photo: Mirra Arnardottir - © ARKÍS Arkitektar

Who Needs Concrete? 12 Minimalist Homes Made Of Wood

You don’t need raw concrete to achieve cool minimalist architecture — try timber instead.

James Bartolacci James Bartolacci

Architects: Showcase your work and find the perfect materials for your next project through Architizer. Manufacturers: To connect with the world’s largest architecture firms, sign up now.

From the Colosseum to Corbusier, concrete has been the favored material of architects since the Ancient Roman Empire. Made up of Portland cement, water and aggregate, the composite is praised for its raw, unfinished aesthetic, especially when used in minimalist design. However, concrete has also earned a reputation for appearing cold and alienating when placed alongside vernacular architecture (and it gets worse when used in poorly designed buildings).

For those who appreciate the elegance of minimalist concrete homes like the Villa Savoye, but don’t want to become the neighborhood scrooge, wood makes the perfect substitute. From pinewood to timber, light tones to dark hues, wood is rich in appearance and highly versatile in construction, yet can still achieve a stripped-back aesthetic. When used in minimalist home designs, the natural character of wood makes the façade warm and welcoming. Browse through our collection of alluring minimalist homes that trade in the gloominess of concrete for the splendor of wood.

Ridge Road Residence, by studiofour, Australia:

© studiofour

© studiofour

© studiofour

© studiofour

Beach House Mornington, by Clare Cousins Architects, Melbourne:

© Clare Cousins Architects

© Clare Cousins Architects

© Clare Cousins Architects

© Clare Cousins Architects

Pit House, by UID architects, Okayama Prefecture, Japan:

© UID architects

© UID architects

© UID architects

© UID architects

Photos: Koji Fujii/Nacása & Partners Inc

Villa Lóla, by ARKÍS Arkitektar, Vaðalaheiði, Iceland:

photo: Mirra Arnardottir - © ARKÍS Arkitektar

photo: Mirra Arnardottir - © ARKÍS Arkitektar

photo: Mirra Arnardottir - © ARKÍS Arkitektar

photo: Mirra Arnardottir - © ARKÍS Arkitektar

Photos by Mirra Arnardottir

Ogaki House, Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates, Japan:

© Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

© Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

© Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

© Katsutoshi Sasaki + Associates

Bal House, by Terry & Terry Architecture, Menlo Park, California:

Cabin Inside/Out, by Reiulf Ramstad Architects, Hvaler, Norway:

House Berg Isel, by Elmar Ludescher Architekt, Berg Isel, Austria:

© Ludescher + Lutz Architekten

© Ludescher + Lutz Architekten

© Ludescher + Lutz Architekten

© Ludescher + Lutz Architekten

Summer House in Southern Burgenland, by Judith Benzer Architektur, Burgenland, Austria:

© Judith Benzer Architektur

© Judith Benzer Architektur

© Judith Benzer Architektur

© Judith Benzer Architektur

Torquay House, by Wolveridge Architects, Torquay, Austrialia:

Photo: Derek Swalwell - © Wolveridge Architects

Photo: Derek Swalwell - © Wolveridge Architects

Photo: Derek Swalwell - © Wolveridge Architects

Photo: Derek Swalwell - © Wolveridge Architects

Tigh Port na Long, Dualchas Architects, Isle of Skye, UK:

photo: Andrew Lee - © Dualchas Architects

photo: Andrew Lee - © Dualchas Architects

photo: Andrew Lee - © Dualchas Architects

photo: Andrew Lee - © Dualchas Architects

Minimal Family House, by A.LT ARCHITEKTI v.o.s, Zbečno, Czech Republic:

photo: Tomas Rasl - © A.LT ARCHITEKTI v.o.s

photo: Tomas Rasl - © A.LT ARCHITEKTI v.o.s

photo: Tomas Rasl - © A.LT ARCHITEKTI v.o.s

photo: Tomas Rasl - © A.LT ARCHITEKTI v.o.s

If, in spite of this collection, you’re still addicted to the achingly cool aesthetic of concrete, check out 7 Beautiful, Brutal Japanese Homes or these 10 Perfect Minimalist Interiors. For more sleek, sophisticated wood homes, click here.

Find all your architectural materials through Architizer: Click here to sign up now. Are you a manufacturer looking to connect with architects? Click here.

Photography by Tomas Rasl

Read more articles by James
architecture jobs architizer architect career

Recruiting Is Hard for Architecture Firms. We’re Here to Help

Join the likes of BIG, Handel Architects and Workshop/APD and find your next hire on Architizer.

Cloud Computing for Architects

How Architects Can Supercharge Their Project Workflow Using the Cloud

Cloud computing is now sophisticated enough to synchronize architectural projects from concept to co nstruction.

+