In a leafy neighbourhood of Dallas, Texas, architecture firm Specht Novak completed a modern home that makes one material the undeniable star of the show, concrete.
From the moment you approach the house, it is clear this is not simply a structural choice. The prominent design element is a series of concrete walls with a distinctive corrugated appearance, giving the exterior a sculptural quality that shifts with the light. Rather than blending quietly into the background, the walls command attention, turning what is often considered a heavy, utilitarian material into something expressive and refined.
The home, known as Preston Hollow House, is designed to blur the line between indoors and out. Heavy concrete walls extend from the interior of the house outward into the surrounding landscape, creating a seamless architectural flow. Above, a floating pavilion roof appears to hover effortlessly over both interior and exterior spaces, reinforcing the sense that the house is defined by planes and surfaces rather than enclosed rooms.
These concrete walls were cast using custom-fabricated formwork that created the corrugated effect. The technique is deliberate and highly controlled, allowing one side of the wall to remain smooth while the other is deeply textured. The result is a facade that plays with shadow and pattern throughout the day, constantly shifting as the Texas sun moves across the sky.
Scott Specht, founder of Specht Architects, explains, “This technique, a staple of brutalist architecture from the 1960’s and ‘70’s creates a play of shadows and pattern that changes throughout the day.”
In this house, that historical reference is reinterpreted for a contemporary setting. Unlike the stark severity often associated with mid-century brutalism, these monolithic walls are balanced by delicate steel columns and expansive glass panels, softening the overall effect.
The concrete does not stop at the exterior. Inside the living room, the corrugated detailing reappears in the fireplace surround. Here, the vertical lines of the textured surface introduce a striking focal point while also subtly enhancing the sense of height. The repetition of the material draws a direct visual link between inside and out, reinforcing the architectural narrative that runs through the entire home.
Water further strengthens that connection. A narrow channel begins near the main entry, where a gentle waterfall and cascading terraces introduce movement and sound. The stream flows through the house before continuing into the swimming pool, visually stitching together courtyard, interior, and landscape.
Specht Architects has shaped a house where corrugated walls do more than enclose rooms. They create atmosphere, rhythm, and a lasting visual impact that evolves from morning to night.