Brutalist architecture has come a long way since its original peak back in the late 1950s to 60s. Back then, institutional buildings and social housing projects projected a cold and austere nature that became associated with totalitarianism by the late 1970s, and so fell out of favour. Now we’re seeing an exciting comeback of reinforced concrete and steel exteriors, cast in modular volumes to build great hulking triumphs and unique private residences. Brutalism (coined from a play on the French ‘béton brut’, meaning ‘raw concrete’) is graphic, geometric, and toys with the negative space, all of which make it incredibly appealing to the minimalist mindset of today.
Architect:RP Arquitectos
Frame the setting. The negative space created at the centre of this inspiring brutalist structure takes on the appearance of a serene blue skyscape, as though it were an art piece mounted on a raw concrete gallery wall.
Visualizer:Anna Życka
Cut through with vivid colour. A stunning red support column and coordinating red window frames electrify this cold concrete mass with hot bolts of creativity. Love dark facades? Don’t forget to check out our post on black houses for more.
Architect:Stemmer Rodrigues Arquitetura
Utilise elements of natural landscape. A massive concrete volume weighs heavy on the upper floor of this brutalist home design, with one corner perfectly propped on natural rock. Exterior uplighters have been positioned around its base to exaggerate its effect.
Architect:Andramatin
Concrete canopies. This Indonesian home design incorporates great concrete eaves that stretch as much as six metres wide. They have been designed in response to the high rain precipitation in Bandung, and as shelter from direct sunlight.
Architect:REIMS 502
The majesty of monolithic slabs. Solid stone slabs stacked one atop the other build a sense of impressive immoveable scale.
Architect:RP Arquitectos
Jenga! Perpendicular blocks build the rising stories of this mesmerizing home. skillfully toying with the weighty aesthetic.
Architect:Steimle Architekten
Solid and succinct. This modern home exterior can’t easily be remodeled or changed, and so will remain the way the architect intended. The feeling of permanence that Brutalism brings is particularly attractive in our fast paced, quick changing and disposable modern culture.
Architect:Alter Studio
Forge a fortress. The front entrance of this house looks like an impenetrable force. All windows are tucked around to the side elevations to maintain a solid face.
Visualizer:Luisö Ramos
Carve out a cleft. A dominating tower has been sliced through from top to bottom to release a beam of warm light to the exterior. The cleft exaggerates the linear nature of the architecture, and creates a magnetising draw to the facade.
Visualizer:Luisö Ramos
One for the art lover. Cutaways in this concrete facade create a sculptural effect. The entire piece reads like a series of giant art pieces, and even incorporates a huge plinth between the driveway and entry ramp.
Architect:Sanjay Puri Architects
Architect:Giuseppe Perugini| Photographer:Oliver Astrologo
Lofted geometrics. Cubes and spheres are elevated on a great concrete framework, like a hulking treehouse.
Architect:Robertson Design
Regain natural balance. This brutalist home limits concrete to the lower floor of the exterior only. Up on top, walls are fully clad with natural timber to bring balance between cold and warmth, man-made and natural.
Architect:Robertson Design
Can’t leave out cantilevered. There is something so very dangerously thrilling about seeing a gigantic block of concrete suspended over mid air.
Visualizer:Oscar Pastor
Anyone for a dip? The linear nature of the brutalist house aesthetic lends itself perfectly to the accompaniment of a long sparkling swimming pool.
Architect:Ludwig Godefroy
The perfect prop. A somewhat slender support leg props up one end of this home’s huge concrete mass. A rounded cutout makes the enduring strength of the piece seem even less likely, and even more wondrous.
Architect:Di Frenna Arquitectos
Softened by nature. Despite the imposing scale of Casa Entreparotas, the two story concrete structure is effectively feathered around its edges by soft natural vegetation. Find more snaps here .
Architect:Querkopf Architekten
The power of invisibility. The ground floor of this amazing building is made entirely of glass walls, which makes it disappear beneath its concrete crowning piece. See the interiors of this home here .
