Column
 Concrete Houses
株式会社 SPAZIO建築設計事務所
株式会社 SPAZIO建築設計事務所

Concrete Houses｜Case Studies｜The Intrinsic Strength of Materials and Geometric Sculptural Beauty

Author: Qurasuki Editorial Department
Exposed cast-in-place concrete residences reveal the structural frame as the finished surface, allowing a restrained, unadorned formal language to stand out. By leveraging the high rigidity of reinforced concrete, designers can realize spatial freedom such as long spans and bold cantilevers. The robust sense of security inherent to the structure, together with the uniform gradations of gray that concrete produces, creates a tranquil atmosphere—a strong shelter protected from urban noise that offers occupants a taut, comforting spatial quality.

Concrete Houses

A Solid Concrete Façade in the Streetscape, Where Cedar Formwork Grain and Tie‑rod Marks Sculpt Shadow

Concrete Houses ｜Exterior

The exterior of exposed concrete makes a quiet but powerful statement in the streetscape through its solid presence. Its defining beauty is determined by meticulous detailing such as the selection of formwork and the spacing of tie rods and other formwork fixings. Using cedar-board formwork to imprint a wood-grain texture onto the concrete surface creates subtle relief that casts delicate shadows under sunlight. In practice, this textured surface is preserved by applying appropriate penetrating water repellents and treatments so that the material’s innate character is maintained while a refined appearance is sustained.

Concrete Houses × Exterior

A Living Room Harmonizing a Rigid Materiality with Solid Wood, Achieving Large Openings through Strategic Load‑Bearing Wall Placement

Concrete Houses ｜Living Room

In family living areas, an open, generous plan is achievable by judiciously arranging the load-bearing walls that ensure the building’s seismic performance. Exploiting the characteristics of reinforced concrete—placing required shear walls and columns in considered locations—allows for planning large glazing openings and expansive living spaces. This creates continuity with gardens and terraces, gently connecting interior and exterior. The inorganic tactility of exposed concrete, when paired with solid woods such as oak or walnut and high-quality textiles, yields a rich palette and a comfortable, contrapuntal expression within the space.

Concrete Houses × Living Room

A Dynamic Atrium Emphasizing Vertical Lines, Where Natural Light from Skylights Gently Traverses Exposed Walls

Concrete Houses ｜Atrium

A double‑height void in concrete becomes a dynamic vertical space that capitalizes on the material’s high stiffness. It is straightforward to compose large atria and continuous wall planes, producing an expansive spatial experience that links upper and lower floors. Natural light entering from skylights or high windows at the crown flows down the exposed concrete surfaces, dramatically altering the interior’s appearance through the course of the day. The subdued texture of concrete accentuates the play of light and shadow, resulting in a large-scale space that nevertheless conveys a calm, museum‑like stillness.

Concrete Houses × Atrium

Staircases That Add Lightness to Concrete Spaces by Resolving Details through Steel and Natural Wood

Concrete Houses ｜Stairs

Within the weighty atmosphere characteristic of concrete, the staircase becomes an ideal locus for crafting compelling encounters between materials. With the robust concrete structure serving as the support platform, it is relatively straightforward to design lightweight steel-framed open-riser stairs or cantilevered stairs that appear to float from the wall. Integrating internal steel elements and concealed fixings achieves both structural reliability and refined detailing. This approach contrasts the massiveness of concrete with perceived lightness and permeability. Applying tactile solid-wood treads or other finely resolved finishes elevates the staircase into a sculptural object within the space.

Concrete Houses × Stairs