How to Make Textile Concrete Blocks
Textile concrete blocks were created by an architect named Frank Lloyd Wright. He decided to mix up his own concrete using sand, gravel and minerals found at his home. The earth colored blocks were embossed with gorgeous patterns and designs created within the concrete block forms. Wright was an advocate of creating homes and buildings that blended in with the earth and environmental surroundings. Textile concrete blocks were used in most of Frank's construction because they were cheap, inexpensive and simple. His mass produced ornamental block homes became known as famous architectural beauties. Follow these steps to make your own.
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Things You'll Need
- Plywood
- Wood glue
- 8-penny nails
- Dremel tool
- Router
- Paint brush
- Diesel fuel
- Concrete
- Bucket
- Trowel
Instructions
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1
Cut out four pieces of plywood, 12-by-12. Apply wood glue on the edges, and attach them together to make a box. Drive 8-penny nails into the sides to hold the box together. Prior to constructing the box, create patterns and designs on the inside of the wood, with a dremel tool or router, if you desire.
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2
Make another box, 3 inches smaller than the first box. Connect it together also with wood glue and nails. This box sits inside the first box to create a form for your textile concrete block.
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3
Paint a coating of diesel fuel over the wood on the inside of the block form. The fuel creates a non-stick surface so tthat he concrete will not stick to the wood.
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4
Mix up a batch of concrete using cement, sand and aggregates in a ratio of 1:1:2. Add enough water to make it smooth but not runny. Trowel the concrete into the 3-inch section created between the two block forms. Let the concrete cure for a day.
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5
Pull the form up and let the textile concrete block carefully fall out onto a flat surface. Tap the block lightly with a mallet to help loosen it.
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Tips & Warnings
Frank Lloyd Wright made his textile concrete blocks 3 inches thick. You can construct your concrete forms to make blocks any size you choose. Just make the inside wood form as small or as big as you need to create the necessary space.
The strength of the concrete is determined by mixing a proper ratio of ingrediants.
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Comments
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Gene Fender
Feb 20, 2011
For the most part, FLW's residential blocks have faces measuring 16 x 16. They are not always cubic. Walls are constructed from square panels through which a network of iron rods run as well as concrete reinforcement and glass. -
Feb 19, 2011
If you want 3 inch thick walls, the inner box needs to be 6 inches smaller - not 3. That would make the walls 1.5 inches thick. Also, the outer form needs to be taken apart to remove the block or the details will break off. For that matter, the design should not be created with a router. The negative form of the desired shape should be built up. 12 inches is the nominal size, but the dimensions should be smaller to accommodate the mortar. These instructions indicate that you do not know much about casting or sculpting.
