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For a cost-conscious 2,000-square-foot renovation located 30 minutes outside of Austin, Texas, architect Nick Deaver took a look around for inspiration. He spied galvanized metal cladding on the region’s sheds and co-opted the inexpensive, resilient material for his own design.
For a cost-conscious 2,000-square-foot renovation located 30 minutes outside of Austin, Texas, architect Nick Deaver took a look around for inspiration. He spied galvanized metal cladding on the region’s sheds and co-opted the inexpensive, resilient material for his own design.
The 925-square-foot house Maggie Treanor calls home blends into the landscape somewhat; with a galvanized steel shed roof and siding, it looks like a high-design little brother to the barns on the surrounding farms.
The 925-square-foot house Maggie Treanor calls home blends into the landscape somewhat; with a galvanized steel shed roof and siding, it looks like a high-design little brother to the barns on the surrounding farms.
“There’s a presence to that place—it’s vast, and constantly shifting,” Moffitt says. “It was clear that this house should be an observation shed for the changing landscape beyond.”
“There’s a presence to that place—it’s vast, and constantly shifting,” Moffitt says. “It was clear that this house should be an observation shed for the changing landscape beyond.”
Architects Alice Fung and Michael Blatt designed their own home in Los Angeles, complete with a modern fireplace design clad in galvanized steel.
Architects Alice Fung and Michael Blatt designed their own home in Los Angeles, complete with a modern fireplace design clad in galvanized steel.
Container Store finds, like galvanized-steel shelving in the kitchen, maximize storage.
Container Store finds, like galvanized-steel shelving in the kitchen, maximize storage.
The Premaydena House by Misho+Associates was designed as a "box within a box," in which two interior structures—an open-plan living space and two en suite bedrooms—sit within an exterior envelope. Inspired by the region’s fiery orange lichen and the indigenous waratah shrub’s bright flowers, the colorful exterior panels are made of heavy-duty galvanized steel to guard from Tasmanian winds, which can reach up to 60 miles per hour.
The Premaydena House by Misho+Associates was designed as a "box within a box," in which two interior structures—an open-plan living space and two en suite bedrooms—sit within an exterior envelope. Inspired by the region’s fiery orange lichen and the indigenous waratah shrub’s bright flowers, the colorful exterior panels are made of heavy-duty galvanized steel to guard from Tasmanian winds, which can reach up to 60 miles per hour.
Nouvel Approach When the Nouvel staircase proved too costly to copy, DeSalvo designed an affordable version. The treads are perforated bent steel plates that appear to float on a support tube, while the railings are made from tension cables and galvanized handrails and posts. It offers a similar level of architectural impact and sense of transparency at relatively low cost (both stairways, plus a matching catwalk, came in at $6,000).
Nouvel Approach When the Nouvel staircase proved too costly to copy, DeSalvo designed an affordable version. The treads are perforated bent steel plates that appear to float on a support tube, while the railings are made from tension cables and galvanized handrails and posts. It offers a similar level of architectural impact and sense of transparency at relatively low cost (both stairways, plus a matching catwalk, came in at $6,000).
These sleek, affordable planters from CB2 work well inside and out. From $7.95
These sleek, affordable planters from CB2 work well inside and out. From $7.95
"I really love concrete, raw brick, rusty metal and galvanized steel,
"I really love concrete, raw brick, rusty metal and galvanized steel,
The black roof and siding is all galvanized sheet metal painted black.
The black roof and siding is all galvanized sheet metal painted black.
"Bathroom #interiordesign in Barryville, NY, at the Stickett Inn."
"Bathroom #interiordesign in Barryville, NY, at the Stickett Inn."
Architect Max Levy designed a home in Dallas for Deborah Orrill and Blair Sanders using small but mighty design details, like a “martini deck” tucked atop the cylindrical entry, which is clad in raw, galvanized sheet metal.
Architect Max Levy designed a home in Dallas for Deborah Orrill and Blair Sanders using small but mighty design details, like a “martini deck” tucked atop the cylindrical entry, which is clad in raw, galvanized sheet metal.
In the dining room, a vintage galvanized-steel table from Dominio is paired with Eames DAR chairs and Sphere lamps by Bart Lens. The wall art, by Nan Groot Antink, depicts dyes derived from 78 Dutch plants and was found at an Utrecht museum show.
In the dining room, a vintage galvanized-steel table from Dominio is paired with Eames DAR chairs and Sphere lamps by Bart Lens. The wall art, by Nan Groot Antink, depicts dyes derived from 78 Dutch plants and was found at an Utrecht museum show.
The traditional Texan “Sunday House” is usually characterized by a detached barn that can both act as storage and host guests in hay lofts. Craig threw a nod to this architectural tradition with a barn-like palette of materials, such as galvanized metal siding and the exposed wood rafters.
The traditional Texan “Sunday House” is usually characterized by a detached barn that can both act as storage and host guests in hay lofts. Craig threw a nod to this architectural tradition with a barn-like palette of materials, such as galvanized metal siding and the exposed wood rafters.
The iconic Bistro Table and Chairs from French company Fermob is an outdoor dining set that has been in production for 125 years. Immediately recognizable, the Bistro collection is crafted in France from galvanized steel that has been powder coated with an anti-UV layer, ensuring that the colors will endure when used outdoors. With a slim profile, the Bistro set is ideal for use on a small patio or even a balcony. The set of two chairs and table are easy to fold, making for simple storage when not in use.
