Chimney Designs That Go Above and Beyond
Whether a masonry, metal or chase-style chimney, these 10 showstoppers do more than just blow smoke
A chimney serves a very functional purpose: to carry smoke from the house and feed a fire with air. But it can also be a statement-making design feature on the exterior of a home. Chimneys should look like an integral part of the whole home design, lest they look like an afterthought. Visually, they should contribute to the volume and mass of a home so as to add colour and texture, a decorative flair, or an industrial or rustic aesthetic.
There are three main types of chimney: masonry chimneys built from stone and mortar, bricks, or blocks; prefabricated metal chimneys; and chase chimneys, which are prefabricated metal chimneys encased in ‘faux’ masonry or siding. Here we consider the three types of chimneys and present 10 examples of designs that stylishly tower above the rest.
There are three main types of chimney: masonry chimneys built from stone and mortar, bricks, or blocks; prefabricated metal chimneys; and chase chimneys, which are prefabricated metal chimneys encased in ‘faux’ masonry or siding. Here we consider the three types of chimneys and present 10 examples of designs that stylishly tower above the rest.
2. Mid-century style
Stone fireplaces and chimneys proved to be all the rage in the mid-20th century. This house, built in 1978 and recently renovated, maintains its mid-century style with a stone chimney and stone fireplace. The textured and irregular stone provides an impressive contrast to the sleek white house with clean lines and bold black windows. The architects at KTR Creations have reduced the effect of this contrast by book-ending the stone chimney with white columns on either side. This simple architectural strategy visually and physically integrates the chimney with the rest of the house.
Stone fireplaces and chimneys proved to be all the rage in the mid-20th century. This house, built in 1978 and recently renovated, maintains its mid-century style with a stone chimney and stone fireplace. The textured and irregular stone provides an impressive contrast to the sleek white house with clean lines and bold black windows. The architects at KTR Creations have reduced the effect of this contrast by book-ending the stone chimney with white columns on either side. This simple architectural strategy visually and physically integrates the chimney with the rest of the house.
3. Bold volume
Luigi Rosselli Architects has definitely taken advantage of the chimney as an exterior design element of this house aptly named ‘Chimney by the Beach’. The house features fluid organic forms that culminate in a two-storey chimney reminiscent of a funnel or smokestack on a ship. The chimney blends seamlessly with the bold volumes of the house and effectively makes the chimney an essential element of the entire architectural composition.
Luigi Rosselli Architects has definitely taken advantage of the chimney as an exterior design element of this house aptly named ‘Chimney by the Beach’. The house features fluid organic forms that culminate in a two-storey chimney reminiscent of a funnel or smokestack on a ship. The chimney blends seamlessly with the bold volumes of the house and effectively makes the chimney an essential element of the entire architectural composition.
4. Modernist shape
Architecture practice Kennedy Nolan renovated this Melbourne house to create a contemporary home with modernist features – specifically with an attention to shape, mass and volume. The angled chimney ventilates an outdoor fireplace in the courtyard of the house and has a commanding presence atop the stark white structure. The defining external features – the fence, the walls, the chimney – all progressively regress into the open space of the courtyard in much the same way as the chimney diminishes in size as it reaches skyward.
Architecture practice Kennedy Nolan renovated this Melbourne house to create a contemporary home with modernist features – specifically with an attention to shape, mass and volume. The angled chimney ventilates an outdoor fireplace in the courtyard of the house and has a commanding presence atop the stark white structure. The defining external features – the fence, the walls, the chimney – all progressively regress into the open space of the courtyard in much the same way as the chimney diminishes in size as it reaches skyward.
PREFABRICATED CHIMNEYS
Prefabricated chimneys may be added to an existing house or integrated into a house at build. Prefabricated chimneys have a life expectancy of approximately 10 to 15 years and parts can be replaced over time if need be. They are typically more efficient than masonry chimneys, having been specifically designed to burn hotter and cleaner while using less fuel.
5. Industrial aesthetic
At its most basic, a prefabricated chimney is simply a metal pipe that runs up past the roof and allows exhaust gases to exit the home. They are a relatively modern addition to many homes; and in the case of this vineyard tasting room, add an industrial aesthetic. Here, four prefab chimneys are grouped together to serve both an indoor stove and an outdoor fireplace.
Prefabricated chimneys may be added to an existing house or integrated into a house at build. Prefabricated chimneys have a life expectancy of approximately 10 to 15 years and parts can be replaced over time if need be. They are typically more efficient than masonry chimneys, having been specifically designed to burn hotter and cleaner while using less fuel.
5. Industrial aesthetic
At its most basic, a prefabricated chimney is simply a metal pipe that runs up past the roof and allows exhaust gases to exit the home. They are a relatively modern addition to many homes; and in the case of this vineyard tasting room, add an industrial aesthetic. Here, four prefab chimneys are grouped together to serve both an indoor stove and an outdoor fireplace.
6. Contemporary statement
It’s hard to ignore the bold design of the chimney in this house, which features strong rectangular forms throughout its architecture and interior design. A prefabricated metal chimney has been framed in a large concrete rectangle, and this is reflected in the shapes that make up the rest of the house.
