Concrete In Retail Spaces Carley Zimmerman HCIA 303 Carley Zimmerman HCIA 303

Gray Concrete   A design company from the UK integrating concrete designs into retail, residential and many more spaces   A design company from the UK integrating concrete designs into retail, residential and many more spaces

Why Use Gray Concrete?  Can be mixed with virtually any color  Can be cast into just about any shape imaginable  Can be produced with any finish whether matte or rough or mirrored polish  Any texture can be pressed or designed and many other materials can be molded in, applied to, cured with with etching and sandblasting  Great material for repetitious designs, use the same mould  Glass reinforced concrete is made to be lighter in weight  Is strong, durable, waterproof, won’t chip  Glass reinforced concrete can be made as thin as 8mm.  Much more popular when it comes to furniture and sculpture design  Can be mixed with virtually any color  Can be cast into just about any shape imaginable  Can be produced with any finish whether matte or rough or mirrored polish  Any texture can be pressed or designed and many other materials can be molded in, applied to, cured with with etching and sandblasting  Great material for repetitious designs, use the same mould  Glass reinforced concrete is made to be lighter in weight  Is strong, durable, waterproof, won’t chip  Glass reinforced concrete can be made as thin as 8mm.  Much more popular when it comes to furniture and sculpture design

Gray Concrete  Using the incredible versatility of concrete they develop and manufacture work for exhibition, retail and domestic spaces.  From large structures, and cladding systems to domestic furniture; concrete offers almost infinite possibilities of texture, color, shape and scale.  For interior or exterior applications their work is long lasting and beautiful.  Using the incredible versatility of concrete they develop and manufacture work for exhibition, retail and domestic spaces.  From large structures, and cladding systems to domestic furniture; concrete offers almost infinite possibilities of texture, color, shape and scale.  For interior or exterior applications their work is long lasting and beautiful.

Manolo Blanik, Dublin  Concrete wall paper and Georgian joinery.  A high end retail space showing how an apparently crude material can be used for a fine finish.  This is an inexpensive and environmentally friendly material.  It makes a huge impression on viewers and is a unique approach to design.  Concrete wall paper and Georgian joinery.  A high end retail space showing how an apparently crude material can be used for a fine finish.  This is an inexpensive and environmentally friendly material.  It makes a huge impression on viewers and is a unique approach to design.

Summerlee Industrial Heritage Museum  Octagonal structures, built off site from rough shuttered and polished Glass Reinforced Concrete.  With the ability to cast any shape or size the concrete is able to envelope the entire determined space  Octagonal structures, built off site from rough shuttered and polished Glass Reinforced Concrete.  With the ability to cast any shape or size the concrete is able to envelope the entire determined space

 With the ability to press textures and materials into the concrete, the finish is never the same  Able to mix in any color to create the perfect structure in the client’s eyes  With the ability to press textures and materials into the concrete, the finish is never the same  Able to mix in any color to create the perfect structure in the client’s eyes

Vaults Floor, Edinburgh Castle  Production of a 70m2 concrete floor, that both replicates and protects the existing 17th century brick.  The 5200 bricks were cast from sections of the original surface, and placed in a 40mm thick floating screed that can be removed without damaging the original floor that lies beneath.  Production of a 70m2 concrete floor, that both replicates and protects the existing 17th century brick.  The 5200 bricks were cast from sections of the original surface, and placed in a 40mm thick floating screed that can be removed without damaging the original floor that lies beneath.

 This is an interesting way of approaching renovations and restorations without harming the original but also staying true to the design

Furniture  Concrete can also be used to mould furniture and the like  Furniture projects include kitchen work surfaces, sinks, baths, hearths, fire surrounds and exterior planters and benches.  Concrete can also be used to mould furniture and the like  Furniture projects include kitchen work surfaces, sinks, baths, hearths, fire surrounds and exterior planters and benches.

Pros of Concrete  Recycled aggregates are replacing newly mined gravel.  Using thermal-mass, less energy is needed to heat and cool the home, lessening the long-term environmental impact of the building.  Concrete is one of the cheapest building materials available for home construction.  Concrete is 100% recyclable and is being increasingly produced from recycled materials.  Concrete is a natural, inert material. It has low VOC emissions and so does not degrade indoor air quality. Concrete floors can help reduce allergies.  Recycled aggregates are replacing newly mined gravel.  Using thermal-mass, less energy is needed to heat and cool the home, lessening the long-term environmental impact of the building.  Concrete is one of the cheapest building materials available for home construction.  Concrete is 100% recyclable and is being increasingly produced from recycled materials.  Concrete is a natural, inert material. It has low VOC emissions and so does not degrade indoor air quality. Concrete floors can help reduce allergies.

Cons of Concrete  Quarrying billions of tons of limestone degrades the landscape  Transporting heavy materials pollutes the air  The production process uses large amounts of electricity (consuming up to 2% of electricity in the world)  Water is used, and often wasted, during manufacture and, unless managed well, ground water and river systems can be polluted  Creating active lime, the main part of cement, results in CO2 emissions (about 1 ton per 1 ton of cement produced, resulting in about 8% of the CO2 produced worldwide)  Quarrying billions of tons of limestone degrades the landscape  Transporting heavy materials pollutes the air  The production process uses large amounts of electricity (consuming up to 2% of electricity in the world)  Water is used, and often wasted, during manufacture and, unless managed well, ground water and river systems can be polluted  Creating active lime, the main part of cement, results in CO2 emissions (about 1 ton per 1 ton of cement produced, resulting in about 8% of the CO2 produced worldwide)

I didn’t know this about concrete until after researching:  Concrete is a very versatile design material  Not only can it make the structure of a space but it can decorate it as well  Useful for moulds or castings  Can be made to be much lighter  While there are some pollution issues related with concrete production, they seem less severe then major gas omissions that other man-made products produce  Concrete is a very versatile design material  Not only can it make the structure of a space but it can decorate it as well  Useful for moulds or castings  Can be made to be much lighter  While there are some pollution issues related with concrete production, they seem less severe then major gas omissions that other man-made products produce