Polished concrete: When raw meets light

There’s something fascinating in this transformation. As if concrete, after decades spent in the shadows of construction sites and housing projects, had finally found its place in the sun—not by denying its past, but by transcending it. Today, you’ll find it underfoot at the Aman hotel in Tokyo, on the walls of Comme des Garçons boutiques in Paris, even in interiors by Vincent Van Duysen, where it converses with oak and midnight-blue velvet. But how did we get here? And how did this material, so often associated with coldness and dehumanization, become one of contemporary designers’ favorites?

01The brutalist legacy: when concrete wrote history

To understand the current enthusiasm, we must go back to the 1950s, to Marseille more precisely. It was there, in Le Corbusier’s Cité Radieuse, that raw concrete first made its mark. The Swiss architect, fascinated by the possibilities of this "honest" and economical material, decided to leave it exposed, without plaster or ornamentation. The walls, striated with the marks of wooden formwork, became a signature in their own right. "Concrete is the material of the 20th century, just as stone was that of the Middle Ages," he declared. A statement that resonated like a manifesto.

But Le Corbusier’s concrete was not yet the one we know today. It was massive, almost brutal—hence the term "brutalism," later popularized by British architects Alison and Peter Smithson. In the 1960s and 1970s, this style became the response to the need for mass housing. Tower blocks sprouted like mushrooms, their reinforced concrete facades becoming the symbol of an era where urgency took precedence over aesthetics. Yet despite the criticism—Jane Jacobs, in The Death and Life of Great American Cities, accused concrete of having "killed the street"—some saw a kind of poetry in it. As if these gray walls, cracked and marked by life, told a story larger than themselves.

This was the story that artists like Rachel Whiteread would later claim. In the 1990s, the British artist created concrete casts of interior spaces—a room, a staircase, an entire house. Her works, both monumental and fragile, transformed concrete into an almost organic material, capable of capturing absence as much as presence. As if, by pouring concrete into the interstices of everyday life, she could extract its soul.

02Polished concrete: the art of metamorphosis

But while raw concrete left its mark on architectural history, it was a far more refined version that conquered the world of design: polished concrete. Unlike its predecessor, this material isn’t poured in thick layers but applied in thin coats, like a plaster, before being sanded and polished to achieve a smooth, uniform surface. A technique that demands artisanal skill, almost alchemical.

It was in France, in the 1990s, that polished concrete first made its way into decoration. Franck Riester, a craftsman from Lyon, was one of the first to explore its possibilities. "I discovered this material in an abandoned factory," he recalls. "It was used for industrial floors, but I already saw its potential for interiors." Riester began experimenting, developing mixes based on epoxy resins to achieve ultra-smooth, almost mirror-like finishes. Soon, architects and designers seized on the innovation. Patricia Urquiola, always on the lookout for new trends, created a collection of polished concrete furniture for Moroso. Vincent Van Duysen used it to clad the floors of his residential projects, where it conversed with wood and natural stone.

But what makes polished concrete magical is its ability to constantly reinvent itself. Depending on the chosen finish—matte, glossy, textured—it can evoke marble, stone, or even metal. It can be tinted in infinite shades, from pearl gray to deep black, including ochres and reds reminiscent of the pigments Le Corbusier used. Some artisans even push the boundaries by incorporating metal flakes or fiber optics, creating luminous effects worthy of the finest works of art.

03The play of contrasts: when raw meets luxury

Yet if polished concrete seduces so much, it’s not just for its technical qualities. It’s also—and above all—for its ability to create contrast. In a world where everything seems smoothed out and standardized, it offers an alternative: a material that embraces its imperfections while elevating them.

Take the Aman hotel in Tokyo. The walls there are clad in smooth, cold gray polished concrete. But this coldness is immediately softened by hinoki wood panels, a Japanese essence prized for its woody scent and soft texture. The result? A perfect balance between strength and fragility, between modernity and tradition. "Polished concrete is like a blank canvas," explains Vincent Van Duysen. "It all depends on what you choose to pair it with."

