Exposed aggregate concrete finish

Brush finished concrete

Why do we try to fake our way past real style?  Do we not have the patience to wait for character, or are we too blind to see that every material can be beautiful?

There is a strong human connection to old things and their history. The Japanese call it “wabi sabi,” the beauty that comes with age and imperfection. People are attracted to the character that comes with time, but are often unwilling to wait for it. We can use a patina or purposely scratch furniture in the hopes of speeding up the aging process and creating an “antique” look. But time and history are what really make antiques so valuable.  This fake aging tries to force personality, and anyone aware of their surroundings can see right through it.  Why not look for quality in materials now, and allow time to shape the future. There are so many other ways to bring out the true beauty of even the most modest materials.

In the landscape, we see a common and perfect example of faking it: pressed concrete. Trying to force concrete to look like brick or stone results in a product that looks cheap and feels fake. Why not embrace the qualities of the concrete itself, instead of wishing for something else. I once saw a cardboard sculpture that used the inner ripples as an alternate texture.  The point is that even something as cheap and common as cardboard can be great if its not trying to be something else. There will always be a more expensive stone or a flashier wood, but trying to recreate them from concrete cheapens not only the final project but also the original material.

Embrace the materials you can afford.  If all you have is plywood and plain concrete, show it off, and don’t try to hide it.  Time will bring character- the real kind that can’t be forced.