Concrete

Concrete is composite material made of filler (coarse

granular material, ie. gravel, sand, etc). and binder (cement,
etc.) that fills the space between the aggregate and sets to
form as artificial sedimentary rock. Water is added to start
the chemical process of hydration which bonds the
materials, while chemical admixtures can be added to
speed or slow rates of setting, with reinforcements of steel
or rebar added to increase tensile strength.

Concrete is cost-effective, strong, versatile, workable, and

durable. It can be recycled and is very energy efficient. It is
a safe building material as it prevents air leakage in
buildings and is also resistant to fire. The cons are that all
concrete will eventually crack. If left unreinforced, it can
fail during strong earthquakes. The concrete industry is
also one of the top contributors to carbon dioxide, and
some of the sunstances in concrete are worrisomely toxic.

CONSTRUCTION

APPLICATION/SUITABILITY

AESTHETICS

PHYSICAL FORMS

CONTEXT OF USE

To make a concrete sidewalk, a path

is plotted out (start, end, curved or
straight), a subgrade dug, and then a
form is set using materials such as
plywood. Once the ground is compacted and levelled out, pour
concrete. Finish by removing excess
with screed. Cut edges and lines,
then use a magnesium float to
remove score marks.

With sidewalks, the application depends on its

placement. Public walks require rough finishes.
For home or business use, the concrete can
include intricate patterns for decorative
purposes. Concrete is a very suitable material
for the purposes of pathways, as it is very
cost-effective and durable, able to withstand
both the wear of natural weather and human
usage.

Sidewalks are usually a

plain grey, but can be more
colourful depending on
aggregates (stones /
pebbles). Its finish can be
smooth or rough depending
on the context.

Sidewalks are flat paths that

facilitate ease of movement,
providing more support than
dirt or grass.

Sidewalks use concrete as it is

a long-lasting and durable
material suitable for extended
use under erosive conditions
(rain, tree roots, shoes).

CONSTRUCTION

APPLICATION & SUITABILITY

AESTHETICS

PHYSICAL FORMS

CONTEXT OF USE

IVANKA clutches are made with

Bton brut (raw, unfinished architectural concrete), hand cast almost
entirely as monolithic pieces, then
assembled with differing ratios of
leather. They are the hand polished
and surface treated for water and
stain proofing.

The application of concrete in handbags is

highly unorthodox. While bags are seen as very
fashionable blends of textures and gender
dichotomies, compared to other materials,
concrete in this case is not particularly suitable
as it results in a much heavier bag that is also
more difficult to carry. It may also restrict the
amount of items one can carry, as the concrete
will not stretch like fabric to accommodate
more objects.

The IVANKA bags contain

a range of lighter greys
concrete slabs, with rough,
unfinished textures and
matte, smooth finishes.

IVANKA bags use concrete for

purely aesthetic purposes. The
stone provides a contrast to the
leather, showcasing the visible
properties of concrete.

Concrete in IVANKA bags are

used for its aesthetic qualities:
the hard density provides a
contrast to the soft textiles,
while the raw look and textures
lends itself to the portrayal
modern women as well as
androgynous appeal.

Sidewalks

Handbags

Vivian Lau (301068326) and Amy Truong (301154486)