Visual Concrete: Aesthetics and Good Practice

Once they remained hidden, but concrete walls, ceilings and columns are now being left exposed as designers rediscover the visual impact of concrete, and clients appreciate the unrivalled energy-saving potential of its thermal mass. For designers the excitement is in turning a building’s structural elements into an artistic statement that, in addition to being a visual backdrop, plays a central role in a building’s performance. For clients the appeal is not only exciting architecture but also cost and carbon savings.

Exposed visual concrete comes in many guises. It takes the shape and relief of whatever surface it is cast against, offering the potential to create elegant straight lines or complex geometries, whilst the addition of different coloured pigments or aggregates can add a whole new aesthetic dimension. In conjunction with profiled form-liners or surface finishing techniques, patterns, texture and even photographic images are possible, creating interesting and durable surfaces that can last the lifetime of a building with little need of maintenance. However, to be successful, the specification of visual concrete, and ultimately its construction, requires detailed consideration. The desired finish will be a significant factor in determining the type of facing formwork required, but also potentially whether the concrete is best cast in situ or offsite.

The mix for cast in situ concrete has usually been specified by the structural engineer based on strength and durability requirements, and increasingly sustainability considerations. For visual concrete the mix should also be designed to aid placing and compaction, with sufficient cement content to achieve a quality surface finish. To establish the desired results when designing exposed precast panels, close collaboration with manufacturer and design team is essential. The location of the project can influence visual appearance as the constituents of concrete are locally sourced and vary depending on the local geology.

To aid designers in achieving visual concrete, The Concrete Centre is providing a free seminar to offer guidance for the specification and design of precast and cast in situ visual concrete. The event is free to attend, but prior registration prior to the event is required at www.concretecentre.com/events.

Exposed visual concrete provides a robust, low maintenance finish and thermal mass; achieving savings in capital spending in construction and maintenance for clients and reduced operation costs for tenants. Exposed concrete also reduces the building’s lifetime CO₂ impact and provides a safe, healthy and inorganic internal and external finish. As the operational CO₂ during a building’s life can be far higher than that used for its material production and construction, the use of exposed visual concrete can dramatically reduce a building’s environmental footprint.

Visual concrete provides a winning combination; it marries aesthetic aspiration with prosaic practicality. Designers are offered the opportunity to make an exciting visual statement that earns its keep with a wide range of performance benefits.

Relevant information:

• Visual Concrete Seminar: www.concretecentre.com/events
• How to achieve Visual Concrete: www.concretecentre.com/publications
• Thermal mass explained: www.concretecentre.com/publications

Written by Elaine Toogood, Architect, The Concrete Centre.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/europe-cis/24022014/visual_concrete_aesthetics_and_good_practice_796-/