Photo: Thomas Dalhoff Architect: Robert Harwood Architects
Inspiration for a large contemporary three-storey grey house exterior in Melbourne with metal siding, a flat roof and a metal roof.

Successful conversion of an old workshop/garage complex into a mixed use development. The building features a one bedroom house and a commercial space for local contractors Goulden & Sons.

Hoffman Weber replaced roofing, siding a decking to restore the storm-damaged home.
Inspiration for a large arts and crafts three-storey green house exterior in Minneapolis with metal siding, a gable roof and a shingle roof.

Photo - Will Austin
Photo of a mid-sized modern three-storey multi-coloured house exterior in Seattle with metal siding and a flat roof.

Barbara Corsico
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary three-storey white exterior in Turin with metal siding and a flat roof.

The Guesthouse Nýp at Skarðsströnd is situated on a former sheep farm overlooking the Breiðafjörður Nature Reserve in western Iceland. Originally constructed as a farmhouse in 1936, the building was deserted in the 1970s, slowly falling into disrepair before the new owners eventually began rebuilding in 2001. Since 2006, it has come to be known as a cultural hub of sorts, playing host to various exhibitions, lectures, courses and workshops. The brief was to conceive a design that would make better use of the existing facilities, allowing for more multifunctional spaces for various cultural activities. This not only involved renovating the main house, but also rebuilding and enlarging the adjoining sheep-shed. Nýp’s first guests arrived in 2013 and where accommodated in two of the four bedrooms in the remodelled farmhouse. The reimagined sheep shed added a further three ensuite guestrooms with a separate entrance. This offers the owners greater flexibility, with the possibility of hosting larger events in the main house without disturbing guests. The new entrance hall and connection to the farmhouse has been given generous dimensions allowing it to double as an exhibition space. The main house is divided vertically in two volumes with the original living quarters to the south and a barn for hay storage to the North. Bua inserted an additional floor into the barn to create a raised event space with a series of new openings capturing views to the mountains and the fjord. Driftwood, salvaged from a neighbouring beach, has been used as columns to support the new floor. Steel handrails, timber doors and beams have been salvaged from building sites in Reykjavik old town. The ruins of concrete foundations have been repurposed to form a structured kitchen garden. A steel and polycarbonate structure has been bolted to the top of one concrete bay to create a tall greenhouse, also used by the client as an extra sitting room in the warmer months. Staying true to Nýp’s ethos of sustainability and slow tourism, Studio Bua took a vernacular approach with a form based on local turf homes and a gradual renovation that focused on restoring and reinterpreting historical features while making full use of local labour, techniques and materials such as stone-turf retaining walls and tiles handmade from local clay. Since the end of the 19th century, the combination of timber frame and corrugated metal cladding has been widespread throughout Iceland, replacing the traditional turf house. The prevailing wind comes down the valley from the north and east, and so it was decided to overclad the rear of the building and the new extension in corrugated aluzinc - one of the few materials proven to withstand the extreme weather. In the 1930's concrete was the wonder material, even used as window frames in the case of Nýp farmhouse! The aggregate for the house is rather course with pebbles sourced from the beach below, giving it a special character. Where possible the original concrete walls have been retained and exposed, both internally and externally. The 'front' facades towards the access road and fjord have been repaired and given a thin silicate render (in the original colours) which allows the texture of the concrete to show through. The project was developed and built in phases and on a modest budget. The site team was made up of local builders and craftsmen including the neighbouring farmer – who happened to own a cement truck. A specialist local mason restored the fragile concrete walls, none of which were reinforced.

This is an example of a contemporary three-storey grey house exterior in Los Angeles with metal siding and a flat roof.

Jon M Photography
Design ideas for a large industrial three-storey brown exterior in Other with metal siding and a gable roof.

A Modern Swedish Farmhouse Steve Buchanan Photography
Photo of a large modern three-storey black exterior in Baltimore with metal siding and a shed roof.

Photo by: Russell Abraham
This is an example of a large modern three-storey multi-coloured exterior in San Francisco with metal siding.

Rosalie House by KIRK is located in one of Brisbane’s most established inner city suburbs. This 5-bedroom family home sits on a hillside among the peaks and gullies that characterises the suburb of Paddington. Rosalie House has a solid base that rises up as a 3-storey lightweight structure. The exterior is predominantly recycled Tallowwood weatherboard and pre-weathered zinc cladding – KIRK’s interpretation of the timber and tin tradition that is prevalent in the area. Sun-shading and privacy is achieved with operable timber screens and external venetian blinds that sit in front of a bespoke timber window joinery. The planning of the house is organised to address the views towards the city on the North-East and Mt Coot-tha on the South-West. The resulting building footprint provides private courtyards and landscaped terraces adjacent to the main living spaces. The interior is an ensemble of Red Mahogany timber flooring and Jarrah timber panelling on backdrop of white plaster walls and white-set ceilings. Environmental features of the house include solar hot water, 40,000L in-ground rainwater storage for landscape irrigation and low energy lighting. Photo Credits: Scott Burrows

Perched atop a wooded ridge, this residence derives itself and emerges from its site – inevitably grounded but exceeding its limits to engage with the trees beyond. The family spaces of the first floor loosely occupy the free plan while above, explicit spaces are contained in distinct volumes. Four vertical “walls of light” separate these private spaces while illuminating the floors below. Actively embracing the sky, these shafts become the locus of ornament conceived as a transparent and translucent lining, accessing light while affording silhouetted privacy. As the shafts move towards the interior of the house, they carve away the second floor plate to form ‘L’ and ‘T’ shaped voids. Depending on the specific location in plan, these larger voids interlock with voids at the first level to create double-height spaces or to contain vertical circulation. When the upper level circulatory spine encounters a slot or void, the floor material changes from concrete to laminated glass. This material change is not only a signifier, but also a functional means of allowing light to penetrate the lower levels. Light, then, can filter through the walkway at the slot locations and also around it since the spine “floats” between flanking walls. By blurring the distinctions between familiar oppositions – inside/ outside, front/ rear, massive/ light – the resultant assemblage dissolves traditional boundaries of habit.

Vesta Plank siding by Quality Edge, in Gilded Grain and Eggshell. Designed to echo the veins and tones of natural wood, six unique and intricate hand-drawn panels make up every Vesta woodgrain color. All six planks are drawn to complement each other. Panels are distinct enough to create an impactful, signature look that is as beautiful up close as it is far away. Our tri-color paint application creates a multi-dimensional and naturally accurate look that’s engineered to stay vibrant.

Photography by Nick johnson
Design ideas for an expansive transitional three-storey exterior in Austin with metal siding and a gable roof.

This is an example of a small contemporary three-storey grey house exterior in Toronto with metal siding, a metal roof and a grey roof.

This is an example of an expansive modern three-storey grey house exterior in Toronto with metal siding and a flat roof.

Bruce Damonte
Small contemporary three-storey brown exterior in San Francisco with metal siding and a shed roof.

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary three-storey grey house exterior in Austin with metal siding and a flat roof.

A stunning 16th Century listed Queen Anne Manor House with contemporary Sky-Frame extension which features stunning Janey Butler Interiors design and style throughout. The fabulous contemporary zinc and glass extension with its 3 metre high sliding Sky-Frame windows allows for incredible views across the newly created garden towards the newly built Oak and Glass Gym & Garage building. When fully open the space achieves incredible indoor-outdoor contemporary living. A wonderful real life luxury home project designed, built and completed by Riba Llama Architects & Janey Butler Interiors of the Llama Group of Design companies.