And the possibilities are endless. In interiors by Patricia Urquiola, concrete converses with velvet and brass, creating spaces where luxury is discreet, almost secret. With Vincent Darré, a French designer known for his baroque and offbeat style, it rubs shoulders with marble and crystal, as if to remind us that even the humblest materials can aspire to elegance. "Polished concrete is the anti-bling," Darré sums up. "It’s a material that doesn’t shout, but whispers. And that’s precisely what makes it so precious."

04The secrets of a successful alchemy

But beware: pairing polished concrete with other materials is not an exact science. You have to know how to balance contrasts, play with textures and colors to avoid the "abandoned factory" effect. Here are some golden rules, gathered from the best artisans and designers.

First, the choice of pairings. Polished concrete works particularly well with natural materials—wood, stone, linen—that soften its coldness. "A polished concrete floor in anthracite gray, paired with a limestone wall and a solid oak piece of furniture, creates perfect harmony," explains Franck Riester. Conversely, it’s best to avoid pairing it with overly smooth or synthetic materials, like plastic or tempered glass, which could create a jarring effect.

Next, the play of colors. Polished concrete comes in an infinite palette, but some shades work better than others. Grays—from pearl to anthracite—are safe bets, as they adapt to all styles. Ochres and beiges bring warmth, while deep blacks and blues create a more dramatic atmosphere. "Avoid overly bright colors," advises Patricia Urquiola. "Polished concrete is a noble material, deserving of subtle hues."

Finally, the importance of light. Polished concrete is a chameleon: depending on how it’s lit, it can appear warm or cold, matte or shiny. "In a space bathed in natural light, it takes on golden reflections," explains Vincent Van Duysen. "In a darker room, it absorbs the light, creating a more intimate atmosphere." To enhance a polished concrete floor or wall, nothing beats indirect lighting—wall sconces, floor lamps—that will highlight its texture and nuances.

05When concrete becomes a work of art

But polished concrete isn’t just for floors and walls. More and more artisans and designers are using it to create unique, almost sculptural pieces. Coffee tables, sinks, fireplaces, shelves—the possibilities are endless.

In Paris, Franck Riester’s workshop is a veritable Aladdin’s cave. You’ll find black polished concrete tables, their smooth tops contrasting with raw steel legs. Blue-tinted concrete sinks, their polished surface evoking pool water. Gray polished concrete fireplaces, their geometric shapes reminiscent of Richard Serra’s sculptures. "Polished concrete is like modeling clay," Riester explains. "You can imagine anything, create anything."

Some designers go even further, transforming concrete into a true work of art. This is the case with Japanese artist Tadao Ando, who uses polished concrete to create minimalist, spiritual spaces. In his Church of the Light in Osaka, the raw concrete walls are pierced by a cross that lets light filter through, creating a play of shadows and reflections that feels almost mystical. "Concrete, for me, is a living material," Ando explains. "It captures light, it breathes, it evolves over time."

06Is polished concrete a material of the future?

Yet despite its success, polished concrete is not without controversy. Some criticize its high cost—between 50 and 150 euros per square meter—and its sensitivity to scratches. Others point to its environmental impact: cement production, essential for making concrete, is one of the most polluting industries in the world, responsible for nearly 8% of global CO₂ emissions.

But things are changing. More and more artisans and designers are turning to more sustainable alternatives. Hemp concrete, for example, which uses plant fibers instead of sand, is growing in popularity. So is geopolymer concrete, which contains no cement and emits up to 80% less CO₂ in its production.

"Polished concrete isn’t a perfect material," admits Franck Riester. "But it’s a material with character, one that tells a story. And that’s precisely what makes it so precious." A story that, like that of raw concrete before it, is far from over. For if polished concrete has conquered the most refined interiors, it hasn’t finished surprising us. Who knows? Perhaps one day it will become the material of choice for the architects of the future—those who will build the cities of tomorrow, where raw and sophisticated will merge into one.