# Board-Marked Concrete Facades This Narrow French Townhouse Features a Textured Concrete Exterior By David Ingram | Published 2015-10-15 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/boardmarked References: [dezeen](http://www.dezeen.com/2015/10/14/cap-house-marseille-townhouse-acau-architects-board-marked-concrete-walls-angular-bays-france/) & [acau-architectes](http://www.acau-architectes.com/maison-de-ville-cap-marseille/) French architectural firm ACAU Architects designed this narrow family home on the outskirts of Marseille, France with a board-marked raw concrete exterior. Measuring in at 1500 square feet, the 'Cap House' was built under both budgetary and size constraints due to the townhouse's location -- a narrow plot of land that sits between two other existing homes. To help distinguish the residence from other homes in the area, the designers decided to utilize a raw concrete facade that was board-marked to resemble the look of a wooden building. Besides the concrete facade, the three storey Cap House also features an angular bay window, a concealed roof terrace and a combined guest bedroom, garage and workshop located on the ground floor. The choice of utilizing a concrete structure also removes the need for columns, allowing for an open floor plan on the inside with plenty of glass walls to help filter in natural light. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.3/10 - Popularity: 56% | Activity: 35% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Board-marked Concrete Facades:** Board-marked raw concrete facades are becoming increasingly popular among architects looking to create unique and durable building designs. - **Narrow Plot Architecture:** Architectural firms are creating innovative design solutions for narrow plots of land, such as utilizing vertical space and unconventional room layouts to maximize useable space. - **Open Floor Plans with Glass Walls:** Open floor plans and glass walls are being combined to create bright and airy living and work spaces, inviting the outdoors in and promoting a collaborative environment. ### Who This Affects Most - **Architecture:** Architects and builders have the opportunity to experiment with unconventional materials and design for narrow plots of land, creating unique and cost-effective structures for their clients. - **Construction:** Board-marked concrete facades provide an opportunity for construction companies to offer clients more durable and eco-friendly building materials as an alternative to traditional wood and brick. - **Interior Design:** Open floor plans and glass walls offer interior designers a chance to create modern and bright living and work environments, encouraging creative collaborations and promoting healthy work habits. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Cast Concrete London Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bureau-de-change-1.md) - [Raw Concrete Industrial Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/house-in-nishizaki.md) - [Concrete House Renos](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mar-vista-house.md) - [Communal Concrete Home Projects](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/house-c.md) - [Hillside Concrete Retreats](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/concrete-house-1.md) - [Black-Concrete Mountain Houses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/black-house-1.md) - [Cast-Concrete Cooling Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fr-house.md) - [Refreshing Micro-Living Compact Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sffr-house.md) - [Concrete Brutalist Hilltop Residences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pedro-domingos-arquitectos.md)