Minimalistic architecture is trending nowadays and people prefer to choose minimalism. Though the idea of minimalism is based on simple designs and structure, it is really getting a lot of popularity. This is one of the most powerful trends in the world of architecture and it has a bright future as well. The simplicity of the minimalistic architecture is what makes it unique from the other types of architecture. The main aim of minimalist architecture is to reduce the visual clutter or noise as much as possible. It focuses mainly on some specific materials, structure, space and light. In this article, we are going to talk about – what materials are used in minimalist architecture.
Materials play a very important role in any architectural structure. It can define an architectural structure by adding depth, durability, detailing, color and texture to the style. When you are choosing a modern minimalistic architectural design, you have to be quite careful about the material you choose. Read on to know the top 6 best materials that can define the minimalist architecture in the best possible way.
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Top 6 materials to use in minimalist architecture
As it mentioned above, when it comes to minimalist architectures, a strategic use of materials is needed. The materials that are used for this style are simple so that they do not distract people from the structure. Hence, the best materials that you can use in a minimalist architecture are:
- Concrete
- Steel
- Glass
- Wood
- Stone
- Brick
These are the materials that are mostly used in different types of minimalist architectural designs. The details of each and every material are provided below.
Concrete for Minimalist Architecture
One of the most common and durable materials that you can use for your minimalist architecture is – Concrete. The raw and unpainted walls and floors made up of concrete can be the hallmark of minimalism. There is no doubt that concrete looks quite simple yet lavish and it can fortify the minimalist look for the architecture quite well.
Nothing can be more fascinating and sophisticated than a minimalist architecture made up of glass and concrete. Whether it is an architectural design for your residential property or your commercial property, it can give a very elegant and classy look. Use of the concrete material can also help in providing better durability and sturdiness to your property.
It can help you to attain the simple shapes and clean lines that mainly characterize minimalism in architecture. Also, using concrete as a material can offer you with many amazing benefits, such as:
- Resistance to rust and rotting
- Energy efficiency
- Resistance to fire
- Low maintenance
- Resistance to wind or storm
Steel for Minimalist Architecture
Steel is another material that is often used in different minimalistic architectural designs. Being a strong and durable material, it is often used in roofing, cladding surfaces and to create some details in architectural designs. Metals like steel have become a staple for the modern and minimalistic designs. It is used extensively in both commercial and residential spaces.
Because of the simplicity, sturdiness and versatility, steel has become one of the most preferable materials when people ask about what materials are used in minimalist architecture. Stainless steel details are often used in home kitchens because of the amazing benefits that it offers. Steel can provide better flexibility to the architecture for concealing different structural frame, both internally and externally.
Among all the metals, steel is mostly used in the minimalist architectural designs because of the benefits. Some of the significant advantages of using steel as a material are:
- Resistance to corrosion
- Better durability and sturdiness
- Affordable yet classy
- Light in weight
- Quite reliable and versatile
Glass for Minimalist Architecture
When it comes to modern and minimalist architectural designs, the most sophisticated and classy material that comes to mind is glass. Glass can be used in various architectural designs, such as glass wall, glass window, glass door, glass railing and more. But the best thing about using glass is that it offers variance. Yes, you can choose from the various types of glasses available as well as you can customize according to your needs too.
You can use clear glass as well as frosted glass too for your architectural needs. Because of the clean and sleek look, glasses can make your house look quite sophisticated and elegant. People love to use glass because of the transparency as well as for the seamless flow of the light. Hence, glass can be an effective choice when it comes to minimalism.
The use of glass wall for the one-story residential houses along with concrete or brick can make your property look extremely classy and elegant. You will love the sophisticated touch that it provides. Along with this, it comes with some amazing advantages too, such as:
- Better access to the natural light
- Clear and seamless view
- Resistant to weather conditions
- Brightens up the space with better flow of light
But it comes with one drawback i.e. high maintenance. You need to be very careful with the glass details that you want to use in your architectural designs.
Wood for Minimalist Architecture
The next material that is often used in modern minimalistic architectural designs is wood. Being one of the sophisticated and classy materials, it looks quite elegant when it is incorporated with other materials. The best thing about wood is that it is versatile in nature. It looks great with glass as well as concrete.
You can use the wood as the main material of your house as well as you can use it for accents too. Nowadays, you do not have to worry about the high cost and maintenance of the original woods too. You can choose the engineered wood as a perfect substitute. These woods are processed to ensure better result and durability. Also, they are low in maintenance and much more affordable.
Using woods can help you to naturally insulate your house or office from the outside weather condition. The best thing about using wood as one of the materials for minimalist architecture is that you can choose the type, style and designs. Also, woods come with different benefits too and these are:
- Helps in saving energy
- Works great as an insulator
- Quite versatile to work with
- Eco-friendly and sustainable
But some of the woods can be quite high maintenance and you need to be quite careful about it.
Stone for Minimalist Architecture
Natural stones are mostly grey, white, beige or black in color. This color range can be an excellent choice if you are interested in minimalistic designs. Hence, stone is considered as one of the answers to the question about what materials are used in minimalist architecture. The simple yet elegant touch of the natural stones can bring simplicity, serenity and calmness to your minimalist architectural designs.
Use of some of the natural stones can effortlessly create a minimalist feel for your architecture. Stone is a perfect material as well as a décor element that can combine functionality as well as luxury. It is also looks quite sophisticated and elegant while being extremely durable and beneficial. The best thing about natural stone is that they are available in various colors, texture and designs.
You can choose whatever suits with your personal preferences. Here are some of the advantages of using stone as a material:
- Unique material and texture
- Offers great durability and versatility
- Perfect for noise and thermal insulation
- Highly resistant to fire
- Resistant to extreme weather conditions
Brick for Minimalist Architecture
Bricks can be a unique material for the modern minimalist architecture. Nowadays, bricks are gaining a lot of popularity in minimalistic architectural designs because of the texture, warmth and color that it can provide. Bricks can accentuate a sleek minimalistic space without being too distractive. It can, in fact, boast the minimalist style increasing the aesthetic appeal.
When combined with glass, the brick can look quite sophisticated and elegant. It can be used for both residential and commercial properties. Adding a brick wall to your living room can add some warmth and texture. It offers a clean and cool minimalistic touch if it is accompanied by simple white-colored floor, walls and ceilings.
Using brick for your minimalist architectural designs can come with different advantages. Some of the best advantages are:
- Quite economical and affordable
- Very low in maintenance
- Different sizes and orientations are available
- Highly sturdy and durable
- Can go quite well with all types of materials
To Conclude:
Hopefully, you have found the answer to your question – what materials are used in minimalist architecture? Well, these are the top 6 best materials that you can use. While you can always combine different materials in your architectural design, you need to make sure that the design is simple and not to distractive. Simple yet elegant is the actual definition of modern minimalism. You can combine different types of materials like concrete, stone, wood or brick with glass. Glass is the most common material which is extensively used in different minimalistic architectural needs. Consult with one of the best architectural experts to make the final draft according to your needs and requirements.
