Show HN: Brutalist Concrete Laptop Stand (2024)

Overview

A maker has posted a striking — and heavy — laptop stand built from cast concrete in a brutalist register. It has been reported that the builder, Sam Burns, blended raw béton brut texture with urban‑decay props: exposed (and intentionally rusted) rebar, a damaged corner, corroded copper wire, and an integral plant pot containing a string‑of‑pearls. The stand also includes practical touches: a 3‑pin plug socket and two 2.1A USB charge ports. It has been reported that the creator calls it “quite possibly the heaviest laptop stand in the world.” Who needs portability anyway?

How it was made

The project was poured in two main stages for the base and side walls, with the concrete deliberately under‑mixed in places so sand, cement, and gravel show through after sanding — an aesthetic choice meant to simulate ageing. For smaller pours the post recommends vibrating the mold (an electric toothbrush is mentioned), and, allegedly, for medium pieces “a vibrating dildo” was suggested as the most effective tool. The builder documented surface treatments too: rebar was exposed with a Dremel and rusted with water, salt and hydrogen peroxide; copper wire was wrapped and sprayed with ammonia to accelerate corrosion, and a simple chemical equation was included to explain copper hydroxide formation.

Features and finish

Beyond function, the stand is a prop for a mood — brutalism meets urbex. A ghee tin set into the concrete holds the plant pot, bolts cast into the pour secure the insert, and a faux‑damaged cable is routed to create the illusion of a live wire gone wrong while the real power lead is strapped safely to the internal rebar cage. The maker also added a rusted pen pot, painted moss textures, and other patinas to sell the derelict look. It’s an exercise in craft and theatrical aging as much as it is in utility.

Why it matters

This is more than a novelty: it taps into a broader revival of brutalist and industrial aesthetics in homes and hardware. The piece asks a cheeky question about design priorities — function, form, or atmosphere? — and answers with a heavy slab of concrete that insists on being seen. For makers it’s an instructive build log; for everyone else, a reminder that design trends can be tactile, stubborn, and sometimes a little bit absurd.

Sources: sam-burns.com, Hacker News