The beauty and the potential of precast – graphic concrete™ When meeting with people from different parts of the world, I quite often hear about the questionable image of prefabricated concrete. One hears people say things like “it stems from the 1960s and 70s”. With this book we aim to respond to such ideas by demonstrating the beauty and the potential of precast. Therefore, different kinds of graphic concrete™ references representing infrastructure, public, residential, industrial and commercial buildings were chosen. It is our mission to build a better environment by using graphic concrete™...

About graphic concrete™ technology Graphic concrete™ is based on the innovation of interior architect Samuli Naamanka. In the late 1990s, Samuli began to develop retarders and printing methods to produce artwork and patterns on concrete surfaces. The inspiration was to create a real industrial product for large-scale surfaces, a tool with which architects could be more visually creative. Traditional methods were mainly based on handicrafts and represented small pieces of art. Eventually the techniques he developed were patented and the company Graphic Concrete Ltd. was born in 2002. Veli-Pekka...

Projects 8 SC Johnson “Project Honor” 12 Zwembadsite Leuven 16 Hämeenlinna Provincial Archive 24 As Oy Helsingin Siluetti Housing Company 26 Zetas Trädgård 28 Frölunda Torg 30 KV Mältaren 32 As Oy Helsingin Sini Housing Company 34 Stockmann Q-Park Parking Entrance 38 Sultrade 40 South Karelia Central Hospital 42 H.A.N.S Industrial Building 44 Ampliació Parc Bombers Zona Franca 46 Confac Factory Building 48 Kerteminde Efterskole 50 Liberty Square Tallinn 52 Environmental Art: ‘’Memory Tracks” 54 Kamppi Service Tunnel 56 Moveres Business Garden 58 Nokia Parking Hall 60 Kontordomicil Viborg 62 Child...

SC Johnson “Project Honor” USA, 2010 Architecture: Foster + Partners, Co-architects: Epstein Pattern: GCArt & Design™ Graphic design: Ralph Appelbaum Associates Developer: SC Johnson Constructor: Gilbane Building Company Prefabrication: International Concrete Products Photo James Steinkamp, Steinkamp Photography Fabio Gherardi Ralph Appelbaum Associates, Inc.

SC Johnson “Project Honor” USA, 2010 Inspired Architecture by Foster + Partners: SC Johnson Fortaleza Hall Fortaleza Hall honors the SC Johnson family history and celebrates the spirit of adventure. Curved graphic concrete™ interior walls add to the visual effect of the experience of Project Honor: Fortaleza Hall and the Community Building.

Zwembadsite Leuven Leuven, Belgium 2008 (between two squares): 40 apartments and 5 commercial spaces Architecture: Bob361 architects Pattern: GCPro™ Porcelain Crackle design by: Bob361 architects Developer: Implant nv, Extensa nv Prefabrication: Eurobeton Photo André Nullens Jutta Telivuo

Zwembadsite Leuven Leuven, Belgium 2008 The design finishes the Smets square and the residue spaces, creates new passages, integrates the existing Fabiola building and encloses a new informal semi-public/semi-private courtyard. The apartment building acts as an intermediate zone between two different scale levels and each building block is finalized by taking its own logic into account. The commercial space is implanted on the ground level around the Smets square, the residential spaces are concentrated and orientated around/towards the courtyard. On the side of the Hogeschool square the project...

Hämeenlinna Provincial Archive Hämeenlinna, Finland, 2009 Architecture: Heikkinen–Komonen Architects Pattern: Artwork, GCPro™ Graphic artist: Aimo Katajamäki, Aimonomia Oy Developer: Senaatti-kiinteistöt Prefabrication: Parma Oy Prizes: Architectural Award Concrete Façade 2009, Finland Concrete Structure of the Year 2009, Finland Photo Mikaela Löfroth Kari Palsila Matti-Pekka Pulkkinen Jutta Telivuo

Hämeenlinna Provincial Archive Hämeenlinna, Finland, 2009 “We decided to coat the facades of the archive with graffiti. This black national memory stick is embroidered with tags found in the depths of the archive: from peasants’ bookmarks and the letters of kings to contemporary Internet symbols. This was made possible by graphic concrete™ technology.” Mikko Heikkinen, architect

Hämeenlinna Provincial Archive Hämeenlinna, Finland, 2009

Hämeenlinna Provincial Archive Hämeenlinna, Finland, 2009

As Oy Helsingin Siluetti Housing Company Helsinki, Finland, 2008 Architecture: B&M Architects Pattern: GCCollection™ Grass Developer: APP Palmberg Prefabrication: Pikon Betoni Oy Photo Jutta Telivuo Tiia Ettala

Zetas Trädgård, Garden Kungens Kurva, Segeltorp, Sweden Architecture: Lindberg Stenberg Arkitekter AB Pattern: GCCollection™ Grass Prefabrication: Betoniluoma Oy Photo Jutta Telivuo

Frölunda Torg, Shopping centre renovation and enlargement Gothenburg, Sweden 2009 Architecture: White arkitekter AB, Gothenburg Pattern: GCPro™ Design by White arkitekter AB: SIR/MSA Susanna von Eyben Developer: Diligentia Prefabrication: Strängbetong AB “The sixties architecture of Frölunda emphasizes forms; the circle is especially profound. That the enlargement would express the circle was a simple choice. The pattern experienced at a distance is the form of a circle, but as the viewer approaches the circle the form becomes surprising. The forms finally become circles of children at play....

“By applying graphics to the facade it may deliver a chosen message. Primula is the developer for the Kvarteret Mältaren project in the new seaside area of Stockholm, Hammarby Sjöstad. For this building there is an artwork implemented on the facades. The artwork tells a story with real life situations, and the story is told by figures in pictogram form using graphic concrete™. This adds to the street level excitement, there is a new dimension to the architecture and a visual experience for visitors.” Torleif Falk, Project developer, Architect SAR-MSA, Primula KV Mältaren, Frieze Hammarbysjöstad,...