High-Tech Style Houses
Like the modernists of the 1920s, architects of the 1960s believed there was a “spirit of the times” and sought to express it through architecture. This search led to the development of the high-tech style (short for “high technology”), primarily driven by British and Italian architects. The spirit of the time was marked by rapid technological advancements, and high-tech architecture sought to incorporate innovations from industry, transportation, and space exploration. This raised a key question: why do people continue building houses from bulky, wasteful materials like brick, concrete, and wood? Perhaps houses should be made from lightweight, efficient materials such as metal and glass, which can be factory-produced and quickly assembled on-site.
Architects in the high-tech style viewed houses as industrial products, akin to machines, prioritizing efficiency and functionality over artistic expression. However, the signature elements of high-tech—an exposed metal frame, visible ventilation ducts and service pipes, and panoramic glazing—are often not the most economical construction solutions. This is where high-tech architecture departs from the industrial principle of “choose the simplest and cheapest method.”
High-Tech in Residential Architecture
One of the earliest examples of a private house in the high-tech style is the one-story “Wimbledon House,” also known as “Rogers House,” named after its creator, architect Richard Rogers. Along with Norman Foster and Italian architect Renzo Piano, Rogers is considered one of the founders of high-tech architecture. The project was intended to showcase a system for prefabricated houses that would enable the rapid construction of affordable homes. Rogers even claimed that Wimbledon House could help solve the housing crisis in the UK. While the house never went into mass production, even today it looks so modern that it could easily be mistaken for a minimalist country home, a style that has become very popular in recent years.
The elongated rectangular structure is built with a bright yellow metal frame, featuring panoramic glazing on the front and rear facades, and solid wall panels on the sides. Sliding partitions inside allow for a flexible, open-plan layout that can be adapted to the owner’s needs. The metal frame was designed to allow the house to be extended almost indefinitely in length.



Subsequent high-tech house designs often echo the Wimbledon House—elongated, typically single-story structures with flat roofs and fully or mostly glazed facades. Rectangular or square shapes are favored, and materials typically include metal, glass, and occasionally concrete. The classic color palette for high-tech house design is monochromatic, with black, white, and gray tones. Metallic finishes or cool shades of beige and gray are also common.
The high-tech style emphasizes the visible presence of mechanical systems in both the exterior and interior design of buildings, so ventilation pipes and service ducts are often deliberately exposed, giving the house a more “industrial” appearance. This approach simplifies many aspects of engineering design, as it eliminates the need to conceal systems within ceilings or walls.
While some may find such homes too stark or cold, high-tech elements remain popular today, especially among those who prefer minimalist interiors. Rogers drew inspiration from his own house when designing the famous Pompidou Centre, and the high-tech houses in the images below continue to inspire those seeking to escape from excessive “visual noise” and ornamentation.