Fair-faced concrete is the big re-discovery of contemporary architecture. International architecture, such as international press, technical researches, regulations and specifications are focusing more and more on the architectural and technical application of fair-faced concrete. In Western Europe and in the developed world research workshops are producing newer and newer innovative results (such as self-cleaning concrete, light transmitting concrete, furniture made of concrete etc.). Quality concrete construction, especially the building of fair-faced concrete is already regarded as high technology and is in the top category of building industry.
After the modern architectural conventions of the first half of the 20th century concrete is becoming a space shaping material by the new generation of architects and engineers. Concrete is not only a structure anymore but it is also the materialistic expression of space. This kind of architectural and engineering mentality deals with the created object as an indissoluble unit; materials, forms, and surfaces are performing the realization of a uniform architectural concept. The masterpieces of this mentality are being built all around the world.
The demand for fair-faced concrete surfaces is growing in Hungary as well. Nowadays, the label ?fair-faced concrete surface? can be seen on more and more working drawings whereas one can hardly come across any realized examples. Although the technology is available ? so where is the problem then?
The goal of the symposium
The formwork (as mould) and the concrete (as living material) create the eventual surface of the fair-faced concrete ? thus building technology becomes primary architecture. So the design and building of fair-faced concrete are hardly separable. Hence the design of exposed concrete requires a new designing approach: one has to deal with questions about construction technology already during the design phase. However in Hungary information and knowledge in connection with fair-faced concrete are barely available for architects. The lack of information, experience and knowledge about fair-faced concrete hinders the realization of quality exposed concrete structures.
The goal of the symposium is to make the essential information on fair-faced concrete accessible for designing architects, to familiarize them with the potentials and limits, to draw attention to the achievements of contemporary concrete architecture. The symposium wants to create a professional connection between the questions in design and the aspects of construction of fair-faced concrete. Hence there are designers as well as architects and practicing contractors among the invited lecturers of this conference.
