Architectural Concrete enhances the appearance of public infrastructural projects and the construction industry by creative architecture and expressive aesthetics.

Pradeep Ghumare, Director,
NOE Formwork India Pvt Ltd

Architectural Concrete: One special subset of concrete
Public infrastructure structures are often seen as purely functional. The plain concrete structures can have an impression of cold, uninvolving utilitarianism impact on their surroundings. The grey anonymity of concrete is now a thing of the past. A special subset of concrete is called Architectural Concrete, which refers to a concrete that provides an aesthetic finish and functional capabilities in one. Architectural concrete enhances the appearance of public infrastructural and construction projects by creative architecture and expressive aesthetics. The recent trend is to merge architecture and structural engineering. Achieving an architectural or decorative appearance usually requires that something different be done to the concrete. However, many factors must be optimised with one another in order to create high-quality aesthetic concrete surfaces for public infrastructures and construction projects.

Unique features
According to Pradeep Ghumare, Director, NOE Formwork India Pvt Ltd, “In architectural concrete, concrete becomes the design building material. In addition it fulfils the structural and functional aspects, which gives even more uniqueness through the form, surface, colour and finish of contemporary architecture.”

However, he observes, ‘exposed architectural concrete’ is the most difficult finish to achieve because during its creation, unwanted imperfections, uneven areas and colour differences can occur, and the surfaces can become damaged by harmful weather conditions. Potential application areas
• General: Infrastructure projects like retaining walls, viaducts, culverts, water reservoirs, water and sewage treatment plants, marine structures, etc.
• High: Infrastructure projects like public spaces in urban areas, pedestrian ramps, walkways, roads, bridges, bridge abutments, flyovers, retaining walls, subways, underpasses, etc.
• Special: Infrastructure projects like public spaces in urban areas, pedestrian ramps, walkways, metros, stations, etc.
• Iconic: Infrastructure projects like airports, stadiums, etc.
• Representative exterior or interior building or structure components.
• Façades for buildings, structures, high-end commercial lobbies, living spaces.
• Staircase areas, secondary rooms, storage rooms.

Availability
The unique architectural concrete solutions like integral colour, deactivator, concrete protection, 3-in-1 glaze-stain for camouflaging minor imperfections on concrete, special long use PU formliners, PVC formliners, plastic formliners, coloured aggregates, micro etching, etc. are available and offered by NOE Formwork India Pvt Ltd in India. Moreover, Ghumare informs, Architectural Concrete Consultancy Services also from German and European experts are now available in India. Hence a composite-solution is available.

For more details, contact p_ghumare@yahoo.co.in or visit www.NOEplast.com