Flintstone Chic

There are so many wonderful things to say about concrete.

First off, you can make almost any shape you wish out of it. I know this because back when I was a first year architecture student, any structure I designed that I didn’t know how to engineer otherwise, I automatically decided that it was made out of concrete. Of course, there is lots of real world proof too! Just ask Zaha Hadid.

Second, it tends to be fairly environmentally friendly and limestone (and ingredient of cement*) is one of the most abundant materials on earth. (*cement is just one of the ingredient of concrete, for those of you who don’t know)

Thirdly, it can make coffee!!

You think I’m kidding?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am absolutely in love with this aesthetic (I love it almost as much as I love coffee, which is saying a lot because I really love coffee).

It is basically a metal working machine with a concrete encasing. The only downside for me is that it looks monstrously heavy. I have so many questions I want to ask the designer. Like where do you put the coffee? This is one of the reasons why I love it so much, because it is so mysterious.

The designer is LINSKIdesign.com . They have some other interesting stuff, like a concrete canoe and concrete speakers.

The goal of their work is to make concrete appliances into desirable consumer products.

Works for me! Where can I get one?!

Just Add Water

So who wants to talk about concrete? Anyone?

I know what you’re thinking…snooze fest

And yes, generally I would agree that plain old concrete is boring, but it doesn’t have to be that way…

Enter Concrete Canvas

     Image from Architerials

Although this little guy doesn’t always have the most glamorous of jobs, the range of its applications is astounding. This magical cloth can do everything from sandbag containment, dust suppressant, ditch lining, landing surfaces, formwork, spill containment, landfull lining, waterproofing, building cladding,  boat ramps, erosion control, water and septic tanks (got all this info from Architerials). Seriously…what can’t this stuff do?

Check out this shelter that was put up using the Concrete Canvas.

The best part: a structure like this can be put up in a matter of hours, and its so easy that 2 regular joes (or janes) can do it.

Here is the material being used as a ditch lining:

So how does it work?

“Concrete Canvas (CC) is a flexible cement impregnated fabric that hardens on hydration to form a thin, durable water proof and fire proof concrete layer. Essentially, it’s concrete on a roll, all you have to do is just add water.”   – http://www.concretecanvas.co.uk/