Visualizer:Sergey Makhno Architects
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. This terraced Japanese garden house, located in the suburbs of Kyiv, Ukraine, looks toward a garden view through a giant eye cut into its facade. More snaps in the original post: A Terraced Japanese Garden House Filled With Sculptural Art .
Visualizer:Amey Kandalgaonkar
Reinterpret tradition. Traditional Chinese house characteristics, such as distinctive curved sloping rooflines, multiple courtyards, and an opaque wraparound wall were reimagined to form this unique modernist house.
Visualizer:Amey Kandalgaonkar
On the rocks. This breathtaking architectural concept house on a rockface is the stuff brutalist architect dreams are built of.
Architect:FORM/Kouichi Kimura Architects
Step it up. The roofline of this formidable structure ascends on either side, like a giant’s imperial staircase.
Architect:Architectural Studio Chado| Visualizer:Valentin Shkuro
Bricks make a solid addition to brutalist architecture. In this design, grey brickwork builds chunky columns under an extended canopy / first floor terrace.
Photographer:Shoot2Sell
Carry on with the curves. A love of Brutalist architecture doesn’t mean that you have to forgo curvaceous outlines. Rounded ‘turrets’ give this home a castle-like appearance. A winding pathway compliments the look.
Visualizer:New Millennium Design
Clear balance. Glass volumes are set diagonally across from each other in the upper and lower stories here, creating a visual balance of negative space around a concrete core.
Architect:Spasm Design
Ribbed wall panels and slatted room dividers are all the rage in interiors. In this design, a similar texture trend is translated to the exterior using Dhrangadhra sand stone.
Visualizer:Phạm Minh Quang
Another textured concept, this time with matching boundary walls and garden fences.
Visualizer:Rafael Biasus
Once thought to be undesirably utilitarian, Brutalism now transcends cool minimalism.
Architect:Pitsou Kedem
Brutalism ahoy! Portholes are cut out along the elongated face of this unique house exterior, as though it were a beached boat.
Architect:IDMM Architects
Got a penchant for pegboard walls? Well then this hole punched place might pique your interest. Massive perforations bore through dense concrete walls to lighten their look, as well as to let natural sunlight enter the volumes behind.
Via:MR Arch
Straighten out the landscape. You almost don’t notice the severe slope of the natural landscape here, thanks to the unrelenting determination of the linear architectural design.
Visualizer:Adam Spychała
This time, a design by Adam Spychała works along with the natural slope of the landscape rather than against it. Great sloping sides pull up from a dropped driveway to pause at the main floor, before continuing all the way into the roofline. Let’s take a look at some of the most whimsical of Spychała’s stunning concepts…
Visualizer:Adam Spychała
… Brutalism has landed, and it looks like a spaceship.
Visualizer:Adam Spychała
This one could be alien life, or it could be the home of a steam punk fan.
Visualizer:Adam Spychała
This build definitely smacks of interplanetary colonisation. Round windows look out upon the wild landscape.
Visualizer:Adam Spychała
The lookout tower. Round windows gather around the top of this leggy structure, like a cubist meets Brutalist interpretation of a spiders head.
Visualizer:Adam Spychała
Geometric love. Circle cutouts and zigzagging V-beams form bold geo designs.
Visualizer:Adam Spychała
Lording over the landscape. This spectacular angular modern house appears to push straight out of the forest floor, growing toward the sun with the rest of the lush canopy.
Visualizer:Adam Spychała
Jagged rocks meets jagged architecture.
Visualizer:Adam Spychała
Concrete concertinas. These linked diamond supports portray the illusion that the house can rise and fall at will– with the imagined sound effect of a massive accordian!
Visualizer:Adam Spychała
Blowing out the boundaries. The walls around this house design are blown outward, as though a gift box has burst open to reveal the gifts inside.
Visualizer:Adam Spychała
Another skillfully executed sloping concept, this time with added to greenery to meld even further with the environment.
