The graycano concrete collection was carefully created to bring the honest and elegant presence of the concrete to your brew the moment. The products were throughly designed by us and passionately hand manufactured by our regional partner. In this blog, we want to share with you more about the idea and production process behind the G C C.
For years, the rough presence and the monotone color of the concrete was considered banal. Hidden in our walls, floors and columns, behind layers of paint and colorful tiles, concrete was never desired to be exposed.
However, the minimalistic and unromantic characteristics of this material started to make place in many people’s homes. Throughout the years, concrete was completely redefined and reinterpreted stylistically. With the right mix, filigree structures, smooth surfaces and everyday objects can be created to adorn.
Its versatility and unique aesthetic allow us to form undeniably unique and impressively beautiful equipments, from modern and simple to rustic and natural, that can be used both decorative and practical, fitting perfectly in our coffee corner.
The concrete’s authenticity teaches us that beauty of things today no longer lies in the extravagance and show-off features, but in the honesty of the simple, in the unvarnished, raw and completely unembellished. Alone with that, the concrete has the power to increase the value of its surrounding. The raw and unadorned surface foreground the surrounding objects, while the matt gray brings out the other colors around, creating a visually striking and cohesive design.
As the idea of bringing the GCC to life came into our minds, we instantly knew we wanted to work with a “Leipziger” company that shared the same love for minimalistic, unique, sustainable and high quality product design. The GRAURAUM was with no doubt our best choice. A team of creative minds with a penchant for manual skills, who from day one were down to take up this challenge with us.
The process of adjusting our products’ ideas to the actual final forms was fun, intriguing and exhausting. Even though concrete is very versatile, there are still some limits to what it is possible to build with a filigree and fine cement mixture. After we defined the issues and weak points of our earlier designs, we adapted our first ready-to-build 3D model.
Only after numerous house printed 3D models, were we happy and ready to professionally print our 3D model. This sample is used to create the silicon form, which is used to build the “form” that the concrete will be poured into and allowed to harden. For that reason, the final 3D model has to perfectly represent what your final product should look like.
The recycled concrete mix, specially created by the GRAURAUM, is prepared with the appropriate amount of water and poured into the form. It is very important to tap the sides of the form, so that the concrete really settles down to the bottom and any bubbles of air can come out.
Cure or harden time, this phase of the process is really tricky and at the beginning it sadly costed us some broken concrete pieces until we defined the perfect moment to remove the products from their forms. The curing time will depend on the size and thickness of the pour, as well as the ambient temperature and humidity.
After gently removing the concrete from its form, the team from GRAURAUM do not leave us hanging when it comes to quality control and final touches. Each piece is closely inspected and its surface is prepared. Through sanding it down and applying a sealant, the final and desired surface is achieved.
The G C C products are all handmade. Meaning that each is one-of-a-kind, made with care and attention to detail. The passion and personal touch behind the whole production process is to be treasured. The beauty of craftsmanship is brought through our products to your coffee corner.