Why Concrete?
Concrete is an extraordinary material that is practical,
expressive, and aesthetic all at once. From a primal and formless
slurry, you can transform it into virtually any shape that becomes
a solid mass. The possibilities for creative expression are endless.
You can grind, polish, stamp, stain it, or truely personalize
it by embeding meaningful objects within it.
Concrete has substance and mass, permanence and warmth. It feels
earthy, and is at home in both traditional and modern settings.
It assumes forms that irrevocably touch our daily lives-bridges,
highways, floors, walls... even countertops. Concrete is also
surprisingly tactile. Cast and shaped, it can feel like stone
rounded by the sea.
Textured and colored, it can echo the patina of timeworn tile.
Because of its adaptability, concrete finds itself welcome in
all areas of the home, especially in the kitchen and bath, but
also in fireplaces, patios, garden paths, or water features. Concrete
can also be used as a floor material with enormous creative advantages
whether seeded, stained, stamped, broomed or diamond-finished.
It can be a sole performer or play the supporting role to tile,
mosaics, decorative aggregates, stone, wood, or metal. It is inexpensive,
durable, noncombustible, impervious to decay, and also very effective
for passive solar gain in the right application.
-Fu-Tung
Cheng