# Rusted Steel Houses 'Grow Box' Finds Style in Decay with Its Steel Facade By Joey Haar | Published 2016-07-21 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/steel-house References: [design-milk](http://design-milk.com/grow-box-merge-architects/) & [mergearchitects](http://mergearchitects.com/grow-box/) Pristine and clean homes have been a point of emphasis for generations of mothers, but 'Grow Box', a steel house, is bucking that matronly advice with its weathered, false decay. The residential project, found in Lexington, Massachusetts, was built by MERGE Architects. Oddly enough, the reasoning behind the [rusted steel exterior](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/river-hills-residence) has to do with nature, not industry. The steel house is surrounded by dozens of varieties of Japanese maples that the home owners were not willing to cut down or detract from when building their house. As such, the architects chose rusted steel for the home's facade in order to closely match the color of the maple tree bark, and were able to build Grow Box with "[slot gardens](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rua-polnia-house)" that kept them from uprooting trees. Though industrial and dirty without context, Grow Box is a steel house that is natural, clean, and eco-conscious. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.0/10 - Popularity: 82% | Activity: 61% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 30% men, 70% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Home](https://www.trendhunter.com/home) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Weathered Steel Homes:** Opportunity for architects to design residential projects with weathered steel exteriors, offering a unique and natural aesthetic. - **Eco-conscious Architecture:** Advancement in sustainable building practices, using materials like rusted steel to create eco-friendly homes that blend with the surrounding environment. - **Integration of Nature in Design:** Incorporating natural elements, such as rusted steel facades, to harmonize with the landscape and preserve existing flora. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Architecture:** Architects can explore using weathered steel and other sustainable materials to create innovative residential designs with a focus on environmental compatibility. - **Construction:** Construction companies can embrace new techniques and materials, like rusted steel, in their projects to meet the increasing demand for eco-friendly and nature-integrated homes. - **Landscape Design:** Landscape designers have an opportunity to collaborate with architects and developers to create cohesive designs that seamlessly blend built structures with the surrounding natural environment. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Steel-Wrapped Contemporary Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bully-hill-house.md) - [Corten Steel Home Extensions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rusty-house.md) - [Steel Facade-Wrapped Residences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bomun-house.md) - [Minimal Mountain Retreats](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/caju-house.md) - [Gridded Steel Framed Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/house-xo.md) - [Corten Steel Unconventional Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/la-stanza-che-non-c.md) - [Raw Blackened-Wood Family Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/yamaguchicho-house.md) - [Weathering Steel-Clad Retreats](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/river-hills-residence.md) - [Black-Metal Angled Holiday Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shadow-box-house.md)