Introducing an innovative use in association with novel aesthetics: Creacrete™ is a concrete based material which is highly dense and compact and makes for the first time thin-walled objects with glossy surfaces possible. Creacrete™ explores new sides of concrete with the aim to realise surfaces which are permanently glossy, abrasion- and acid-resistant, food safe, and hydrophobic.

Creacrete™ -exploring new sides of concrete     

Concrete is an omnipresent material in architecture and public space. Previous attempts to use it in product design lead to massive, heavy objects which were also limited in their formal design.
This work shows the possible innovative use of concrete as an alternative material for ceramics (floor and wall coverings, tiles, sanitary objects, decorative objects, facades, tableware).
High-Tech Concretes have little in common with performance features and typical appearances of conventional concrete. It was possible to show that filigree and thin-walled objects can be produced from this highly dense and compact material. Through the use of a special processing it is possible to create a glossy surface which is new to concrete.
Like ceramics need a glaze coating to be resistant to stains, concrete needs an adequate handling to make it resistant to stains and to safe edibles from its high pH-value.
This project shows the possibility to use concrete as a material for thin-walled but highly dense and highly compact objects with surfaces which can be glossy, resistant to acidity, food safe and hydrophobic.
The use of concrete shortens the production process compared to the use of ceramics because it cuts down on the two firings -which could result in reducing energy input and expenses. The simplified production process also allows new liberty for the shaping process.

Awards:

IF Concept Award Material

Lucky Strike Junior Designer Award / Special Mention

Quelle Innovationspreis / Complemantary Award

Creacrete got selected by New York based magazine Architectural Record to be
«one of the year's best prototype designs of the year»

Material ConneXion´s Certificate of Material Exellence 2008 Category Process