Concrete Stereo thumbnail 1
Concrete Stereo thumbnail 2
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Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Design 1900 to Now, Room 76

Concrete Stereo

Stereo System
1983 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The Concrete Stereo, one of Arad's most important designs of the 1980s, is an iconic example of post-industrial aesthetics. With the realisation of electronics that were so small they no longer dictated the form of their housing, the production of home audio equipment became feasable, particularly as the parts could be bought as readymade elements. Arad chose concrete as the medium for this apocalyptic hifi, as a way of underlining its architectural character or to achieve a science-fiction look.

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Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 6 parts.

  • Turntable Deck
  • Amplifier Concrete Unit
  • Speaker Tower
  • Speaker Tower
  • Speaker (Shallow Cone)
  • Speaker (Shallow Cone)
TitleConcrete Stereo (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Cast cement, reinforced with aluminium mesh, with stereo system components of rubber, plastic, steel and electronics.
Brief description
Concrete Stereo, designed by Ron Arad, 1983
Physical description
Turntable deck, amplifier unit, two speaker towers and two shallow cone speakers all encased in housing of cement with aluminium mesh.
Dimensions
  • W.7 1 2011 height: 11.2cm
  • W.7 1 2011 width: 50.1cm
  • W.7 1 2011 depth: 47cm
  • W.7 2 2011 height: 11.6cm
  • W.7 2 2011 width: 50.8cm
  • W.7 2 2011 depth: 45.7cm
  • W.7 3 2011 height: 87.4cm
  • W.7 3 2011 width: 20cm
  • W.7 3 2011 depth: 20cm
  • W.7 4 2011 height: 87.4cm
  • W.7 4 2011 width: 20cm
  • W.7 4 2011 depth: 20cm
  • W.7 5 2011 height: 13.4cm
  • W.7 5 2011 diameter: 14.1cm
  • W.7 6 2011 height: 13.8cm
  • W.7 6 2011 diameter: 14.1cm
Style
Summary
The Concrete Stereo, one of Arad's most important designs of the 1980s, is an iconic example of post-industrial aesthetics. With the realisation of electronics that were so small they no longer dictated the form of their housing, the production of home audio equipment became feasable, particularly as the parts could be bought as readymade elements. Arad chose concrete as the medium for this apocalyptic hifi, as a way of underlining its architectural character or to achieve a science-fiction look.
Collection
Accession number
W.7:1 to 6-2011

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Record createdJuly 12, 2011
Record URL
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