Currently Browsing: vertical concrete - Klassen Concrete Blog - concept design factory…….and all things cool

This decking material is made from 3″x12″ douglas fir.  We figured because it’s such a massive structure it would be cool to incorporate some rock work instead of the typical handrails.  So we added that in, and some benches for good measure.  Now, just some colour and we’re good to go…..

This past winter we had a great time researching and creating a special project for the boys at Artista Homes.  Once again they came up with the killer idea of a wine cave- which caused us to do nothing but say ‘ok, we’re in.’  It took quite a while to come up with just the right theme and strategy for the space, but with some expert help (yep, 2eperspectives.com) with lighting and layout I think we nailed it just fine.  Here’s a little look.  Note, the big beams are actually for a glass wall that will hold a refrigerated room to house the wine bottles at just the right temperature.  The large slab table is for wine tasting- of course.    I’ll post some pictures once the lights are hung and the house is finished.

Those crazy guys at the conservatory….Chris called wanted us to give him a hand with a new look they were going for.  As you may (or may not) know, the conservatory has been rocking this Mayan theme in on of its indoor sections.  Well, they are planning on building a new facility in the next few years- but the cool thing is they aren’t just going to sit on the stuff they have.  They plan on changing things up and delivering current themes for folks to enjoy right up to demolition day.

Our help was required in the turtle pool area- no, not the green plastic pool we all as kids swam in.  This pond is made of rock and is too high.  People would climb on the rock to see the little critters and the staff was worried someone was going to take a header into the water.  So they are reno’ing the pond lower. While they are doing that, we built an old ruin wall as a back drop.  We ran water leads out of the wall for water to weep out of and stream towards the pond- very cool.  The idea is to make this look like the wall is 2000 years old and the water is carving a path out of the wall and along jungle floor.  Like all their stuff- should be fantastic!  Check this out:

I promise to post some pictures of this dealio once it’s finished off.  Mostly because I really want to see it once it’s finished off!!

On a recent trip to Whistler BC I couldn’t help but notice how awesome the chalets looked with their fantastic rock work and substantial timbers.  I had a project coming up, and took special note of the things that made me smile the most.  Here’s a few of them below- oh, the only difference is that I couldn’t find rock big enough here, so I choose to make it myself.  Enjoy….

Oh, we did this work in early December when it was – 25c outside.  Just because there was nothing better to do- and this was a lot of fun…. :0)

You know, every time Tony from Artista phones, I just know those boy’s have been thinking about cool stuff again.  We’re so pumped we can help those guys out with their ideas!  For sure the most forward thinking new home builders in the city.  I heard whispers about a cave….thingy…..something………..oh yeah..!

super pumped about helping out the dudes at Best Western!  Here we designed the entire pool area with a poured black concrete pool deck- which we ground and sealed.  We then installed vertical concrete which we carved into large lava type rock and stained them dark- yeah dark!!  Finished pictures coming soon as we’re due to finish off some time this week

We designed this yard start to finish with NO GRASS at all.  Finally finished, the wood beams are now painted, and light boxes are also in place.

This yard had huge slope and required some quick thinking and good planning.  Using boulders is and always will be an awesome way to handle elevation changes.  Notice the different colours of release we used to create a more natural look and blend with the boulders?  We also used Fox icf blocks to create an old school plaster wall under the wood deck

here’s a cool project we just finished for a client: hand carved vertical concrete wall finish, with custom precast concrete stair inserts.  A great application for the perfect setting- and some very nice people that can hook you up with all your travel needs (river east travel).  Oh, did I just say that?……..I’ll plug any of the great people we work for……

It was 2 years ago we did a mock up for the peeps over at PCL- who of course are building Canada’s Human Rights Museum.  My buddy Tom Ralston from Santa Cruz kind of invented a technique called shaggy concrete.  It looks like a series of interesting cold joints in concrete that create an awesome veining effect.  Not so easy to do when the walls are over 56 feet high.  So we developed a technique to imitate that look.  It’s real tough to do, and requires a ton of patience (need more) and a creative eye.  We’re hoping to find out in the next while if it’s going to fly……fingers crossed on that one!…. Oh, and for you guys who think this building is nothing more than a huge money pit: I wish you could actually see the building from the inside and experience the walk I had throughout it.  It will be amazing, and it will be great for Canada, and our city.  Here’s some pictures of the walls we have to work on, and the inside of the building…..pretty cool stuff indeed…..

count the panels, they’re 4×8 and over 7 high!