Concrete has seen in the past two years a huge influx of applications influenced by many DIY projects that were popping up with a focus on small furniture and accessories. But it still always had a rather industrial feel, heavy and permanent. Concrete is probably is one of the most widely used man-made materials still today, but its look&feel often falls short of being inspirational. How to soften concrete might sound challenging, until you stumble upon a different design approach like the one below.
In an attempt to search for a softer and more gentle use of concrete, Dutch artist and designer Iwan Pol focuses through various experiments on pigments, texture and casting achieving a new aesthetic code that feels fresh and innovative.
Iwan questioned how his tender concrete could be applied within the field of architecture as a tactile skin for the exterior of buildings or as an addition to floors and interior walls.
On a side note, he is one of the founders of Envision who has been launching a wide-spread project for Spanish wood manufacturer Finsa (did you read their last trend report 2018/19?) at the last Salone del Mobile. They are going to come up with a sequel this Spring, we can’t wait!
Ronald Smits Photography
