Concrete as an interpretive surface
Concrete doesn’t have to be simply the background to interpretation. Paths, plazas, walls and seating can become part of the storytelling themselves.
Words, maps, patterns and artwork can be blasted, cut, carved, cast, coloured or embedded directly into a surface. These treatments can mark a journey, reveal a layer of history, identify something that happened at a particular place or carry cultural artwork through a landscape.
There are many ways to work a story into concrete and other paving materials. The right technique depends on the artwork, the surface, the level of detail required and how the place will be used.
The examples in this gallery have been collected during TIDC’s travels and site visits. They show some of the different ways interpretation can become part of the built landscape rather than something added to it.
Engraved, carved and sandblasted surfaces
Sandblasting, more accurately described as abrasive blasting, removes a controlled amount of the concrete surface to create a permanent change in texture.
For detailed artwork, a full-size stencil is produced from vector artwork and applied to cured concrete. The exposed areas are blasted with abrasive media, removing the surface cement paste. Once the stencil is removed, the difference between the blasted and unblasted surfaces reveals the design.
The effect can be subtle. Rather than relying on added colour, contrast comes from texture, tone, shadow and the way light falls across the surface.
Concrete and stone can also be mechanically engraved, saw cut or carved. These processes allow lettering, linework, maps and graphic forms to become physically recessed into the material. CNC-controlled equipment can reproduce complex vector artwork with consistent depth, while hand carving creates a more crafted and individual character.
Because material is removed rather than a graphic simply being applied to the surface, these techniques are particularly suited to permanent outdoor interpretation.
Exposed aggregate and coloured concrete
Exposed aggregate makes the materials within concrete part of its appearance.
With newly placed concrete, the surface can be treated so that some of the cement paste is later removed, revealing the aggregate beneath. The choice of stone, its size and colour, and the degree of exposure all influence the finished surface.
Pigment can also be incorporated into the concrete itself. Different coloured concrete mixes can be used to create large patterns, pathways and artworks, while exposed aggregate adds another layer of texture and variation.
Unlike painted graphics, the colour and aggregate form part of the pavement itself. This makes the technique particularly useful for large-scale public artworks and landscapes where durability is important.
Terrazzo and inlays
Terrazzo allows considerably more detail and colour to be incorporated into paving.
A cementitious or resin matrix containing stone, glass or other aggregate is formed into shapes and patterns, then ground back to reveal the aggregate. Different colours, materials and aggregate sizes can be combined within a single artwork.
The technique can produce detailed illustrations, maps, cultural artwork and graphic patterns while remaining physically integrated with the surrounding pavement.
Other materials can also be inset into paving. Stone, ceramic, glass and contrasting cementitious materials can introduce colour, texture and detail without relying on an applied graphic.
Cast, stamped and impressed surfaces
Interpretation can also be formed into a surface while it is being made.
Patterns, lettering and artwork can be impressed into receptive paving using moulds, stamps or other forming techniques. In concrete walls and precast elements, custom form liners can create relief, texture and repeated patterns as part of the casting process.
These techniques can range from very simple impressions to complex sculptural surfaces.
They are not limited to concrete. Similar approaches can be used with other paving materials, allowing footprints, leaves, symbols, patterns or other forms to appear almost as traces within the ground.
When interpretation is considered during construction, the surface itself can carry the story rather than becoming a background for something added later.
Applied pavement graphics
Sometimes the most appropriate treatment is applied to an existing surface.
Stencils, specialist pavement paints and coatings allow detailed artwork and strong colour to be introduced relatively quickly. They can work particularly well for temporary interpretation, trails, play spaces, events and projects where graphics may need to change over time.
Applied graphics offer considerable freedom in colour and form and are generally easier to add to an established pavement than integral treatments.
The trade-off is longevity. Surface coatings are exposed directly to foot traffic, weather and cleaning, so fading and wear are inevitable. This may be acceptable where renewal is anticipated, but it needs to be considered when designing interpretation intended to remain for decades.
