Show HN: Brutalist Concrete Laptop Stand (2024)

Summary

I am a great lover of brutalist architecture. 1960’s concrete buildings may not be for everyone, but I love the aesthetic. I’ve made a laptop stand, to help me hack in true brutalist style. It has the characteristic beton brut (raw concrete) surface texture, and is quite possibly the heaviest laptop stand in the world. It also boasts 2 x 2.1 amp USB charge ports, a three-pin plug socket for my laptop, and an integral plant pot. Here are some of its highlights. 0 / 3 Concrete laptop stand in use 1 / 3 Plug socket and 2 USB charge ports 2 / 3 Integral plant pot in corner of concrete laptop stand 3 / 3 Rusted rebar and exposed wire add to the theme of urbex and decay ❮ ❯ Key Features# An early drawing of the laptop stand The key features include: Brutalist style overhang Urban decay aesthetic with a damaged corner and rusted rebar 3-pin plug socket 2 x USB charge ports Exposed rebar rusted Exposed copper wire corrosion Integral plant pot with string of pearls plant Artificially rusted penpot Making the Laptop Stand# It was a slow process, but here are some action shots of making the laptop stand: The Components# Concrete# The rebar cage inside the form, awaiting the first pour There were two main pours of concrete, to do the base and the side walls. It intentionally wasn’t mixed very thoroughly, to produce areas on the surface where there was more sand or more cement. Sanding the sides has also exposed the gravel in the concrete. This help to make it look aged and weathered. On smaller pieces such as little plant pots or coasters, it is possible to use quick drying cement and get the bubbles out by vibrating the form with an electric toothbrush after the pour. For very large pieces such as a dining table, you need to use slow drying cement, and walk around the tabletop for ages, tapping the form with a rubber mallet to remove any air bubbles. For a medium-sized piece like this, a vibrating dildo is actually the best thing to use. Just think of it like any other power t...