Precast concrete adds depth and character to contemporary architecture

Concreate, founded in 2021, may be a young company, but the combined expertise of founders Tom Fransen (Bouwgroep Fransen) and Gert Ver Donck is all the more impressive. With a team of 30 specialized employees and their own engineering office, they meet the needs of architects, property developers and construction companies. With structures in custom-made concrete, Concreate makes daring architectural feats possible. In addition to cornices, facade slabs and custom elements, the company focuses mainly on stairs and (balcony) terraces.

In contemporary architecture, the staircase has acquired a real statement function in recent years. In private homes and commercial buildings. The more special or monumental the staircase, the higher the requirements in terms of quality and production methods. Ver Donck: "Thoughtful design, the right planning, advanced prefab techniques and a specifically developed reinforcement allow us to make stairs up to 26 steps in one piece. This involves turn and pitch as well as bored stairs. In the process, we translate the architect's design and dimensions into technical implementation plans and ultimately into finished stairs, where the most complex shapes are possible."

The return to the city and the aging population have led to explosive growth in apartment construction in recent years. Compact living, close to the center with its stores and other amenities, is all the rage again. Ver Donck: "The demand for bright apartments remains high, but they must offer opportunities for an important outdoor experience. A spacious (balcony) terrace is undeniably an added value here. With such large projections, we are sometimes put to the test and have to pull out all the stops to come up with and realize an aesthetically pleasing solution that is also safe. Our solid experience in this segment makes a noticeable difference."

Ver Donck: "Good preparation is half the battle. Preliminary discussions with the architect or other client quickly clarify the specific needs and desires. Once we know concretely what is wanted, we call in our engineering department. It works out the technical implementation plans in a 3D environment. On request, we can also provide an IFC model that can be smoothly integrated into the BIM model of the entire building. With stairs, and even more so with (balcony) terraces, the reinforcement is very important, with a view to the highest level of stability and safety. Therefore, figuring out the ideal reinforcement is one of the specialties, peculiar to the employees of our engineering office."

In the construction industry, timing is of the essence and Concreate knows that all too well. The company's organization is therefore focused on punctuality and flexibility, while maintaining the required quality. Especially building sites in an urban context do not have the necessary free space to stock large quantities of building elements. Concreate therefore delivers the necessary elements per floor, exactly when needed, according to the just-in-time principle.

A lot of time and energy is put into open communication with clients. Thinking along with the client and proactively formulating suggestions that add value to the project on a technical or timing level are of great importance. For deliveries, Concreate relies on the services of a regular carrier. Of course, the customer can also arrange its own transport service from the Concreate workshops.