Back to Black: 14 Beautiful Houses Clad in Every Architect’s Favorite Shade

“In our culture, stereotypical portrayals of architects are rampant, with the caricatures showing them as overworked, underpaid artistic wannabes shrouded in black.”

Lidija Grozdanic’s perfect summary of the clichés embodied by our profession is accurate on at least one point — architects adore black. Not just for clothes, though: Obsidian hues are often harnessed in their architecture, too, in order to summon a deep contrast with the both natural surroundings and light-filled interiors. Pitch black cladding also serves to diminish the materiality of a building, instead allowing a structure’s form and profile to make the maximum impact.

Many of the houses below are designed as silhouettes that need no backlight, popping against blue skies in daytime and allowing warm glows to emanate by night. In more wintry conditions (see Avanto Architects’ Four-cornered Villa in Vaskivesi, Finland), they providing an even greater contrast with the natural landscape. Ultimately, these projects inspire a sense of mystery, encouraging us to peak behind the midnight shades and experience the concealed spaces within. This is the architecture of the anti-color — and we love it.

360 Houseby Subarquitectura, Galapagar, Spain

Four-cornered Villaby Avanto Architects Ltd, Vaskivesi, Finland

Villa Abborrkroken i Överbyby John Robert Nilsson Arkitektkontor, Stockholm Archipelago

Stealth Barnby Carl Turner Architects, UK

Agudela Houseby Rui Cerqueira Barros,Matosinhos, Portugal

Matroyshkaby Buro Bill, Antwerp, Belgium

Bunker HousebyVaSLab, Lopburi, Thailand

Little Black DressbyX Architekten, Gunskirchen, Austria

Archipelago HousebyTham & Videgård Arkitekter, Stockholm Archipelago

Casa Spodsbjerg by Arkitema Architects, Rudkøbing, Denmark

Trish House YaldingbyMatthew Heywood Limited, Sevenoaks, UK

The Black HousebyAndres Remy Arquitecto, Buenos Aires

Casa MartinbyALT arquitectura, Valdetorres de Jarama, Spain

House O, Jun Igarashi Architects, Hokkaido, Japan

#0045 Chro-e #01byRats-architects, Kumamoto, Japan

For more examples of just why black is beautiful — particularly in residential architecture — check out “18 Dark Residential Products Bringing Sexy Back“.