Uncover the beauty of seven homes across the UK and Australia, each boasting shiny metal exteriors. From new builds to extensions, these residences showcase the versatility of metal in architecture. But here's where it gets controversial: while some embrace the sleekness of aluminum, others might argue that it lacks the warmth of traditional materials. Let's explore these unique designs and their impact on the architectural landscape.
Stewart House, Australia
Australian practice SSdH renovated a single-storey brick home in Melbourne, creating new openings while preserving its 1970s character. Contrasting the brick, aluminum was used to frame a full-height window and a projecting window box at the home's rear, as well as for reflective surfaces across the interior.
Tabberner Cook House, UK
Local studio James Alder Architects chose zinc panels and aluminum-framed glazing to complement its brick-clad timber extension to the Tabberner Cook House in south London. Inside, the spacious extension houses rooms for gardening and bicycle maintenance, along with a new kitchen, which is crowned with an exposed waffle-slab ceiling and integrated skylight.
Bondi House, Australia
Located in Sydney, Bondi House's minimalist design is defined by its translucent and reflective exterior, which has been clad with polycarbonate screens and metal louvers. Completed by local studio Nick Kent Design, the two-storey home sits on a narrow plot and is composed of a lightweight, steel-framed structure that allows the home to be easily reconfigured in the future.
Red Hill House and Studio, Australia
A 'robust palette' of stone, concrete, and steel was used to transform this Brisbane cottage into a home and studio for the founders of Australian practice Zuzana & Nicholas. The materiality was used to maintain a division between the ground-floor studio and the home above, with a more utilitarian palette of exposed concrete and metal used across the lower level.
Covent Garden Apartment, UK
London-based architecture studio Carmody Groarke overhauled this Grade II-listed penthouse apartment in London, adding a glazed kitchen extension and sheltered rooftop terrace. The studio used slanted panels of 25-millimetre-thick aluminum to construct the shelter, which were arranged to mimic the spacing of windows in the building below.
Proclamation House, Australia
Aluminium awnings contrast with the olive-toned exterior of Proclamation House, a light-filled family home in western Australia completed by architecture studio State of Kin. Defined by its sculptural concrete form, which is coated in hemp render, the home sits on the former site of a derelict dwelling and accommodates a couple and one of their elderly parents.
House on a Hill, UK
London studio Hugh Strange Architects restored and extended this hillside Victorian home with a series of stepped timber volumes clad with metal. Looking to reinstate the home's connection to its terraced concrete garden, the studio added a rear extension composed of three glazed volumes complete with green roofs and galvanised steel elements.
And this is the part most people miss: while metal exteriors offer a modern aesthetic, they also present unique challenges in terms of maintenance and durability. So, what do you think? Do you prefer the sleekness of metal or the warmth of traditional materials? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
