Shelving with a real concrete look and texture created using LightBeton panels is a standout feature at the new Barkers store in Mount Maunganui.
LightBeton, an MDF panel from Plytech featuring a 2mm concrete surface was part of the materials palette used to achieve the industrial design concept for the Barkers retail outlet at the Bayfair Shopping Centre. Barkers is a classic Kiwi fashion brand with a nationwide network of stores offering high-quality men’s clothing.
LightBeton combines the characteristic texture of real concrete and the ease of use of MDF panels. The design concept for the Barkers store sought to achieve an industrial aesthetic using concrete, stone and timber surfaces.
LightBeton panels with a real concrete surface were used for the shelving throughout the store. The concrete surface on the MDF panel features irregular surface holes and authentic concrete characteristics for a true concrete look. The panels also incorporate an HPL back for balance.
Brian Harris from Harris Quality Woodwork Ltd was engaged to supply the bespoke shelving for the store. He used LightBeton in Urban Grey to create a total of forty 1200mm shelves and thirty 600mm shelves.
“LightBeton looks more like concrete than any other product we’d seen, which is why it was chosen,” explains Harris. “It has all the pit holes and characteristics of concrete. I haven’t seen that in a low-pressure laminate before or in a high-pressure laminate for that matter.”
Using LightBeton for the first time, Harris was pleased with the simplicity of working with the concrete surface.
“It worked just as easily as the plywoods and melamines we’ve used in the past for doing the same job,” he says. “I’d certainly use it again.”
While the LightBeton shelves serve as a neutral backdrop for the clothing and accessories on display, the concrete surfaces add a touch of texture to the retail environment.
According to Harris, the HPL underside of the surface was another advantage for the Barkers team as it helped shed light onto the clothing.
Alongside LightBeton concrete shelving, the store also features stone flooring tiles, a concrete block counter, and timber countertops to deliver a stylish industrial design that reflects the Barkers brand.
