Rounded Forms Smooth Modern Architecture’s Edges

Strong lines and box-like forms dominate contemporary residential architecture. But in many cases, it takes just one flowing line or ingenious curve to soften or spice up the look of a house’s exterior. And on the inside, rounded lines create interesting spaces for playing with lighting and room arrangements.

Here is a selection of contemporary houses and renovations that incorporate simple rounded architectural elements. Could you bend it like Beckham, too?

An update to an 1890s cottage. Corrugated iron establishes the curve in this extension for a South Australian bluestone cottage. The original house was extended to provide more space for the family, and the renovation combines sharp angles with this subtle curve. The graceful curve is visually enhanced by the corrugated iron, which accentuates light, shadows and reflection.


Inside, a rounded corner is a soft contrast to a room full of geometric pattern, strong lines, bold colors and graphic prints.


An extension for an Edwardian cottage. Brick and steel are fused in this rear addition to a historic villa. They are united through their shared characteristic — rounded corners. The architect introduced the curves to create more dynamic, fluid forms, while also making reference to the bullnose corrugated-iron veranda roofing of the typical Edwardian home.



Inside, the curved profile of the roofline — forming the ceiling of the top-floor master bedroom — creates a spacious and modern space with the ability to capture extra sunlight via an arched clerestory window.


A renovation of an inner-city terrace. The back of this terrace was designed for the sun. Working with a series of box-like forms, the architects added smooth curves around the ground-floor sunroom and upstairs balcony. These elegant lines soften the look of the terrace and create a style reminiscent of the streamlined art deco aesthetic of the 1920s and 1930s.

So Your Style Is: Art Deco


An addition to a historic brick villa. Strong shapes and clear lines combine in this renovated Edwardian cottage. A large curve swoops around the edge of the living area and contrasts with the defined horizontal and vertical patterning of the interior and exterior brick wall. Concrete slabs fan out from the curved margin to form the outdoor paving area, and a circular patch of grass is accented with a band of terra-cotta cobblestones.


A modern bush house. The arched roof on this rural home creates a silhouette that mimics the rolling landscape and softens the barnyard-like structure of the home. Arched roofs have the added benefit of being self-supporting and even load-bearing. Plus they offer excellent resistance to water and strong winds.


A modernist composition. Elemental shapes, large windows and white stucco walls are a striking combination in this house. One simple, circular form sits top and center, breaking the geometric lines and forms of the rest of the home and providing its occupants with panoramic views out.


A contemporary waterfront property. A coned copper form adds visual intrigue to this house, which is otherwise very square and box-like. It snakes along a podium and landscaped roof, accommodating an office and opening to spectacular harbor views.


A cantilevered seaside house. One curved and fluid wall softens the strong lines of this dynamic house. It’s simple, subtle and effective, rendered in the same alabaster masonry as the bulk of the house.


A multilevel cliffside house. Four levels of balconies and terraces are stacked on top of each other in this “scissoring” design, inspired by the natural rock ledges found on the coast of Sydney, Australia. The rounded corners add grace and elegance to the composition, helping the monumental house blend with its environment.

More:
Design School: Embrace the Curve
Sculptural Modern Homes Throw Architecture Some Curves

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