Shingles in Contemporary Architecture

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On both interiors and exteriors, we're spotting a renewed use of shingles in contemporary architecture. The wood shingle comes in a relatively small and easily-worked module, which lends itself to curves and free forms. Even when used on groundbreaking new shapes in contemporary architecture, the material has a warm texture that gives a little nod to tradition...

• 1 Interior of the Seashell House by Olavi Koponen, via Oppigard Havdal

• 2 Exterior view of the Seashell House

• 3 the Folley at Field Farm

• 4 Peter Zumthor's St. Benedict Chapel, via Bustler. Zumthor recently won the 2009 Pritzker Architecture Prize

• 5 The Kärsämäki Shingle Church by Finnish architecture student Anssi Lassila. Photo: Jussi Tiainen

Comments (3)

I'd also add to the list any work by Canadian east coast architect Brian Mackay-Lyons

posted by Michelle of Montreal on April 27th 2009 at 5:03pm
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The use of shingles as an exterior wallcovering was really quite common on contemporary waterfront homes back in the 1970's...
...drive down the coast to Half-Moon Bay or up to Sea Ranch and easily half the houses there are covered w/ Cedar shingles - not so much because they were "traditional" or "warm", but because they were relatively easy to install on curved walls as well as for their durability in marine weather conditions.

Of course they were used on Queen Anne/Shingle-Style homes 100 years ago on the East Coast for the very same reasons.

posted by bepsf on April 27th 2009 at 5:22pm
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Beautiful - I love these shingles as an opportunity to catch the light - especially evident on the chapel and the church.....

posted by redweather on April 29th 2009 at 1:08pm
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