concrete

Are concrete speakers a solid idea?

If you thought your typical tower speakers were heavy, wait until you get a load of the Exposed concrete speakers. As a graduation project, Israeli industrial and product design student Shmuel Linski molded a pair of floor-standing speakers based on horn loudspeaker technology. The construction of the speakers is very basic, with the driver (full-range, we presume) at the top and the bass port at the bottom. The driver and port are linked by a 38-inch pipe, which isn't lined with any sound-absorbent material. Their weight: a hefty 123 pounds a pair.

We aren't sure what sort of impact concrete would have on audio fidelity, so it may be a good thing these aren't for sale yet. The designer is also a fan of making other stuff out of concrete. A coffee maker and a canoe--yes, you read that right--count among his other notable projects.

Solid idea? We'll have to wait till some audiophiles get their hands on these for a verdict.

(Source: Crave Asia via Stereophile) … Read more

Musique Concrete trumpets new horn speakers

The Grande Castine horn speakers are the brainchild of Musique Concrete, which means "real music" in French. The unusual contraption should appeal to audiophiles with its deep bass response down to 20Hz, thanks to a sizable 38cm woofer and an efficient horn design. Covering the other end of the spectrum is a 50mm midrange driver and a 25mm tweeter, allowing the Grande Castine to achieve a full 20kHz response. What's more, the speakers' high 106dB sensitivity means they can effortlessly play back soulful tunes utilizing lower-wattage amplifiers, unlike most large and power-hungry speakers.

You can catch the Grande Castine in action at the High End 2011 exhibition in Munich from May 19 to 22, but expect these exotic speakers to cost somewhere around $100,000.

(Source: Crave Asia via Born Rich) … Read more

'Green asphalt' layers cool surface on school lot

What's light green, sprayed on top of asphalt, and lowers the temperature of parking lots by 30 degrees? If you went to school at Robert L. Duffy school in Phoenix, you'd know the answer.

Late last month, the charter school became the testing ground for "green asphalt," a concrete-based reflective covering designed to make asphalt surfaces cooler and more durable.

Phoenix-based Emerald Cities installed the coating at the school to demonstrate the viability of the technology to city leaders and contractors, company CEO Sheri Roese said yesterday.

As part of its efforts to be carbon neutral, … Read more

No X-ray vision needed to see through this wall

And today in news about concrete...

You may already have heard about Litracon, a see-through concrete developed by Hungarian architect Aron Losonczi. Filled with optical fibers that run from one end of a poured piece of concrete to the other, these prefabricated blocks and panels effectively transmit light from one side to the other.

The material can be used for artistic purposes, or in commercial or residential construction projects, where experts predict it could reduce heat loss in buildings. Needless to say, this stuff turns the traditional concept of cold, hard, gray concrete on its side.

Well, if you're … Read more

Concrete chic

This is not your mom's dishware. It's not dainty, or pretty, or porcelain, or precious. When lifting one of these mugs to your lips, your pinky finger will not--I repeat, will not--be tempted to rise. No, these bowls, plates, and mugs are of the rougher variety. They are, after all, made of concrete.

What once was the humble material of sidewalks, or blocks a mobster might tie to a body to sink it to the depths of the ocean's floor, is now the inspiration for modern tableware. Want to infuse a little street into your dinner party? … Read more

Dutch paving stones clean air pollution

A Dutch University will see if chemically tricked-out paving stones can clean the air.

The University of Twente (UT) has devised a concrete capable of converting the nitrogen oxide from car exhaust--the source of smog and acid rain--into a nitrate, another chemical that will wash away in the rain.

When fertilizers are applied heavily, high levels of nitrates can enter the soil or water and be toxic to humans or livestock. Jos Brouwers from the University of Twente said that the nitrate production from its paving stones will be "harmless" and well below Dutch water standards.

The researchers … Read more

Skateboarding into urban warfare

Speak of the devil-board. Just as we were speaking of the hot competition in electric motorized skateboards, along comes another one from a U.K. company called Rok It Science.

The "Boom Borda" has specs comparable to such competitors as the "Metroboard" and the "E-Glide Powerboard," with a 400-watt motor and the ability to go 15 miles per charge, though it comes in slightly less than the others at $463.

But the real advantage, if it has one, is its graffiti-inspired design as seen on Gizmag. After all, when everything else is stripped away, … Read more