It’s hard to ignore the bold design of the chimney in this house, which features strong rectangular forms throughout its architecture and interior design. A prefabricated metal chimney has been framed in a large concrete rectangle, and this is reflected in the shapes that make up the rest of the house.
CHASE CHIMNEYS
Chase chimneys are prefabricated metal chimneys running up inside a wood-framed, metal-sided, or masonry column or cover (the chase). A chase chimney offers the efficiency of a prefabricated chimney teamed with the structural aesthetic of a masonry chimney. If you live in a home with an existing masonry chimney, you can, in many cases, insert a metal chimney flue to gain the benefits of a prefabricated chimney without sacrificing the style of your house.
7. Material consideration
The chimneys pictured in the next two images are subtle in form and colour but still hold an important place in the architecture of each house. In the first, the chimney is notable for the materials used in its construction; in the second image, the chimneys add a sense of symmetry and balance to the low-profile building.
This residence features a copper-clad chimney connecting two gabled wings that shelter an internal courtyard. Inspired by the rugged coastline near which the house is built, architect Nick Noyes chose copper – as well as shingles and slate – to construct the home so that it would blend in with the local environment.
Chase chimneys are prefabricated metal chimneys running up inside a wood-framed, metal-sided, or masonry column or cover (the chase). A chase chimney offers the efficiency of a prefabricated chimney teamed with the structural aesthetic of a masonry chimney. If you live in a home with an existing masonry chimney, you can, in many cases, insert a metal chimney flue to gain the benefits of a prefabricated chimney without sacrificing the style of your house.
7. Material consideration
The chimneys pictured in the next two images are subtle in form and colour but still hold an important place in the architecture of each house. In the first, the chimney is notable for the materials used in its construction; in the second image, the chimneys add a sense of symmetry and balance to the low-profile building.
This residence features a copper-clad chimney connecting two gabled wings that shelter an internal courtyard. Inspired by the rugged coastline near which the house is built, architect Nick Noyes chose copper – as well as shingles and slate – to construct the home so that it would blend in with the local environment.
8. Balance and symmetry
Two fireplaces are located at one end of this New Zealand beach house – one to heat the indoors and the other to heat the outdoors. The incorporation of two chimneys that are separate but close together provides balance to the house and its long, low and boxy proportions.
Two fireplaces are located at one end of this New Zealand beach house – one to heat the indoors and the other to heat the outdoors. The incorporation of two chimneys that are separate but close together provides balance to the house and its long, low and boxy proportions.
9. Contrast and texture
This concrete chase chimney is designed to be a fully integrated element of the architecture of the house. The design is all about texture and contrast – note the horizontal lines left as impressions in the concrete chimney as a result of the formwork used to construct it, and how these run in contrast to the vertical wooden cladding of the house. The solid mass of the chimney also serves to visually anchor the house.
This concrete chase chimney is designed to be a fully integrated element of the architecture of the house. The design is all about texture and contrast – note the horizontal lines left as impressions in the concrete chimney as a result of the formwork used to construct it, and how these run in contrast to the vertical wooden cladding of the house. The solid mass of the chimney also serves to visually anchor the house.
10. Sloping planes
Sloping roofs are an interesting architectural feature on their own. Add a chimney to the mix – particularly one that also has sloping lines – and you have a house that comprises a series of interesting and intersecting planes. The chimney pictured here also features an elegant tapering shape, which, because it does not reach beyond the upper roofline, doesn’t break the dynamic planes of the house.
TELL US
Does your house have a chimney as a distinctive element of its architectural design? If so, we would love to see your high-resolution pictures in the Comments section.
MORE
What to Consider When Renovating a House in a Heritage Overlay
Winter Warmers: Where to Put the Fireplace
Sloping roofs are an interesting architectural feature on their own. Add a chimney to the mix – particularly one that also has sloping lines – and you have a house that comprises a series of interesting and intersecting planes. The chimney pictured here also features an elegant tapering shape, which, because it does not reach beyond the upper roofline, doesn’t break the dynamic planes of the house.
TELL US
Does your house have a chimney as a distinctive element of its architectural design? If so, we would love to see your high-resolution pictures in the Comments section.
MORE
What to Consider When Renovating a House in a Heritage Overlay
Winter Warmers: Where to Put the Fireplace
Masonry chimneys are part of a home’s structural design. They typically last longer than prefabricated metal chimneys and, with regular maintenance, withstand decades of heat and fire.
1. Heritage value
Chimneys are characteristic of Australian Federation villas. They reinforce the overall symmetry of the house, add height, and draw the eye-line upwards. The architects that designed such chimneys as part of Federation house plans incorporated intricate brickwork, rough-cast rendering and chimney pots as a show of status and taste, bringing style and grandeur to a home. If you’re renovating a historic villa, maintaining or restoring the chimney (or chimneys) will help retain your home’s heritage value and distinctive exterior aesthetic.
More on Federation houses