Visualizer:Adam Spychała
Mysterious and immovable, this modern masterpiece is tailored with precision. Mirror image double layered walls mark a boundary at either end of the linear form, and support a sharp roof terrace design. A car port is richly lined with wood panels to contrast with the austere precast concrete.
Visualizer:Adam Spychała
Make easy transitions to outdoor staircases. Concrete is an easy choice when it comes to the fabrication of outdoor staircases. So, when your house is made of raw concrete as well, it’s smooth sailing to uniting the two.
Visualizer:Adam Spychała
If we had a build site on an abandoned beach, then this blueprint would be high on our list.
Visualizer:Adam Spychała
Another seaside stunner.
Visualizer:Adam Spychała
A cutaway terrace makes this a sun worshippers paradise…
Visualizer:Adam Spychała
… And this one too.
Visualizer:Adam Spychała
Like a beached mighty whale, the mouth of this building gapes open, with no windows to be seen.
Visualizer:Adam Spychała
Cool and cropped. Cold concrete draws low lines into this flat plot, with interest added via a geometric and sloping side silhouette.
Visualizer:Adam Spychała
Car lovers Brutalist house exterior. When your concrete house looks like a futuristic car, complete with four hexagonal ‘wheels’ then you know you’ve hit top fan status. We would have added in a Tesla Cybertruck to complete the look.
Approximately 5600 square metres of land in Bandung, Indonesia, became the build site for this luxury family home. Architectural firm Andramatin , known for their clean and modern approach to architecture, designed the IH Residence in solid volumes of raw concrete and vast plains of glass. A huge structure with abundant functions was realised, whilst the vastness of the landscape was retained. It follows the nature of the elongated and sloping site with a long indented footprint, centrally positioned to facilitate cross-ventilation from the town’s cool and crisp climate. Plentiful terraces, balconies, and wide pools around the perimeter bring balance to the building’s dominating mass.
Bandung, in West Java province, has high rain precipitation each year. In response to this climate the house has been given a wide set of eaves to take on the rainfall, as well as to shelter the interior from direct sunlight. They stretch as far as six metres, overhanging the terraces and pools.
A brutalist house exterior rises out of the green landscape, which equates to around the same square footage as the house itself.
There are many trees around the plot, some of which line the edge of the huge outdoor pool.
Glass walls open the home interior up to the beautiful natural views that surround it. The clear glass facade also helps in making the overall mass of the imposing structure to appear lighter.
Because of the low density neighborhood and the sheer scale of the site, onlooking neighbours are not of any concern to the owners of the glass sided house.
Across the sloping nature of the site, the landscape inspires a playful emphasis on different build heights and varying circulations.
Long ramps and elongated corridors are complimented with reflecting pools and peaceful views.
Despite the lack of onlooking neighbours, the feeling of intimacy was still food for thought. The slope climbs from the south to the north, and at the North the landscape has been carved away. This means that the building at this end rests inside a cosy enclosure deep within its own perimeter.
Inside the home there is an open airy flow of lounge meets kitchen and dining room. Spacious expanses of glossy floor stretch the walkways between all three. The back of an L-shaped modern sofa marks a clear border around the lounge, cornering a rectangle coffee table . A stylish lounge chair duo are seated on the other edge of the area rug to face the garden view. An Arco floor lamp adds height to the furniture arrangement.
The rectangle dining table is a huge solid wood and concrete piece of craftsmanship, teamed with Wegner wishbone style dining chairs . A delicate glass chandelier glints in the daylight, falling from a raw concrete ceiling.
In another seating area, Two Wegner Style CH25 easy chairs and two Wegner style shell chairs encircle a round coffee table .
The bedroom is encased in a border of rich wood closets, other than one massive wall of glass doors that open out onto the poolside.
Even the bathroom is opened up to the view. A luxury freestanding bathtub and a huge shower enclosure soak up the sights.
The same rich wood tone and neutral hues flow through the entire house, to form one flowing sense of calm and serenity.
A wood and glass modern staircase design climbs by a Koi fish pond.
A majestic tree grows at the centre of the reflection pool.
This beauty spot visually connects two volumes of the house.
