Silver Skins: 7 Rippling Corrugated Houses

Corrugated sheets are composed of metal that is galvanized and cold-rolled to produce an instantly recognizable building material. This pattern is commonly used in agricultural or industrial buildings because of the high bending strength of the sheet in the perpendicular direction, as well as the low maintenance needed.

Today, the benefits of corrugated sheets are being translated into residential architecture for a variety of reasons, both practical and aesthetic. As these sheets are lightweight, sturdy, inexpensive and easy to source, many architects are employing them to create models of affordable housing systems. Furthermore, the low maintenance costs and opportunities for recycling make the material an ideal candidate for inexpensive modular or prefab housing that can be easily produced and constructed.

Many contemporary architects are also combining corrugated patterns with both traditional and nontraditional materials for their distinctive aesthetic qualities. By using the sheets as skins that envelope a building, architects are able to create a unique textural look for simple orthogonal homes. The following seven projects show different ways in which architects are using corrugated sheets for their residential designs. Whether their approach is oriented towards practicality or aestheticism, these projects occupy a sweet spot where form meets function:

Starter Home* No 1 by OJT (Office of Jonathan Tate), New Orleans, La., United States

The Starter Home is part of an urban housing program created to develop low-budget homes. The corrugated façade makes the Starter Home affordable while giving it a modern look.

Studio R-1 by architecten|en|en, Eindhoven, Netherlands

This studio was built for a client who wanted to convert an indoor garage into a workspace. The corrugated aluminum skin is reminiscent of the original garage, while creating a workspace that is airy and modern.

House in Ishikiriby Tato Architects / You Shimada, Amagasaki, Japan

The architects of this home mixed different styles and materials to create a design that blends in with a variety of elements in the site environment.

Tsai Residence by HHF Architects, Ancram, N.Y., United States

The continuous corrugated skin of this residence creates a stark contrast with its smooth interior volumes.

House in Yamasaki by Tato Architects / You Shimada, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan

The architects of this Japanese home used corrugated panels to create translucent spaces while programming private spaces in the basement level. The material allows natural light to illuminate whole interior volumes.

Tower House by Benjamin Waechter, Architect, Portland, Ore., United States

The dark-colored corrugated material acts as a continuous skin that envelopes this tower home, with windows and balconies dispersed throughout the vertical structure.

House in Izumi-Ohmiya by Tato Architects / You Shimada, Osaka, Japan

A warehouse was converted into a residential space. The exterior walls are covered with corrugated steel plates that insulate the home while giving it a modern industrial look.