family. Just another POV. I love concrete...just less glass in the home design, please.

 

[Rastus]

Those houses suck. Flat roofs and all that overhanging stuff. Maintenance costs will be enormous and every one of those houses will be torn down within 50 years.

 

[Vic Vega]

The glass isn't a huge deal to me, and in the winter you want that light coming in. In the summer you can draw the shades.

Here's a non "glassy" home in Israel. I quite like it. Interior is great.

http://freshome.com/2012/03/16/modern-concrete-home-with-spacious-interiors-in-israel/

 

[Vic Vega]

Those houses suck. Flat roofs and all that overhanging stuff. Maintenance costs will be enormous and every one of those houses will be torn down within 50 years.

You know Edison was building these homes in 1880 and they are still around.

Edit: Looks like we have our first traditional home builder here. It's funny if you are into concrete structures at all, you know that there is basically opposition to them from the traditional stick built, super cheap, slap it up in 45 day home builders who do just enough to pass code but don't really care beyond that.

 

[Rastus]

You know Edison was building these homes in 1880 and they are still around.

Frank Lloyd Wright was too and most of his aren't for that very reason.

 

[lxskllr]

A cousin of mine has a concrete house that was built in the late 50s. The interesting thing is it's a traditional house made from concrete. A single story house with concrete siding. It looks like wood from a distance.

I'm not a fan of modern architecture, to live in. They look nifty from an artistic perspective, but don't feel like home to me.

 

[SSSnail]

The only concrete house you'd ever need.

 

[Vic Vega]

That's certainly interesting. Link?

 

[MichaelD]

The glass isn't a huge deal to me, and in the winter you want that light coming in. In the summer you can draw the shades.

Here's a non "glassy" home in Israel. I quite like it. Interior is great.

http://freshome.com/2012/03/16/modern-concrete-home-with-spacious-interiors-in-israel/

:thumbsup: Now that's my kind of house. Especially considering it appears to have automatic shades on all the windows. Considering this house is in Israel, this isn't surprising (not sarcastic, just factual). The space underneath the master BR is wasted space, ergo the "xenoscaping" with nothing but gravel....I'd build...a shed or something there. My wife would hate this house...she's more of the "Lots of glass so we can have great views" type. It's going to be so much fun when we build our house in a year or so. :\

 

[MichaelD]

Best_house_ever. My wife would divorce me before she'd move there.

The only concrete house you'd ever need.

 

[zanejohnson]

i think they are awesome!