{"id":511391,"date":"2026-03-08T15:48:12","date_gmt":"2026-03-08T15:48:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/511391\/"},"modified":"2026-03-08T15:48:12","modified_gmt":"2026-03-08T15:48:12","slug":"seven-tactile-living-spaces-with-blockwork-walls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/511391\/","title":{"rendered":"Seven tactile living spaces with blockwork walls"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Our latest <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dezeen.com\/lookbooks\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">lookbook<\/a> collects homes with warm, bright and tactile living spaces that are set against a backdrop of concrete blockwork walls.<\/p>\n<p>Spanning the US, Australia and Japan, these examples include a concrete-block home in Melbourne, designed to reference local farmhouses, and an understated and &#8220;robust&#8221; beachside residence in Cornwall.<\/p>\n<p>This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen&#8217;s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dezeen.com\/2026\/03\/01\/monastic-minimalism-interiors-lookbooks\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">heavenly home interiors<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dezeen.com\/2026\/02\/22\/mexico-city-restaurant-interiors-lookbooks\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">restaurant interiors<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dezeen.com\/2026\/02\/08\/seven-wine-bars-round-up\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">stylish wine bars<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dezeen.com\/2025\/10\/18\/roberts-gray-architects-ski-house\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2259293 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/ski-house-roberts-gray-architects-residential-architecture-new-zealand_dezeen_2364_col_8-852x1136.jp.jpeg\" alt=\"SKI House by Roberts Gray Architects\" width=\"1773\" height=\"2364\"   loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/a>Photo courtesy of Roberts Gray Architects<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dezeen.com\/2025\/10\/18\/roberts-gray-architects-ski-house\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">SKI House, New Zealand, by Roberts Gray Architects<\/a> <\/p>\n<p>Local studio Roberts Gray Architects designed SKI House for the parents of studio co-founder James Gray, who lived next to the site in W\u0101naka, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dezeen.com\/tag\/new-zealand\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">New Zealand<\/a>, for over two decades.<\/p>\n<p>Screens of lightweight steel and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dezeen.com\/tag\/blackened-wood\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">blackened timber<\/a> contrast with its structure of exposed blockwork walls, which are paired with stone paving and warm-coloured accents in the living area.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dezeen.com\/2025\/10\/18\/roberts-gray-architects-ski-house\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Find out more about SKI House \u203a<\/a><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1922446 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/house-by-the-sea-of-architecture-cornwall-interiors_dezeen_2364_col_8-852x639.jpg\" alt=\"Minimalist living room inside House by the Sea by Of Architecture\" width=\"2364\" height=\"1773\"   loading=\"lazy\"\/>Photo by Lorenzo Zandri<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dezeen.com\/2023\/04\/28\/of-architecture-house-by-the-sea-cornwall\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">House by the Sea, UK, by Of Architecture<\/a> <\/p>\n<p>This understated beachside home in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dezeen.com\/tag\/cornwall\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Cornwall<\/a> was designed for an artist and surfer, who tasked London practice Of Architecture with designing a &#8220;simple, robust and utilitarian&#8221; living space.<\/p>\n<p>An open-plan living, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dezeen.com\/tag\/kitchens\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">kitchen<\/a> and dining space is held on the ground floor, which is framed by blockwork walls and lit by a central skylight.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dezeen.com\/2023\/04\/28\/of-architecture-house-by-the-sea-cornwall\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Find out more about House by the Sea \u203a<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dezeen.com\/2024\/02\/27\/david-kohn-architects-cowshed-conversion\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2038084 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/cowshed-david-kohn-architects-residential-architecture-conversions-agricultural-england-uk_dezeen_23.jpeg\" alt=\"Cowshed by David Kohn Architects\" width=\"2364\" height=\"1773\"   loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/a>Photo by Max Creasy<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dezeen.com\/2024\/02\/27\/david-kohn-architects-cowshed-conversion\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Cowshed, UK, by David Kohn Architects<\/a> <\/p>\n<p>London-based studio <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dezeen.com\/tag\/david-kohn-architects\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">David Kohn Architects<\/a> converted a cattle shed on a former dairy farm in Newton Abbot, UK, into a home and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dezeen.com\/tag\/studios\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">studio<\/a> for artist Suzanne Blank Redstone and her husband Peter Redstone.<\/p>\n<p>The studio looked to retain much of the existing structure, collaborating with engineering studio Structure Workshop to retain the original timber trusses, concrete floor and blockwork walls to define new rooms.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dezeen.com\/2024\/02\/27\/david-kohn-architects-cowshed-conversion\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Find out more about Cowshed \u203a<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dezeen.com\/2023\/09\/13\/merricks-farmhouse-michael-lumby-nielsen-jenkins\/#\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1977192 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/merricks-farmhouse-melbourne-michael-lumby-architecture-nielsen-jenkins_dezeen_2364_col_4-852x1136.j.jpeg\" alt=\"Merricks Farmhouse by Michael Lumby Architecture and Nielsen Jenkins\" width=\"1774\" height=\"2364\"   loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/a>Photo by Tom Ross<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dezeen.com\/2023\/09\/13\/merricks-farmhouse-michael-lumby-nielsen-jenkins\/#\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Merricks Farmhouse, Australia, by Michael Lumby Architecture and Nielsen Jenkins<\/a> <\/p>\n<p>South African studio Michael Lumby Architecture collaborated with Brisbane practice <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dezeen.com\/tag\/nielsen-jenkins\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Nielsen Jenkins<\/a> to design this concrete-block home on the Mornington Peninsula in Melbourne, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dezeen.com\/tag\/australia\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Australia<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Designed to reference local farmhouses, the home comprises six bedrooms and a large open-plan living room, where dark timber cladding complements the exposed concrete and blockwork walls.