SHOWCASE IN THE SUN:

CHENG Concrete Circle of Distinction 2010 Design Award Winners Announced

PHOENIX, AZ (March 2010) — Fu-Tung Cheng announced the winners of CHENG Concrete’s 2010 Circle of Distinction Design Challenge, the longest running awards competition of its kind honoring design and craftsmanship in decorative concrete, at the Concrete Décor Show in Phoenix.  The Design Challenge featured 11 categories including Bath, Integral Sink, Outdoor Living, Decorative Finish, Functional Feature, Water Feature, Furniture, Fireplace, Commercial Retail, Sculpture, Interior Kitchen, and an overall Best of Show.  Entries were submitted by CHENG Concrete Exchange Members, a group of skilled concrete artisans, many of whom trained under concrete pioneer Fu-Tung Cheng.  Out of 103 entries and a long judging session, 30 awards were given to 18 individual winners: one Best of Category in each 11 categories, 18 Honorable Mentions, and one Best of Show.

According to Cheng, the entries of this 6th annual design competition demonstrate the way designers and artisans continue to elevate the use of concrete. “Concrete is being used more and more to its advantage, as a sculptural medium,” said Cheng. “We are now seeing the maturation of a second generation of artisans who use concrete with more subtlety and a more conscious integration with other materials-the bar, without a doubt, has been raised.”

Rising to the top of this year’s entries, the Best of Show award went to Jeff Kudrick of J&M Lifestyles of Randolph, New Jersey. Kudrick’s bath project features a bevel-shaped concrete double vanity supported by wall brackets to create a floating effect and a cured concrete leg that functions as a shower seat. The tub surround and shower pan are concrete, as are the cast shower niches that make use of otherwise unused space.

Cheng explains that while concrete is utilized in most of Kudrick’s bathroom project, it isn’t overpowering as a material; graceful transitions into glass shower walls and subtle details, like built-in functional features, are unexpected and yet thoughtfully well done. “This project shows the complete fusion of concrete,” said Cheng, “with incredible craftsmanship and the sophisticated use of many pieces that wrap together in three dimensions. The concrete fits well into the environment as a whole without being monolithic. The look is timeless.”

Judges for the Circle of Distinction Design Challenge 2010 were Cheng, Dr. Tanya Komas, Director of the Concrete Industry Management (CIM) Program at California State University, Chico and Corresponding Fellow with the Center for Heritage Conservation, College of Architecture, Texas A & M University, and Monika Gromek, Contributing Editor for Apartment Therapy and Visual/User Interface Designer for Apple, Inc.  Entries were judged on the following criteria: Elements & Principles of Design, Design Planning, Innovative Concept / Forward Thinking, Creativity / Innovation, Use of Color, Presentation, Innovative Forming Techniques, and Client Problem Solving.

	BEST OF SHOW JEFF KUDRICK J & M Lifestyles Randolph, NJ
	BEST BATH MIKE MONCRIEFF New Edge Design Lynden, WA
	BEST INTEGRAL SINK NICK RELAMPAGOS It’s Concrete Hayward, CA
	BEST OUTDOOR LIVING BRIAN McLEAN Throwing Rock Studio San Francisco, CA
	BEST DECORATIVE FINISH JEFF KUDRICK J & M Lifestyles Randolph, NJ
	BEST FUNCTIONAL FEATURE JACK COOPER Jax Custom Surfaces, Inc. Carlsbad, CA
	BEST WATER FEATURE NATHAN YATES Poured Concrete Specialists Plover, WI
	BEST FURNITURE JACK COOPER Jax Custom Surfaces, Inc. Carlsbad, CA
	BEST FIREPLACE IAN WYNDLOW Liquid Stone Studios Ladysmith, BC
	BEST COMMERCIAL/RETAIL ERIC BOYD Reaching Quiet Design Charlotte, NC
	BEST SCULPTURE ANDREW KERR Kerr Concrete Design Evanston, IL
	BEST INTERIOR KITCHEN ERIC BOYD Reaching Quiet Design Charlotte, NC

ABOUT CHENG CONCRETE

CHENG Concrete is the single, leading resource for concrete countertop design, products, and training. Geared for the professional contractor, architect, designer and the DIYer, CHENG Concrete offers a bevy of knowledge, complete instruction and products for individuals to craft their own concrete applications.  The CHENG Concrete Countertop Product Line includes a proprietary mix, sealer, wax, tools, accessories and instructional products, including books and DVDs.