The iconic Bistro Table and Chairs from French company Fermob is an outdoor dining set that has been in production for 125 years. Immediately recognizable, the Bistro collection is crafted in France from galvanized steel that has been powder coated with an anti-UV layer, ensuring that the colors will endure when used outdoors. With a slim profile, the Bistro set is ideal for use on a small patio or even a balcony. The set of two chairs and table are easy to fold, making for simple storage when not in use.
“Previously, most of the windows were tall and narrow. It was difficult to take in the distant views or nice backyard,” Arbib says. Now “most rooms now have expansive views to the Hill Country or of the backyard... the house is flooded with natural light.” Milgard supplied the windows and sliding door.
“Previously, most of the windows were tall and narrow. It was difficult to take in the distant views or nice backyard,” Arbib says. Now “most rooms now have expansive views to the Hill Country or of the backyard... the house is flooded with natural light.” Milgard supplied the windows and sliding door.
Architect Philippe Baumann’s New York home has an upstairs shower with a perforated, galvanized-steel platforms, and an operable skylight above that brings out the best in the aqua green tiles.
Architect Philippe Baumann’s New York home has an upstairs shower with a perforated, galvanized-steel platforms, and an operable skylight above that brings out the best in the aqua green tiles.
The home’s oblique form is sided with board-formed concrete and galvanized metal, and it features a galvanized metal sun shade on the front facade.
The home’s oblique form is sided with board-formed concrete and galvanized metal, and it features a galvanized metal sun shade on the front facade.
The roof deck, with views of the nearby St. Augustine church and beyond to downtown Pittsburgh, features partially recycled plastic decking from Rhino Deck and a custom galvanized-steel railing with frosted Plexiglas panels. “Pittsburgh’s one of those cities that if you grew up here, it has a draw that pulls you back,” Moss says.
The roof deck, with views of the nearby St. Augustine church and beyond to downtown Pittsburgh, features partially recycled plastic decking from Rhino Deck and a custom galvanized-steel railing with frosted Plexiglas panels. “Pittsburgh’s one of those cities that if you grew up here, it has a draw that pulls you back,” Moss says.
Built of galvanized steel, the new front door conveys safety and security. The owners had previously experienced a break-in, and they thought a more imposing entrance could serve as a deterrent. Directly behind the entry is the courtyard linking the old and new buildings.
Built of galvanized steel, the new front door conveys safety and security. The owners had previously experienced a break-in, and they thought a more imposing entrance could serve as a deterrent. Directly behind the entry is the courtyard linking the old and new buildings.
The mottled patina of the galvanized steel will change as it ages.
The mottled patina of the galvanized steel will change as it ages.
The Rumspringa is clad with wood siding and a galvanized metal roof.
The Rumspringa is clad with wood siding and a galvanized metal roof.
A car port same the same galvanized metal roof as the house.
A car port same the same galvanized metal roof as the house.
Galvanized-aluminum flashing is used to hide lighting fixtures and to delineate the tops of the redwood-strip walls. “It’s a simple palette of materials,” says Bornstein.
Galvanized-aluminum flashing is used to hide lighting fixtures and to delineate the tops of the redwood-strip walls. “It’s a simple palette of materials,” says Bornstein.
The Sojourner tiny house was built atop a high-quality, galvanized trailer chassis.
The Sojourner tiny house was built atop a high-quality, galvanized trailer chassis.
The canopy and balcony at the east and west facades are made of galvanized black steel.
The canopy and balcony at the east and west facades are made of galvanized black steel.
The roof is standing-seam galvanized metal and the siding is Thermory driftwood.
The roof is standing-seam galvanized metal and the siding is Thermory driftwood.
For the roof, Andersson opted for tiles and plates made of galvanized steel sheets.
For the roof, Andersson opted for tiles and plates made of galvanized steel sheets.
The galvanized metal exterior cladding is easy to maintain and will age well over time.
The galvanized metal exterior cladding is easy to maintain and will age well over time.
Galvanized steel is used to bridge the gap between natural landscape and structure in the entryway of the house.
Galvanized steel is used to bridge the gap between natural landscape and structure in the entryway of the house.
The dark stained cedar exteriors, and galvanized metal roofs, house bright, warm interiors.
The dark stained cedar exteriors, and galvanized metal roofs, house bright, warm interiors.
An aluminum bench harmonizes with the industrial nature of the galvanized-steel walls and the polished concrete floor.
An aluminum bench harmonizes with the industrial nature of the galvanized-steel walls and the polished concrete floor.
The cypress pine–clad terrace warms the cooler texture of the board-formed concrete and galvanized steel exterior siding.
The cypress pine–clad terrace warms the cooler texture of the board-formed concrete and galvanized steel exterior siding.
Brammy and Kyprianou hardly touched the front of their house, an 1880 sandstone and brick Victorian with galvanized iron ornamentation.
Brammy and Kyprianou hardly touched the front of their house, an 1880 sandstone and brick Victorian with galvanized iron ornamentation.
The galvanized steel frames, visible from both the interior and exterior, create a repetitive rhythm along the north and south elevations.
The galvanized steel frames, visible from both the interior and exterior, create a repetitive rhythm along the north and south elevations.
The upstairs showers are particularly ingenious: Operable skylights loom above, and perforated, galvanized-steel platforms open up to spacious, sunken bathtubs.
The upstairs showers are particularly ingenious: Operable skylights loom above, and perforated, galvanized-steel platforms open up to spacious, sunken bathtubs.

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