THE MAKING OF
THE CONCRETE BAR

THE MAKING OF
THE CONCRETE BAR

“To me, the concrete bar is a conversation starter, it calls for a response. This is exactly what I envisioned.” While designing the sustainable restaurant Tero in Brussels, it was clear to Maarten Groven - senior designer- that the bar needed to become the eyecatcher.

Everything revolves around Tero, esperanto for earth. Layered in all its aspects, from earthy elements and seasons to the surrounding cosmos. We wanted to implement these layers into the interior of Tero.

During our research we came across the idea of rammed earth, a building technique that involves ramming earth at different intervals, creating layers. We wanted to achieve the same effect in our central bar, yet with different layers and colors of concrete.

Such a bar has never been created in Belgium. The construction of our bar posed two serious challenges. The bar would consist of different layers and colors of concrete. At the same time, we had to construct one solid bar that is used at two different levels. We had to be careful not to let the colored layers mix because of overpressure of the overlying concrete (communicating vessels). To obtain the smoothest, best possible result, the bar would have to be cast in one go. Quite a challenge right? In order to overcome these challenges, we chose a professional to build the bar: Lieven Hendrickx.

Try-out Lieven Hendrickx

We defined the color nuances beforehand by creating a watercolor design. The painting gave us a natural and realistic image of how the different pigments of the concrete would mix. Next, we started the formwork. We developed it with the help of our production partner, Lieven Hendrickx, who had some clear ideas on the particulars of realizing the bar as flawlessly as possible.

The difficulty lay in applying the different color layers the way we set them out in our watercolor painting. We developed an entirely transparent mold on which we clearly indicated each layer, showing us exactly how much of each color we had to pour.

The lower formwork of the bar, the foundation of it all, became the finishing of the lower cabinets of the bar as well. This part could remain after the outer formwork was removed.

By providing a lock, we made sure the two halves of the bar wouldn’t affect each other. It allowed us to cast the entire bar in one flowing movement with the same color gradients.