The pioneer in concrete countertop training, CHENG Concrete Training Academy offers the industry's groundbreaking collection of concrete-for-the-home workshop and training programs developed by Fu-Tung Cheng and the design principles of his innovative concrete work. CHENG Concrete has trained nearly 2,500 students since 2002 in workshops ranging from introductory courses in concrete countertops to advanced design training and fiber-reinforced concrete, fireplaces, counters and walls. CHENG Concrete features a directory of hundreds of concrete contractors across the United States and International locations offering homeowners a resource for CHENG-trained local contractors.

CHENG Concrete educational tools include a series of Fu-Tung Cheng’s bestselling books. Cheng’s first books, Concrete Countertops and Concrete at Home have sold over 200,000 copies.  His latest book and DVD set, Concrete Countertops Made Simple, is based on his introductory workshops and the broad, creative appeal of hands-on design. The book supports the “green,” low-carbon footprint benefits of having local craftspeople and homeowners use locally quarried materials to create low-cost products for their homes. It is a step-by-step instruction for anyone wishing to use their creative skills to easily and inexpensively craft their own concrete countertop—a locally made and sourced, green DIY product.

ABOUT THE JUDGES

FU-TUNG CHENG: DESIGNER, AUTHOR, SPEAKER

Fu-Tung Cheng, designer, best-selling author, and speaker is internationally known for his sophisticated design and innovative use of materials in the home. He is one of today’s top experts on residential, commercial and product design and speaks to trade and consumer audiences on the importance of timeless design, balancing luxury and conscience, and how craftsmanship informs design. He is the author of three books: best-selling Concrete Countertops (2002), Concrete at Home (2005), and Concrete Countertops Made Simple (2009) which brings countertop how-to for people renovating on a DIY budget.

Cheng heads three companies in Berkeley, CA.: Cheng Design, Cheng Products and CHENG Concrete. He designs exclusive branded product lines for manufacturers such as Zephyr, Elkay, and Tonusa as well as custom kitchen hoods and Geocrete™ brand of concrete products, including countertops, water features and commissioned concrete pieces. His architectural design work ranges from full-scale homes and renovations to hospitality, commercial and retail store design.

Cheng was most recently recognized by Concrete Décor Magazine with an induction into the first annual Decorative Concrete Hall of Fame, March 2010; he is also an inductee of the National Kitchen and Bath Association Hall of Fame (2006), named one of the top 50 most influential figures in 50 years by Kitchen & Bath Business, and honored as a designer of an Architectural Record “Record House.” His work has won numerous awards including a 2009 Builder’s Choice Award and 2008 AIA East Bay Exceptional Residential Award.

TANYA KOMAS, PhD

Dr. Tanya Wattenburg Komas holds a Ph.D. in Architecture from Texas A&M University, a Master of Science Degree in Historic Preservation from Columbia University, New York, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of California, Davis, and a Certificate in Historic Preservation from Texas A&M University. Dr. Komas is the Director of the Concrete Industry Management (CIM) program at California State University, Chico, and is a Corresponding Fellow of the Center for Heritage Conservation, College of Architecture, Texas A&M University. Dr. Komas teaches and conducts academic and professional research in concrete evaluation and repair, sustainable aspects of concrete, decorative concrete, new concrete materials testing, and historic building rehabilitation. She is active in a number of professional organizations, including serving as Chair of the Evaluation Committee of the International Concrete Repair Institute.

MONIKA GROMEK, EDITOR + DESIGNER

Monika Gromek grew up in Wroclaw, Poland, and moved to the United States in 1996. San Francisco’s energy and immense beauty helped to ignite her passion for design. After graduating with a B.F.A. from Academy of Art University, she began her career as a Visual/User Interface designer and presently works at Apple, Inc. She is also a contributing editor for Apartment Therapy, a popular home design blog; she wrote an extensive article on her experience as a participant in CHENG Concrete’s Countertop Essentials workshop. She enjoys taking on interior design projects and improving people's quality of life by helping them articulate their personal style.

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