A decorative finish for concrete work; achieved by removing the outer skin of mortar, generally before the concrete has fully hardened, and exposing the coarse aggregate.
Architectural concrete may be structural or just an external finish/cladding. The choice would be dictated by the weight considerations. For most projects, the architectural concrete layer (especially for building facades) usually takes the structural loads.
CHARACTERISTICS:
Concrete is a unique building material in that it begins as a liquid and ends as a solid, and thus is constructed twice – once as formwork; once as concrete.
When exposed to view as architectural poured concrete, this method of construction reveals the history of the fabrication, leaving a palimpsest of the molded textures of the formwork. Be it the grain of plywood, the lines of the board forms, or the jointing of fiberglass panels, the pentimento of the container remains.
The formwork characteristics, along with the ties that brace the forms, color, finish, and jointing, provide a myriad of choices for the designer to consider.
Tensile ties are required to prevent the spread and failure of the formwork under the pressure of the liquid concrete being poured into the forms.
Their location and pattern is a product of coordination between the architect and structural engineer as their indentations remain on the surface of the finished product.
The color of concrete is affected by the sand in the mixture while the finish of the concrete is affected by the admixtures to create a sheen or a matte surface.
Textures can range from super smooth with use of a steel or fiberglass form and a fine aggregate to a rough brutal finish created by post-curing techniques such as sandblasting or bush hammering to expose the aggregate beneath the surface.
The size of the panels of the formwork determines the spacing of joints as well as the form patterning; typical are 8- and 10-foot spans and 2-inch boards. The joints between panels can be enhanced and revealed by the addition of shaped strips in the formwork. The joint can be deep to provide a dark line, protrude to catch sunlight and cast a shadow, or be reduced to appear nonexistent by a butt joint.
Architectural concrete may be structural or just an external finish/cladding. The choice would be dictated by the weight considerations. For most projects, the architectural concrete layer (especially for building facades) usually takes the structural loads.
CHARACTERISTICS:
Concrete is a unique building material in that it begins as a liquid and ends as a solid, and thus is constructed twice – once as formwork; once as concrete.
When exposed to view as architectural poured concrete, this method of construction reveals the history of the fabrication, leaving a palimpsest of the molded textures of the formwork. Be it the grain of plywood, the lines of the board forms, or the jointing of fiberglass panels, the pentimento of the container remains.
The formwork characteristics, along with the ties that brace the forms, color, finish, and jointing, provide a myriad of choices for the designer to consider.
Tensile ties are required to prevent the spread and failure of the formwork under the pressure of the liquid concrete being poured into the forms.
Their location and pattern is a product of coordination between the architect and structural engineer as their indentations remain on the surface of the finished product.
The color of concrete is affected by the sand in the mixture while the finish of the concrete is affected by the admixtures to create a sheen or a matte surface.
Textures can range from super smooth with use of a steel or fiberglass form and a fine aggregate to a rough brutal finish created by post-curing techniques such as sandblasting or bush hammering to expose the aggregate beneath the surface.
The size of the panels of the formwork determines the spacing of joints as well as the form patterning; typical are 8- and 10-foot spans and 2-inch boards. The joints between panels can be enhanced and revealed by the addition of shaped strips in the formwork. The joint can be deep to provide a dark line, protrude to catch sunlight and cast a shadow, or be reduced to appear nonexistent by a butt joint.
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