x2:contingent surfaces

Plastic fabric casting













detail:




embedded expanded copper sheet
gnarlies it up. Casting the copper mesh into the plaster left a bit of the resultant surface out of my control, I would imagene the panel would continue to fall apart as the copper expands and contrasts and oxidizes. There is a thin layer of any conrete panel that is superficial, about 2-3 inches where the material can take on whatever it is asked to becasue it bears no structural responsabilities. I would lie to think the deterioration of the panel would be beautiful as the patina comes in and the surface literally dematerializes over time. If the material that binds the copper mesh to the structural mass were to fall off completely, the impression of it would remain. So the surface would have a story that would develop beyond my intentions as designer. Of course, it is a little contried becuase it would have to speak it in a language designed consciously by the assembly of material and the formwork.

Funny Nose and Glasses

1- Spancrete Factory Tour - A major advantage of this course is Wisconsin's abundant concrete manufacturers. We are hooked up with Spancrete for this. We have access to the engineers, and carpenters, and associated professionals in the industry. Here are photos of our tour.
-The bed where they extrude long concrete planks. the thinnest black linear things are the cables of steel that are pulled taught within the wet concrete. (Pre Stressed Concrete) The yellow posts are the bracing that resolve the huge forces of tension put on said steel cables.









- Form liners. They make the concrete look like stone, or brick, or whatever you want it to. Here is one of the techniques we use to leave a trace in the surface that tells of its making, i dont know if it makes much sense to give it a surface that looks like something else. Like camoflauge, or a prank nose and glasses. Except, at least 'nose with glasses' schtick is kind of funny.

The label for this texture was 'concrete smooth'. this is smooth? yes_ no_ maybe_ check one
is this one smooth too? Which one capture more of your attention?