Seven cliff homes for when you want a room with a view

Architects all over the world are overcoming their fear of heights and putting forward radical designs for homes built into cliff faces.

While some are unlikely to ever come to fruition, others are now in the pipeline.

Take a look at what these adventurous homes could be like for those of us who don’t suffer from vertigo.

Aqua Casa

First cab off the rank is Aqua Casa, a reinforced concrete concept from Dubai designer Belkharmoudi Aziz.

Like all good luxury complexes it comes with a helipad and a pool on the roof. It’s designed to sit over the water, with views from almost every room in house.

Aqua Casa. Photo: Belkharmoudi Aziz

Mirage Project, Tinos Island, Greece

Kois Associated Architects have come up with this idea for a residence for the “Island of Madonna”, known for its scenery and quaint villages.

Its 198-square-metre floor plan is spread over a single level, with a rimless pool on the roof echoing the horizon.

Casa Brutale, Lebanon

Also originally planned to overlook the Aegean Sea, Casa Brutale, from Open Platform for Architecture, is slated to be built in Lebanon.

The striking 270-square-metre home has room for six people and would sit entirely below ground, embedded into the side of the cliff.

Oh, and it will have – that’s right – a pool on the roof. It’s quite the trend, and it should look amazing when it’s finished.

Casa del Ancantilado, Salobrena, Spain 

Completely different (although it does have a pool), this house from Gilbartolome Architects is built into the cliff to keep the interiors cool in summer, and provides a scenic view of the Mediterranean sea.

It’s built into the side of a steep hill using a traditional approach with local labour, and was commissioned by a young couple who wanted a home in harmony with its surrounding climate.

Casa del Ancantilado. Photo: Gilbartolome Architects

The Cliff Retreat, Ireland

Back in the realm of digitally-rendered concrete, this amazing design from Alex Hogrefe is all flat panels cutting dramatically into the earth, saluting the contrast between the sweeping natural beauty and clean modern lines.

Large floor-to-ceiling windows make appreciating the view easy and there’s a delightfully spacious interior to float around in as well.

Cliff House, Australia

And if you don’t want to tunnel into the side of your local neighbourhood’s looming cliff face, Modscape has designed a five-storey house to hang off it.

Taken from the idea of a barnacle, the concept would take advantage of modular and prefab design and be attached to the earth by engineered steel pins.

Cliff House. Photo: Modscape

Cliffhaven, Utah

So here’s the thing – this house doesn’t have a pool in the roof, or a proliferation of smooth concrete walls or brutalist stylings, but it is real, lovingly crafted and even better – on the market for $US989,900 ($1.29 million).

The 195-square-metre home is mostly off the grid, comes with fruit orchards and overlooks the Montezuma Canyon.