Limitless Concrete Landscape Design

In order to achieve the design aesthetic that they envision, Ecora Studio knows they can rely on the creativity and skill of Versatile Concrete.

 
CLIENT BYRON DOUGLAS, ECORA

The Project

Ecora Studio and Versatile Concrete have been partnering to create unique custom concrete elements, from small scale precast concrete furniture to large scale residential work and urban revitalization, for six years.

The Challenge

Finding precast concrete artisans who understand the elements of design and can match Ecora Studio’s standards for design aesthetics and custom concrete work.

The Outcome

Six years later, Ecora Studio and Versatile Concrete are still creating custom concrete designs together, working collaboratively, and even educating young designers through lunch and learns.


 

The Projects

It started with custom concrete furniture, but the relationship between Ecora Studio and Versatile Concrete has grown over the last six years to encompass large scale residential projects and downtown revitalization in precast concrete.

Byron Douglas, who manages Ecora Studio, a placemaking, landscape architecture, and urban design team, saw the potential to apply Versatile Concrete owner Richard Dueck’s quality work and finishes in specialty concrete to larger outdoor landscape projects. Take, for example, the striking concrete outdoors bollards and benches that provide seating outside of WorkSafeBC.

An outdoor concrete bench in the making at Versatile Concrete's workshop. This custom concrete bench now lives in front of the WorkSafeBC building. 

An outdoor concrete bench in the making at Versatile Concrete's workshop. This custom concrete bench now lives in front of the WorkSafeBC building. 

The best part for me working with Richard and his team is they're all designers as well. So from our point of view, I can come up with something creative, I can run that by Richard and he can look at that with his team. They can work on how this is going to work functionally, how we can make it work from a construction point of view. And then we go backwards and forwards on design ideas and then we come up with the best solution for a project. Byron Douglas, Ecora Studio

The Challenge

When Byron first moved to Kelowna, he found there weren’t a lot of custom concrete manufacturers. The lack of concrete artisans made it challenging to find someone who could create the design aesthetic that Ecora Studio sought to achieve. “I was finding it really difficult to find product that matched what we were trying to do as designers,” he says. Looking for unique, handcrafted work that wasn’t from a catalogue, Byron began working with Versatile Concrete.

After building a relationship and seeing what Richard and the team were capable of doing with indoor precast concrete, Byron next enlisted their help for outdoor, large-scale projects in the City of Kelowna. “I thought we could bring that outside and actually start using that finish and that quality on landscape projects,” he says.

Precast concrete bollards by Versatile Concrete create a sleek yet functional design in front of the WorkSafeBC building. 

Precast concrete bollards by Versatile Concrete create a sleek yet functional design in front of the WorkSafeBC building. 

 

The Outcome

“The best part for me working with Richard and his team is they're all designers as well,” says Byron. He knows that he can bring creative ideas to Richard, who is able to problem solve how a design will work — functionally and from a construction point of view. Byron can then go back and forth on an idea with Richard until they come up with the best solution for a project, together. “It's always good to have very responsive contractors or suppliers,” he says.

Working with Versatile Concrete also means that Byron is able to produce his projects to budget, because Richard and his team go above and beyond using their extensive expertise to maximize design and reduce costs.

Beyond projects, the relationship is also helping to build a stronger community of young designers through lunch and learns where Versatile Concrete explains the medium and how it comes together from a custom point of view.


Don't let your concrete supplier limit your design. Versatile Concrete has two decades of experience handcrafting precast concrete to bring your vision to life. Contact us through our website or call 778-215-6440 to get started.

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