The new black is just slightly lighter than black. Timber, metal, stucco and stone are among the materials used to create these 10 residences in hues of dark grey.
Architects around the world are turning to deep shades of grey for the outsides of both contemporary houses and those with more traditional forms. Here are 10 examples.
House B, Austria, by Smartvoll
Austrian architecture firm Smartvoll clad this house extension in Klosterneuburg, Austria with timber slats for a family of six in need of more space.
The two-storey gabled unit and horizontal volume attach to the existing cottage, a white building with a copper roof and a wrought-iron balcony.
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C-House, Ireland, by Dot Architecture and Soc-Arc
C-House in Kildare, Ireland, features dark grey walls, sloped roof and chunky "light chimneys".
Irish architects Dot Architecture and Soc-Arc completed the residence on top of the substructure of an existing house that had been damaged by flooding.
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Ramar Residence and Studio, USA, by Saez Pedraja
Saez Pedraja updated the light stucco exterior on this Santa Monica residence to dark grey to match the studio constructed in the backyard.
The renovation involved building a separated workspace unit for a fashion designer and updating the exterior and interior finishes of the house, which was originally built in 1958.
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Leaf House, Japan, by Apollo Architects & Associates
Apollo Architects & Associates took cues from the pattern of leaves to design this top-heavy house in Tokyo arranged around a central courtyard. The building's barren facade is mostly clad with metal except for two glass surfaces.
Wood rafters intended to mimic the ribbed appearance of leaves form the exposed roof structure.
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AdH House, Mexico, by Francesc Rifé Studio
Francesc Rifé Studio covered this two-storey home in Mexico City's residential neighbourhood Lomas de Chapultepec with grey-hued stone.
Black aluminium shutters across the back facade blend with the dark siding when closed and flood natural light into the wood-panelled interiors when opened.
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De La Roche, Canada, by Naturehumaine
A large grey frame encases an extension that Canadian studio Naturehumaine added to a house in Montreal to offer privacy from neighbours.
The structure encloses a paler grey volume that forms part of the addition designed to form a family living area and an elevated master bedroom.
Residence M, The Netherlands, by WillemsenU Architecten
WillemsenU Architecten renovated this house near Eindhoven built by Dutch designer Piet Boon in the 1960s. The local studio replaced the white stucco exterior with timber cladding and expanded the layout.
To give the house its monochrome appearance the existing roof tiles were replaced with shingles that match the timber siding.
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The House with Two Bay Windows, Canada, by D'Arcy Jones Architects
Canadian studio D'Arcy Jones Architects clad this boxy house in Riley Park, a historic neighbourhood in Vancouver, with cedar shingles. The residence is situated on a narrow plot and named for the two bay windows on its facade.
Charcoal-coloured metal forms frames and panels on the set of windows that protrude from the house.
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The Stables, Argentina, by Carolina Vago Arquitectura
A dark metal and glass volume stacks on top of an old stone horse stable to form The Stables, a holiday home in rural Argentina.
Local studio Carolina Vago Arquitectura kept several of the building's original features including its central courtyard, wood shutters and horse drinking fountains. A row of grey doors across the top of the structure slide open to reveal glass panes.
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Casa de Lata, Brazil, by Sauermartins
Bright interiors and a lush courtyard are concealed by the four walls that form Casa de Lata, a residence in Canela, Brazil, designed for avid car collectors.
Brazilian studio Sauermartins has used dark-grey metal panels and grápia wood to cover the facades and roof.
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