Vast terraces draw the footprint of the house wider and longer.
nterior light spills out over the pools and decks late at night.
Outdoor LEDs prick pinholes of light in the lawn, and dramatise the trees.
Tropical plants dot the borders.
Concrete columns march along an outdoor corridor.
Secretive wood panels conceal hidden doorways.
A side view of the first bedroom we visited reveals that a home workspace is tucked discreetly behind the headboard. The glass wall bathroom is not so discreet!
The beauty of the ancient tree reflects in still waters.
Part of the land works as a service area in the front of the site. A basement is sunk three meters lower than the main part of the house.
The recess serves as a parking drive.
A sloping pathway leads up one side of the driveway.
Cascading greenery curtains one side of the walkway.
Despite the cold concrete exterior of the build, it’s the interior warm wooden volumes that prevail to make the home appear warm and welcoming. Indoor plants pull the garden beyond the glass wall divide to intrinsically link all living spaces.
Wooden slats wall another section of modern staircase design , letting natural light pass through whilst screening direct line of sight.
Smooth wooden decks crisscross with concrete patios, keeping walkways flat and fluid. Emerald green lawn carpets the negative space.
The outermost perimeter of the plot is shielded by towering mature trees that meet the sky.
Dual aspect windows draw a crystal clear border around another stunning bathroom design. A concrete shower bench cuts across one of the large windows inside of a bespoke glass enclosure, which stands next to an equally transparent glass toilet cubicle. The tub has a view of it all, and of a small TV set in the corner.
Basement floor plan.
Ground floor plan.
First floor plan.
South and west elevations.
Section drawings.
Dark isn’t the first theme that comes to mind when designing a kitchen. Stereotypical assumptions are of white and bright kitchens matched by light wood—something like the color of breakfast pancakes. Have you ever thought otherwise? Perhaps something like a modern dark kitchen?
We’ve got a collection of stunning spaces sure to switch up your vision. This black kitchen design inspiration is the sexiest interior design can muster. All divulging in shades of black, navy, or dark brown, they add what white kitchens cannot—a seductive allure that says sleekness and sophistication at the same time. Take a peek at some brilliant interiors on the darker side to see if a modern luxury black kitchen could be for you.
Modern Dark Kitchen Design Ideas to Inspire Your Next Renovation
1. Make it an All Black Kitchen
Visualizer:Design At Sketch
Almost completely covered in black, a few minor elements shine in chrome and wood in this kitchen interior. We love how the textures do the talking, especially through the matte table under black wood-panelled walls. But having an open approach like this means that every one of your accessories on display—including knives, wine glasses, mugs, cutting boards, teapots, cookie jars, etc.—need to be on point.
2. Add Wooden Elements
Visualizer:Bogdan Tovstyy
This black beauty edges towards wooden elements. We see a speckled floor, a white wall, and a central bench. Rounded black lamps hover over the island, providing functionality and style. If you’re wondering how visual intrigue is added to this modern black kitchen… a huge credit goes to the abstract art!
3. Complement the Black Kitchen with Orange
Source:Vancouver House
A bit of curve rounds out the hard edges—adding some much-needed warmth. This wave-design bench leads up to an orange-hued enclave in this black-and-silver interior. The burnt orange sure makes a design statement (apart from the unique central island).
4. Keep Your Dark Modern Kitchen Simple
Visualizer:Panda Fox Studios
A simplistic look makes this black kitchen a winner. We see the basics: a light floor, a black minimalist island, and sleek cabinetry. But the contrast between light and dark keeps the ambiance interesting, while the large window welcomes plenty of natural light.
5. Make it Dark… Or Not?
Visualizer:Who Cares Design
If you’re eyeing a dark kitchen aesthetic but are hesitant to make the change, this is it. Introducing more light, this black kitchen is hardly dark at all. Black benches, cabinetry, fixtures and stools are intersected by large-panel windows, a white shelving stand and light flooring.
