Special materials (light-transmitting concrete)

Light-transmitting concrete as a special material

Light-transmitting concrete is solid concrete with thousands of optical fibres cast into it. By day you see and feel ordinary concrete: cool, mineral, solid. Put light behind it or inside it and the wall suddenly lets shapes, silhouettes and logos through, as if the mass had become translucent. The effect keeps surprising people because it contradicts what concrete is expected to do.

We use this material where a space needs one strong element: a reception desk, a brand wall in a showroom, a facade accent at the entrance or an illuminated logo that sits inside the wall rather than on it. The enquiries come from architects, interior fit-out specialists, clients and companies looking for something that is not in every catalogue.

Where it works

• Reception and welcome walls where visitors form their first impression.
• Facade accents and name signs that only reveal themselves at dusk.

Versions

Made-to-measure panels

Slabs in a fixed thickness, cut to size and bonded or mechanically fixed to a supporting structure. The most widely used solution for walls and desks.

Cut-out or routed shapes

Letters, logos or graphic motifs worked out of the panel, so that light only comes through within that shape.

Surface finish

Ground and polished for a crisp, almost stone-like look, or rougher for a tactile result. The finish has a strong influence on how the light is distributed.

Material and technique

The optical fibres run from one face to the other through the concrete mass. They conduct light without transferring heat, so a light source behind the panel reproduces the image on the front almost one to one: a silhouette stays a silhouette. The thinner the element and the higher the fibre density, the brighter the result.

The light source is almost always LED, built into a light box or a rear structure a few centimetres away from the panel. That gap is essential: stick the LEDs against the concrete and you see dots instead of an even image. We draw that build-up out with you, together with the cable route and the position of the driver, because that has to stay accessible later.

Concrete is a mineral mass and behaves accordingly in terms of reaction to fire, but which class is formally required depends on the application and on what the specification prescribes. Check that before you choose, certainly in public buildings.

In practice

• Expect considerable weight. The supporting structure and the fixings have to be calculated in advance, not resolved afterwards.
• Cutting and cut-outs are best done in the workshop. Adjusting on site is laborious and risky.
• Maintenance is straightforward: keep it dust-free and clean with a non-aggressive product. Strongly acidic or abrasive products attack the finish.
• Common mistake: putting a logo that is too busy or too fine behind the panel. The effect lives on simple, recognisable shapes with enough contrast.

For large surfaces, tight budgets or temporary set-ups this material is not the logical choice. An illuminated textile frame or a printed wall covering will then give you a comparable experience with far less weight and construction work. Light-transmitting concrete earns its place as an accent, not as infill.

What determines the price?

• The total surface area and the thickness of the elements.
• The fibre density, which determines how bright and detailed the image comes through.
• Cut-outs, made-to-measure cutting and routed shapes.
• The lighting installation: type of LED, control, dimming and the rear structure.
• The supporting structure, the fixing method and how accessible the installation location is.

Interested in exploring the possibilities?

Send us the location, the dimensions you want and an idea of the image or logo you would like to shine through. We draw out the build-up, indicate what is technically feasible and provide you with a tailored quotation.