The fireplace has been the center of the home since man first sought shelter, and throughout the centuries it has acted as the hallmark of a truly well-appointed home.

With winter upon us and the days growing shorter and darker, a fireplace is more than just a decorative status symbol, but a place of warmth, safety, and comfort.

While one typically associates fireplaces with the usual stone, wood, or marble components, concrete has become the editorial preference of choice, making headlines in the elite interior design world. Eclectic and eye-catching, concrete lends an industrial air to one’s space, suggesting a metropolitan edge while maintaining the elegance of a classic fireplace structure.

Due to its durability, concrete can be adapted to suit any style and inspiration, from exposed hardware to board-form plywood designs, as well as simple, streamlined forms. For example, in one particularly striking process dating back 200 years, plywood pieces of variable sizes are stacked and filled with concrete; once the concrete has hardened, the boards are removed, thus exposing the intricate lines and wood grain detail.

Often dismissed as a purely utilitarian material, concrete has gained artisanal value in recent decades. Echoing a more minimalistic design sensibility, a concrete fireplace suggests a fuss-free sophistication that still values all the comforts of the traditional hearth.