Book Synopsis

Step over to the dark side with Modern Houses in Black. Black adds drama, sophistication, and edginess to residential architecture. Black commands attention. Explore the trend in black house design through this striking curated collection.

Modern Houses in Black makes a bold and contemporary statement - just like the houses it showcases. A black house requires few embellishments to impress, and often captures attention through its focus on form and structure. In the urban context, a black house often provides a welcome contrast to an otherwise drab streetscape. In a rural setting, a black dwelling can stand out from its surroundings or blend in.

Susan Redman explores the trend in black house design, appreciating the drama and elegance a house can convey when designers go over to the dark side and embrace a distinctive black aesthetic. The bespoke homes are sited in both urban settings and remote rural landscapes, where they confidently display their dark exteriors and making a daring statement.

Illustrated with striking full-colour photography, the 28 projects from around the world include interviews with the architects who explain their design choices for structure and materiality, from black-stained or burnt wood and metal cladding to black glazed brickwork and tinted concrete.

Modern Houses in Black will appeal to lovers of distinctive design, particularly those who appreciate the elegance and sophistication that black offers modern residential architecture.

Review Quotes

"...amazing black houses from around the world."--Mano Namai Lithuania

"The dramatic exterior of a house in the Byron Bay hinterland conceals a warm sanctuary inside."--The Sydney Morning Herald

About the Author

Susan Redman is an Australian journalist and editor with a passion for architecture and design. This has led to a notable career writing about homes and the people who design, decorate, and live in them. She is currently the Homes Editor for Sunday Life, a Fairfax Media lifestyle magazine.

Redman has worked as a design columnist for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Vogue Australia, and The Japan Times, and has been a regular contributor to various home and design publications, including Vogue Living, Country Style, Home Beautiful, Belle, Gardening Australia, Black + White, Houzz, and Domain. She's also written extensively about fashion, art, and travel.

In addition to Modern Houses in Black, Redman's other books are My Dream Kombi, a title that celebrates the retro design icon and the fascinating stories of the surfies, hippies, and celebrities who traveled in them; and Love Shacks, a book that not only features a collection of beautiful hideaways and retreats around the globe, but seeks to understand how people and places influence holiday home design.