Trending now: black exteriors
23.8.2017 BY Sanna Huovinen
For a while now, we have been seeing dark exteriors trending all over the world – from Scandinavia to France and Japan. Take a look at some of our favourite Honka houses with dark painted surfaces from the recent years!
Bold, mysterious and dramatic, the black exterior isn’t for everybody but it definitely doesn’t go unnoticed. The look is especially suited for modern, Scandinavian architecture. However, it lends a sense of comfort and tranquility to a more traditional house as well.
Honka Markki: Combining Black and natural wood
Black exterior and natural wood come together beautifully in the Honka Markki house. The bold black surface enhances the house’s simple, streamlined and angular look. Designed by the award-winning Finnish architect Anssi Lassila / OOPEEAA and realised with modern Honka log technology, the house represents contemporary Nordic architecture with respect for the local tradition. The exterior is treated twice with Tikkurila Valtti Color wood stain, tone Piki. Black exterior creates a striking backdrop for greenery.
Honka Saari: Classic black and white
The classic combination of black exterior and white trims gives a comforting, traditional feel to these holiday homes hidden in a rugged archipelago. The main building and the other, smaller buildings were all treated with a dark grey finish borrowed from the surrounding bedrock and pines (Tikkurila’s Vinha opaque wood finish in shade 1900) and they sit beautifully in the landscape at a comfortable distance from one another. The interiors, by contrast, are finished with a light colour scheme and large windows. These cabins, designed by architect Kari Leppänen, were the inspiration for Honka’s distinctive Saari collection.
Honka Ink: Ink black
The Honka Ink house, painted black and built using non-settling Honka Fusion logs, is a perfect example of a modern, compact, Scandinavian-style log house. The shape of the house drew inspiration from Danish architecture with steep pitched roofs. The high building makes use of Honka’s zero corner log joint technique, which gives the house a modern finishing touch. The ink black exterior is complemented by the beautiful, minimalistic interior design by Jonna Kivilahti, created with natural wood, micro concrete and painted surfaces. The exterior was treated twice with Tikkurila’s Valtti Color wood stain, tone Piki.
Café Birgitta: charred surfaces
Café Birgitta is a unique summer cafe in Helsinki, Finland, built with the non-settling Honka Fusion log and covered with laminated wood elements with scorched surfaces. The Japanese art of charring wood, traditionally called Shou Sugi Ban, originated in Japan in the 1700s and the technique has withstood the test of time to this day because of its many benefits such as improved resistance to UV rays and rot. The insides are untreated solid wood. The cafe was designed by architects Minna Lukander and Jari Heikkinen from Talli Architecture and Design. It won the Log House of the Year award in 2014 in a competition organised by the Finnish Log House Association HTT.
Villa Ruka: Black with panoramic views
When a house has a fully glazed facade such as this one, the dark exterior becomes less pronounced. The dark grey Villa Ruka blends beautifully into the surrounding wilderness. The kitchen and living space are housed in a single area with a high ceiling and a nine-metre-wide and six-metre-high glass window. This allows the owners to enjoy their views and the changing seasons to the fullest.
Levi Spirit: Peace and serenity
Surprisingly, houses with black exteriors blend beautifully even into snow-covered wilderness areas. The Levi Spirit villas exude peace and tranquillity in perfect harmony with their fragile Arctic surroundings in Finnish Lapland. The dark interiors maximise the calming effect of the scenery and create a soothing, serene atmosphere. The Levi Spirit villas, designed by Kari Lappalainen, were selected among the 25 most romantic hotels in Europe by the French magazine Elle.
Dark wooden surfaces together with other natural materials create a calming, soothing atmosphere. Pillows and blankets by Bonden.
A house by the sea: Bold and mysterious
The owners of this beautiful Honka house by the sea weren’t afraid of bold contrasts: the colour scheme combines dark, calming colours and Scandinavian pale tones. “We wanted an oriental-style hideaway atmosphere here. The interior is shaded, but not dark, since it has plenty of windows.” The landscape has such an important role in the home that the bed was placed beside the window. Architecture by Katja Jämsä.
Which one is your favourite?
The black colour is not for everybody but these examples prove that it can work with very different environments and architectural styles. Take a look at our house collection and case studies for more inspiration and get started with your own dream house!
