DESIGNER CONCRETE L I M I T L E S S P O T E N T I A L
A PUBLICATION OF
CONTENTS FURNITURE 20
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14 FINISHES INTRO
KITCHEN COMMERCIAL
FIRE BATH
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INTRO
Concrete has been a workhorse of modern civilization for millennia. In the construction of roads, buildings, and bridges it has served to advance our interaction with the world and one another. The Romans developed and perfected the casting of unreinforced concrete for breathtaking structures like the dome of the Pantheon. Since then, concrete has been used in countless projects worldwide. Applications of the material are as varied as the architects and designers who employ its possibilities. These days, everyone has experienced concrete in some fashion, giving us preconceptions about what the material looks and feels like. If you ask five different people what first comes to mind when they think of concrete, you’ll likely get five different answers, making it difficult to successfully communicate the intentions of a project. Enter our Introductory Guide to Designer Concrete. This guide will serve to as an introduction to some of the possible uses for Designer Concrete. Each section contained in this guide will then be supplemented by a more in-depth guide with cut sheets, specifications, and case studies.
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Buddy Rhodes began his creative path with clay. He quickly became limited in the size of projects he could create due to the size of available kilns. So he created his own concrete mix that could be shaped like clay, but had the self-hardening nature of concrete. This unique and innovative spirit is what still drives Buddy Rhodes Concrete Products. What makes Buddy Rhodes Concrete Products unique is a high cement content, pozzolans (which are cementitious also) and ultra-fine aggregates that are blended into every bag. This makes for a quality finished concrete product whose compressive strength can reach upwards of 9,000 psi! Coupled with the fact that these mixes have been engineered for great workabililty, it’s no wonder that our mixes have become preferred by top concrete artisans around the world. 5
FINISHES
Finishes So far, we know that the flexibility of concrete means that everyone has their own idea of what concrete looks like, making it difficult to be on the same page. So let’s begin by discussing finishes. Once we have a common understanding of what we want the project to look like, we can begin to explore the shape and function of the finished project in various residential and commercial environments. Important terms to be aware of are Cast-in-Place and Precast. Cast-inPlace concrete will have either a troweled or polished finish and can be cast in longer spans, given proper consideration for reinforcement. Precast concrete is created off-site in a workshop and will open up more finish options as there are more possibilities in how it can be cast. Seams should be expected in precast projects. 7
FINISHES
Polished Polished finish is achieved by using diamond abrasives to remove the surface layer of the concrete after casting. This can be done to varying degrees. This photo shows an aggressively ground terrazzo, which has fully exposed all the aggregate in the mix. A ‘salt and pepper’ finish would be a much lighter polish, only exposing the sand in the mix. This finish can be achieved in either precast or cast-in-place. 8
FINISHES
Troweled To create this finish, a steel trowel is used to flatten and finish the concrete to varying degrees. This is a finish that reflects the hand of its maker. Full of character and variation, every piece will be different and unique. This finish can be achieved in either precast or cast-in-place. 9
FINISHES
Pressed This is Buddy Rhodes’ Signature technique. The concrete is pressed into precast forms, and excels for vertical surfaces with minimal effort. The color options are endless. The size of the voids depends on how soft, or fluid, your mix is along with how hard you press it into the forms. The voids are then backfilled with a cement slurry when the concrete has cured. This slurry can be the same color, complementary or contrasting. This is a Precast finish technique 10
FINISHES
High Spray This is a GFRC technique created when the mold is sprayed with variation, and often with different colors. It produces variations in tone and texture, either subtly or dramatically This is a Precast finish technique.
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FINISHES
Veined
Veined Finishes are achieved by mixing together two or more colors of wet mix before placing in the mold. There are a great number of ways to achieve this finish. This is a Precast finish technique.
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FINISHES
Cream This finish is accomplished when very little processing is done to a neatly cast piece. This finish requires significant attention to detail during the mold building process. It shows loads of character, while often being soft, muted, and monochromatic in appearance. This is a Precast finish technique. 13
FURNITURE
Furniture
Concrete’s ability to be cast into any shape allows for unmatched design potential. Sexy, curvy loungers, geometric tables and modular seating cubes just scratch the surface of shapes attainable with concrete. And since our concrete products can be cast ¾” thick, the weight is substantial enough to withstand high winds yet light enough to be easily moved. Another benefit to choosing concrete for your outdoor furniture is that unlike steel, wicker, plastic, and wood, the timeline for deterioration is measured in decades not seasons.
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FIRE
Fireplace Surrounds
The attraction of fire is undeniable. Leverage concrete to create distinctive fireplace surrounds that will take center stage in your clients' living spaces.
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BATH
SINKS
KITCHEN
KITCHENS
Kitchens One of the most popular known uses of designer concrete is one that Buddy Rhodes helped pioneer, concrete countertops. Integral drainboards, inlays and the various styles already presented allow for limitless design variations. Concrete is the original waterfall leg material, and can be made to appear nearly any thickness in a custom kitchen, when care is taken to design cabinets of appropriate height. Complementary backsplashes of the same material can be made in long spans to minimize seams as well. With the ability to match any color, you have the freedom to truly create your one-of-a-kind design. 21
COMMERCIAL
COMMERCIAL SPACES
Commercial Spaces All of the applications previously discussed can be utilized in commercial projects. Typically, this is where most designers and architects who realize the strengths of concrete as a design medium will really flex that muscle. Bars with big profiles, feature walls made to look like a log cabin, and even exterior cladding (more on that in another volume) make your commercial projects stand out. All of these elements can easily be branded in many ways to tie into your client’s marketing strategy. 23
WHAT WILL YOU DESIGN?
READY TO GET TECHNICAL? AS MENTIONED EARLIER, THIS IS JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG IN THE POSSIBILITIES WITH DESIGNER CONCRETE. IF ANYTHING YOU’VE SEEN IN THIS EBOOK STANDS OUT AND YOU WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION OR SPECIFICATIONS ON OUR PRODUCTS, HERE ARE SOME RESOURCES TO DIG INTO AND EMAIL ADDRESS TO CONTACT OUR TEAM. FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT. WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION. CHEERS, THE BUDDY RHODES ARCHITECTURAL TEAM WEBSITES: WWW.BUDDYRHODES.COM BLOG.BUDDYRHODES.COM INFO@BUDDYRHODES.COM
Photo Credits Buddy Rhodes Architectural would like to sincerely thank the artisans whose photography made this publication possible. Their continued support, both in providing images and being loyal customers, allows us to continue to push the envelope in our product offerings. We couldn’t do it without them! Click each artisan’s name to view their respective websites. Jimmy Hazel – Clastic Designs Jerrad Inlow – Elements Artisan Concrete Olga Ziemska – Olga Zimeska Studio Eric Boyd – Reaching Quiet Design Jonathan Haywood – Béton Studio Andrew Barber – Counterkulture Jason Pledger – Forever Design Michael Karmody Buddy Rhodes Studio