Ajaay Srinivaas, Founding Director, Nuance Studio, shares information on the durability, aesthetic appeal, colours, textures and unlimited design possibilities of new-age concrete

How is the perception of concrete changing as an interior design product?
Concrete is one of the oldest materials known to mankind for construction. Showcasing of the bare concrete surface as a finish started in the 1950s - the era of Brutalist Architecture. A flair for natural ageing of the material, its rawness and imperfections somehow created a sense of timelessness. This has been increasingly catching up as a trend. The new-age concretes (such as Litheoz) add sophistication to the material while retaining its natural beauty and characteristics. This allows better durability, more aesthetic appeal, and unlimited possibilities in forms, functions, and utilities. In recent times, many interesting products are being designed and developed using new-age concrete such as ultra-thin and large wall panels, 3d panels, furniture, washbasins, lifestyle accessories etc.

Changing Perception of Concrete

Nuance Studio has recently introduced the Linea Series exclusively crafted for designers, architects, and homeowners. What are Linea’s characteristics?
Linea Series is unpretentious in appearance, and there is harmony in the patterned stripes. These panels can be laid in multiple patterns to bring out the creativity of spaces. Along with the aesthetic appeal of concrete, Linea Series allows the designer to create innumerable patterns in all kinds of indoor and outdoor spaces. The panels can be cleaned or even washed without tampering the finish.
Ajaay Srinivaas
From designing contemporary to neo-modern interiors, concrete panels can be used across all styles; one can turn the walls of any room into an artistic focal point by adding three-dimensional architectural elements or design any furniture piece and finish it with textured and colored concrete finishes to match the interior

Ajaay Srinivaas

What are the popular application areas of the concrete panels?
With new-age concretes like Litheoz, it’s no more necessary to cast concrete onsite in shuttering plywood for achieving the aesthetic character of concrete. Large size of concrete panels such as 9 ft x 3ft in a thickness of just 8 to 10mm are available which can be directly installed on plastered wall, drywall, etc. The panels age beautifully, have similar mottled tones, shade variations, rawness and other favourite features of the conventional concrete. They come with many added advantages, for example, exposed concrete walls need not be planned in the architectural level of the project; they can be installed in the interior stages as well. There is better control over the overall appearance of the walls, and without aesthetical errors such as chips, large cracks, broken edges, which may compromise the final look of the ambience.

Changing Perception of Concrete

These concrete wall panels can be clad in interior walls on staircases, living rooms, bedrooms, dry area walls in bathrooms and powder rooms, etc. For the exteriors there is a specific range of Litheoz concrete panels for use in facades, exterior walls, etc. They are technically capable of resisting climatic changes, UV radiation, freeze and thaw, efflorescence, and other harsh outdoor conditions.

Please elaborate on the manufacturing of concrete using cutting-edge technology.
With the popularity of concrete increasing, there are many DIY types of concrete available in the market that do not classify as professional grades of concrete. Litheoz concrete technology is specifically formulated using German technology, keeping many parameters in mind such as compressive strength, flexural strength, low water absorption, surface finish, etc. There are more than 9 ingredients used to formulate this concrete. These parameters define the quality of concrete and thereby its durability in diverse conditions, with the ability to manufacture challenging designs and give a superlative surface quality.

Litheoz concrete can be either sprayed, poured or hand-casted as the design of the products demand. The products provide hassle-free mounting and can be perceived as a better alternative to conventional laminates and veneers.