Board-Formed Concrete And Curves Poise This House As A True Modernist

Neil Cownie Architecture firm builds the Roscommon House with board-formed concrete. Located in Perth, Australia, specifically in Floreat, the client requires the home to respect and draw on the modernist history of the area. The design revolves around the client’s passion for modernism, concrete, and grey timber board finished concrete houses. The concrete buildings of South City Beach Kiosk inspire the structure’s design.

The wonderful thing about working with concrete is the liquid nature of the poured concrete prior to it setting as a sort of ‘liquid stone’. This allows the molds that hold the concrete to define the finished texture.

Neil Cownie Architect

The team achieves the aesthetic board-formed concrete by sandblasting the surface of the timber board to expose the grain. The board forms the mold, and then liquid concrete is poured, resulting in a stunning textured timber grain finish to the concrete. This design element is dominant throughout the house’s exterior and interior.

The residential home poses itself like a single-story house from the street perspective. It responds to the client’s wish for an understated place from the outside. From a bird’s eye view, the house reveals itself as a complex structure. It has a fluid-shaped outdoor pool, hovering concrete roof, rooftop deck, and multiple courtyards.

Curves are evident throughout the home, from the hovering roof and stairs to the cabinetry. Some pieces of furniture take on a fluid form as well. The architect’s team creates a coherent style for the whole house.

The pops of color in the interior details and furniture contrast the dominant gray tones. Light turquoise-colored hand-pressed cement tiles fit in the pool area. Colored window pane glasses inspired by Le Corbusier’s Ronchomp Chapel also grant the interior. Hints of brass on wall panels, fittings, and edge trims elevate the timber accents. Moreover, the hues of red and indigo blues and vivid fabric create a zesty vibe in the home. Ultimately, the effective and efficient layering of materials adds warmth to the concrete house.

Photo credits: Michael Nicholson and Robert Frith