ceMMent Design is a new design studio in Brooklyn New York featuring contemporary household objects and Judaica. Designed by Marit Meisler, the objects are made of concrete, bringing an architectural quality to household objects. The simple shapes draw attention to the materiality of the pieces and the mirror finish stainless steel creates a contrast to the matte textural quality of the concrete.
Normally perceived as mundane, this ancient material is used to create everyday objects as well as holy artifacts. Used primarily in architecture on a large scale, concrete is introduced into the home as a small, intimate yet durable object. Although concrete is often thought of as a cold and industrial substance the ceMMent designs are warm and tactile.
The purpose of these designs is to rethink and redefine formal preconceptions traditional objects which have been taken for granted. ceMMent designs question formal preconceptions about such objects and challenge common assumptions about how certain forms, rooted in our collective psyches, are supposed to look, what materials they are made from, and how we use them. ceMMent creates a synthesis of everyday life with religious artifacts. The modern form allows people to identify with a religious artifact and incorporate contemporary aesthetics into their homes.
A unique mixture of cements and aggregates was developed in the studio. This concrete mixture has characteristics that differ from the common concrete mixtures found in architectural and interior design applications. It is best suited for small household objects and achieves specific qualities of strength, color and texture. Each piece is hand-made and individually processed in the studio, providing the products with their unique qualities.
Cement is a binder, a substance which sets and hardens, and can bind other materials together. The first concrete structures were built in 5600 BC. The name "cement" goes back to the Romans who used it 299 BC to 476 AD. Modern cement began to be developed during the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century. Portland cement is the most common type of cement in general usage. The most common use for Portland cement is in the production of concrete.
Concrete is used more than any other man-made material on the planet. It is a construction material that consists of Portland cement, aggregate and water. Cement use reached 1.3 billion tons per year - this translates into approximately one ton of concrete per human per year.
Aggregate is composed of fine and/or coarse materials (sand, gravel, crushed stone mainly) that are utilized to make up the bulk of the concrete mixture and strengthen it structurally.
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