A Cliffside Home Where Concrete Speaks

Built into a steep hillside in Christchurch, New Zealand, the Scarborough Bêton Brut House by Young Architects integrates raw concrete construction with expansive ocean views. Designed to work with challenging geotechnical conditions, the home uses exposed concrete both structurally and aesthetically, with surfaces left unpainted and sealed in a matte finish.

The interior balances the cool strength of concrete with warmth and acoustic comfort, using cedar shiplap ceilings, black-stained oak panels, and polished charcoal floors. Frameless glass walls line the living and dining spaces, opening the interior to sweeping views across the coastline.

The house follows the slope, placing living areas along the view while routing circulation and utility spaces behind. A separate “Withdrawing Room” is tucked away from sunlight, offering an intentionally darker, more intimate retreat with a distinct texture and lighting scheme.

Privacy and solar control are achieved through careful glazing placement and clerestory windows that draw in morning light. The result is a home that feels both grounded and open, heavy and airy—fully rooted in its cliffside context.

Photographs:Lightforge

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