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dezeen.com\/2023\/09\/13\/merricks-farmhouse-michael-lumby-nielsen-jenkins\/#\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Find out more about Merricks Farmhouse \u203a<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dezeen.com\/2025\/02\/19\/nikjoo-lode-townhouse-london\/#\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2172564 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/nikjoo-lode-townhouse-london_dezeen_2364_col_17-852x730.jpg\" alt=\"Lode by Nikjoo\" width=\"2364\" height=\"2026\"   loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/a>Photo by Lorenzo Zandri and Jasper Fry<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dezeen.com\/2025\/02\/19\/nikjoo-lode-townhouse-london\/#\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Lode, UK, by Nikjoo<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Blockwork walls complement oak flooring at this home completed by local architecture studio <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dezeen.com\/tag\/nikjoo\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Nikjoo<\/a> on a former parking space in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dezeen.com\/tag\/london\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">London<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Beyond its redbrick facade, the home contains its main living spaces on the ground floor, while the bedrooms above are similarly complete with exposed concrete walls and wooden floors.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dezeen.com\/2025\/02\/19\/nikjoo-lode-townhouse-london\/#\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Find out more about Lode \u203a<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dezeen.com\/2022\/08\/22\/kkaa-ytaa-house-of-joy-national-park-japan\/#\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1833558 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/house-of-joy-kkaa-ytaa-architecture-residential-japan_dezeen_2364_col_5-852x568.jpg\" alt=\"Interior of House of Joy by KKAA YTAA\" width=\"2364\" height=\"1576\"   loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/a>Photo by Norihito Yamauchi<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dezeen.com\/2022\/08\/22\/kkaa-ytaa-house-of-joy-national-park-japan\/#\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">House of Joy, Japan, by\u00a0KKAA YTAA<\/a> <\/p>\n<p>A simple material palette of concrete blocks, wood and metal was used for this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dezeen.com\/tag\/holiday-homes\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">holiday home<\/a> designed for an elderly couple in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dezeen.com\/tag\/japan\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Japan<\/a>&#8216;s Ise-Shima National Park.<\/p>\n<p>Completed by Japanese architecture studio KKAA YTAA, House of Joy is complete with a pitched wooden roof and minimalist concrete structure that serves as a backdrop for the home&#8217;s interiors.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dezeen.com\/2022\/08\/22\/kkaa-ytaa-house-of-joy-national-park-japan\/#\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Find out more about House of Joy \u203a<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dezeen.com\/2025\/09\/19\/hedge-and-arbour-house-studio-bright-melbourne\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2248607 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/hedge-and-arbour-house-studio-bright-melbourne_dezeen_2364_col_5-852x1065.jpg\" alt=\"Living area with concrete walls in an Australian home\" width=\"1891\" height=\"2364\"   loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/a>Photo by Rory Gardiner<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dezeen.com\/2025\/09\/19\/hedge-and-arbour-house-studio-bright-melbourne\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Hedge and Arbour House, Australia, by\u00a0Studio Bright<\/a> <\/p>\n<p>Blockwork walls were left exposed across the interior of this home in Melbourne, designed by Australian practice <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dezeen.com\/tag\/studio-bright\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Studio Bright<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Named Hedge and Arbour House, the dwelling was designed by the studio as a simple, single-storey structure and is. wrapped with metal <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dezeen.com\/tag\/mesh\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">mesh<\/a> screens for climbing plants.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dezeen.com\/2025\/09\/19\/hedge-and-arbour-house-studio-bright-melbourne\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Find out more about Hedge and Arbour House\u00a0\u203a<\/a><\/p>\n<p>This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen&#8217;s archive. For more inspiration, see previous lookbooks featuring <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dezeen.com\/2026\/03\/01\/monastic-minimalism-interiors-lookbooks\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">heavenly home interiors<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dezeen.com\/2026\/02\/22\/mexico-city-restaurant-interiors-lookbooks\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">restaurant interiors<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dezeen.com\/2026\/02\/08\/seven-wine-bars-round-up\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">stylish wine bars<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Our latest lookbook collects homes with warm, bright and tactile living spaces that are set against a backdrop&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":511392,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[56],"tags":[228,226,227,11420,229,88,63666,4728,15041,64879,66609,69377],"class_list":["post-511391","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-arts-and-design","tag-arts","tag-arts-and-design","tag-artsanddesign","tag-concrete","tag-design","tag-entertainment","tag-interiors","tag-residential-architecture-and-interiors","tag-roundups","tag-sectionall","tag-sectioninteriors","tag-sectionlookbooks"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/511391","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=511391"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/511391\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/511392"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=511391"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=511391"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=511391"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}