6. Make Use of Asymmetry in the Black Modern Kitchen
Visualizer:Visual Method
This modern black kitchen takes another angle on this kaleidoscopic space, breaking all spatial boundaries. Black and glass alternate in this chic kitchen as the interesting ceiling design keeps the space unconventional. We’ve also got to appreciate the cherry blossoms, doubling as decor even within the interior.
7. Factor in Some Warmth
Source:Modulnova
This warmer-looking kitchen makes a move to brown. It strategically achieves the purpose with the use of wood. This not only introduces natural textures but also makes the ambiance inviting. Talk about a modern style that’s equal parts welcoming!
8. Place a White Island in a Black Modern Kitchen
Visualizer:Jean Regauer
An instant way to brighten up a dark kitchen (we mean, get the best of both worlds)? This kitchen space shows us how by using a white island on a black floor. The backsplash further enhances this dark-and-light effect, while the cowhide rug adds just the right amount of coziness.
9. Make Marble Your Best Friend
Architect:Chamberlain Javens Architects
If you’re looking to create a modern luxury black kitchen, you know what you’ve got to do: Go big on marble! This natural stone adds the luxe factor to any space, especially as a large, central island, as seen in the kitchen above. You can also add it through the backsplash.
10. Make it Mysterious
Visualizer:Tomek Michalski
You can double the visual intrigue in your all black kitchen by adding some mystery. In this kitchen, mood-lighting sets the scene in black and grey, while a marbled bench acts as the hero. The back inlet and flooring create contrast and depth. Taken together, these elements make the space an interesting one.
11. Layer Gray and Gold
Visualizer:Mitaka Dimov
Black kitchens are cool, but what if we layer in gray and add accents of gold? This stunning kitchen space uses gray flooring to add diversity to the otherwise black palette. The thick gold panel is one way that makes the space look incredibly high-end.
12. Add French Style to Black Kitchen Design
Visualizer:Aeroslon
Make your kitchen both modern and French with traditional black cabinetry. In this space, standing armoires act as sinks, and all other displayed items remain black. The stark white clock can surely act as the focal point of the space!
13. Consider Soft Elements
Visualizer:Julia Sultanova
Rough, light wood and low-hanging white lights set this kitchen interior a world apart. You can also notice a layer of light gray cabinetry, adding variation to the otherwise dark color palette. These elements factor in softness to the black kitchen design.
14. Let the Accessories Do the Talking
Photographer:Mikko Ryhänen
In this black-and-wood creation, the accessories take center stage in adorning the interior. We love the houseplant, but the crockery deserves a special mention for doubling as decor. The light oakwood backdrop further warms the space up.
15. Consider a Matte All Black Kitchen
Visualizer:HDR Designer
Neat square panels perfectly line up to emphasize the stark black minimalism that is at play here. We love how the cabinetry is matte black with no hardware, adding a sense of simplicity. The herb planters are a healthy green addition to bring the otherwise simple space.
16. Add Some Stencilling to Black Kitchens
Visualizer:Julia Sultanova
Fine lines and stencilling set this monochromatic space apart. Lined by black magnetic lights, black stencils and glossy white facades, it makes its mark on a light wooden floor.
17. Build a Shape Out of Black
Visualizer:Huso
18. Create a Modern Dark Kitchen with Gradients
Visualizer:Mario Nogueira
If you’re wondering how the intrigue in this space is working… It’s the gradients from black, to charcoal, to light grey. White surrounds in the walls and a monochromatic hanging light. This clever design technique makes sure the space is anything but boring, even if it’s using mere neutrals (minus the stunning orange dining chairs, of course).
19. Leverage Black Textures
Visualizer:Nefeli Kallianou
One instant way to add interest to a black kitchen is with textures, as seen in this metallic matte kitchen. This accounts for decorative presence in the light and bright space, providing character to an otherwise simple room.
20. Work on the Functionality of the Modern Dark Kitchen
Visualizer:İbrahim Ethem KISACIK
This dark modern kitchen makes sure it’s as functional as is stylish. The central island is paired with a black dining table, while all necessary appliances are fixed into the cabinetry. We also see pendant lights and lighting under the hood providing just the right illumination.
