design notes by fu-tung

Designing and Building a Curved Shower Wall

Design Notes by Fu-Tung

Q: What are some suggestions for building a concrete wall in a shower and how can I achieve a smooth curved piece?

Building a concrete bathroom shower can be a tremendously creative endeavor, especially when you have ample space at hand. However, as mentioned in my article Bathrooms: Going Beyond Countertops and Into the Shower, concrete has its limitations when exposed to water, so you need to carefully plan which concrete elements to cast in a shower.

One Material, Infinite Styles: Expressing the traditional and the modern with concrete

Design Notes by Fu-Tung

Quick Tour of Concrete

Concrete has been used for centuries to form all sorts of structures and surfaces. Most people think of it as an exterior material for large bridges or skyscrapers, public sidewalks or roads. In fact, concrete has extensively been used as a decorative and structural material in architecture and building in our recent past. During the 1920s and 1930s, concrete expressed all the sculptural functions for which stone was traditionally used. It was an inexpensive substitute for granite and marble. Elaborate molds were made to cast columns, capitals, balustrades, and neo-classical facade details for the exterior.

Going Vertical: Countertop as Sculptural Monolith

Design Notes by Fu-Tung

A monolithic pour of a wall and countertop is an exciting and completely rewarding undertaking.

There is an undeniable impact when the wall and the counter it supports are fused into an integral, sculptural form. Working with concrete from a sculptural, rather than just functional, perspective elevates the value and emotional appeal of a project. Once you try it, you'll never think of concrete as "just another countertop material" again.

Using Color: Balancing Your Statement with Nature's Timelessness

Design Notes by Fu-Tung

Fu-Tung Cheng at Work

Fu-Tung Cheng at work Color Selection is Tricky Business!

Color is about visual relationships and what makes our world vibrant. Choosing colors is generally the last and most difficult choice when making design decisions; it's always easier to work on the space, the plan, the shape, and all the details of a project in a black-and-white world before considering color. It's like staging a play and then choosing the right actors to bring complexity and subtlety to the characters, giving the play focus and balance reflecting a slice of life. Color is built of layers of tones, hues, chroma, and intensity—all unpredictable, subtle, and complex. It can also reveal character in materials; and some color theorists claim that color can affect mood.

Slow down! Take your Time: A Proposal for Inspiration and Appreciation in Contemporary Times

Design Notes by Fu-Tung

art and architecture crafted and merged

Whenever I travel to Europe and Asia, I see art and architecture crafted and merged into so many of the buildings and homes. There exists a sensibility in art, craftsmanship, and design that we associate with works of the past. There is so much detail to appreciate everywhere—and so much expression.

Trained in the Art of Design: Good Concrete Countertop Design is the Work of Skilled Artisans

Design Notes by Fu-Tung

MORE THAN JUST A COUNTERTOP

I began teaching countertop-making in February of 2002, shortly after the launch of my first book, Concrete Countertops. What began as classes to gage the amount of interest on the narrow subject of concrete countertops has progressed and evolved into a movement toward good design, creativity, and craftsmanship for the whole home environment. Through teaching Cheng Concrete Exchange Members and advanced do-it-yourselfers the techniques of shaping sculptural countertops—techniques that have been part of the Cheng Design repertoire for nearly two decades—I have realized that our designs and techniques have derived from our designs of whole houses. Our design of kitchens and baths are not simply a matter of inserting concrete counters onto the tops of box cabinets.

What Are the Primary Considerations for Integrating an Island Countertop Into the Kitchen Design?

Design Notes by Fu-Tung

A kitchen island stands alone. It is a gathering spot. It commands attention, it is usually the functional and aesthetic center of a kitchen. An island countertop, by necessity, is the "star" of the kitchen and demands an understanding of what constitutes good design in the context of the whole environment.

How to Use Concrete for Designing a Bathroom Shower

Design Notes by Fu-Tung

Bathrooms: Going Beyond Countertops and Into the Shower

Q: What is the feasibility of casting a concrete shower pan? Is concrete too porous to be cast in a concrete shower; can it be sufficiently sealed and stabilized against cracking? We think it would look fantastic, but have come up empty-handed as to whether it would work.

How to Draft Curved Concrete Countertop Pieces

Design Notes by Fu-Tung

Curved Concrete Pieces: Drafting and Design Considerations

Q: How do you smoothly draw out curves for islands, countertops, and curved walls? What are the main functional considerations when designing curved pieces?