Residential architecture explores some of the most radical and opulent designs. While current trends tend to focus on size and sustainability, there are a few architectural designs that are pushing the physical limitations on which a home can be built. Houses built on cliffs have been around for a long time, however these modern examples prove that houses can also be built into cliffs.

Casa Del Acantilado, designed by GilBartolome Architecture, is a residence in Salobrena, Spain. It is juxtaposed into its surroundings with a scaly façade, with smooth curves that give occupants a panoramic view of the Mediterranean Sea.

The Casa Brutale concept from Open Platform for Architects(OPA) is a vacation concept home that is carved into a cliff that overlooks the Aegean Sea. The abundance of prefabricated concrete used to shape the monolithic home also seems to blend within the cliff itself. OPA states, “Casa Brutale redefines the harmonious coexistence of human and nature in a poetic homage to pure Brutalism.”

Although not built directly into a cliff, the Modscape concept prefab cliff concept home in Australia still pushes boundaries by extending the house off of the cliff, rather than being built into the face of it. This cantilevered design allows for a more immersive view of the water than the previous examples.

While two of these three houses remain concepts, it seems as if architecture and engineering have been working in harmony in order to overcome the limitations on environments that were once deemed inhabitable. Nevertheless, these cliff houses are more likely to carry exorbitant price tags, considering the construction would still be very difficult.

Images and information courtesy of © Joquz, OPA and Inhabitat.