21. Create a Modern Classic All Black Kitchen
Visualizer:A&L Interior Design
Folks seeking an inviting all black kitchen can look towards this modern classic space. It merges contemporary elements (through sleek black cabinetry) with traditional ones (as seen in the wooden backsplash) to bring together the best of both worlds.
22. Put Essentials on Display in Your Modern Black Kitchen Interior
Visualizer:Polygon
Yet another kitchen that uses black and wooden elements to create a dark-themed interior. What sets this one apart is the hanging pans. They do offer easy access as the residents cook, but they also double as decor! (Note how the pans also use black and wooden elements to stay coherent with the theme).
23. Add the Industrial Style to the All Black Kitchen
Via:Emotion School
Industrial style lovers, rejoice! This is THE inspiration to set up your favorite interior design style, the dark way. This kitchen uses rustic wood and exposed elements for the ceiling to create an industrial black kitchen interior.
24. Make a Statement with Black Chunky Lamps
Via:HomePicture.in
All eyes on the two chunky lamps hanging in this monochromatic setting. They do add focus but also allow the contrasting white inset to shine. Not to forget the central island, providing plenty of storage space.
25. Make Room for Keepsakes
Visualizer:Maxim Goryachev
There’s nothing like personalizing your space to who YOU are. This kitchen serves the purpose by adding keepsakes and heirlooms. Also, black leaves room for details, so it’s one of the best colors to use if you’re hoping to display knick-knacks.
26. Use Black to Add Intimacy
Visualizer:Helen Bank
Who says dark colors make small spaces feel smaller? We only see black adding luxury to this compact space (with some credit to the white flooring adding brightness). This kitchen—with black marble backsplash—speaks opulence, and for all the right reasons!
27. Enhance Black Kitchen Design with Patterns
Visualizer:Ksenia Lenski
This black kitchen interior makes a design statement with the patterned marble island. Its sleek metallic legs lift it off the floor, creating an illusion of space. Simultaneously, the textured inset makes sure visual interest is added.
28. Don’t Forget a Black and White Rug
Visualizer:Nada Aboelrous
If you’re not in for a complete kitchen renovation, simply painting your cabinets black and adding a black-and-white patterned rug will achieve the purpose! We love how this kitchen keeps sets the base with white and tops it with black.
29. Let the Lighting Make a Statement in the All Black Kitchen
Architect:Artpartner Architects
When everything else is understated, letting the lighting create a statement is a good idea. This matte black kitchen interior uses rod lighting to do the talking. It sticks to the all black kitchen color scheme, though!
30. Tone it Down
Visualizer:Valeria Mosolova
This open floor plan uses dark gray throughout, showing us that black can work in more spaces than the kitchen 😉 It sure makes a design statement for those cooking and dining—or lounging!
31. Consider a Black and Wooden Bar
Visualizer:Amir Emami
This is the ultimate modern luxury black kitchen! After all, what’s better than displaying your favorite collection of beer right behind the black kitchen island? The low-hanging pendant lights also add to the black kitchen design.
32. Add the Gothic Vibe
Visualizer:Sebastian Lorio
This dark-gray kitchen is super simple with its sleek, hardware-less cabinetry. Well, except the far left end. Here, we see a statement piece of art and intriguing layered lighting created a focal point.
33. Stick to the Minimalist Style for Black Kitchens
Visualizer:Miguel A. Ramos
This compact kitchen space follows the simple rule: white walls paired with black cabinetry and an island. Even in this nook, the space is able to make a style statement while providing optimal functionality. The window here gives a contrasting element of light to the otherwise dark modern kitchen.
34. Layer Lighting in the All Black Kitchen
Visualizer:Tatiana Durnescu
We see shades of gray and black coming together to bring this modern dark kitchen to life. What we especially love is the multiple types of lighting, all layered together to bring visual interest to the space.
35. Set the Backdrop For Your Living Space
Visualizer:Sasha Zolotukhin
