It’s impossible to create quality products without quality materials, which is why our makers are so considerate about the materials (or ingredients) they use. For example, are they sustainable, durable, high-quality, innovative, organic, renewable, beautiful, functional, time-tested, healthy, delicious, or locally sourced? For this series we asked our Bay Area Made companies to tell us about the materials they use and why. Because materials matter!
Manos by Concreteworks is a collection of sculptural, functional concrete pieces, shaped by over three decades of collaboration with the world’s leading artists and designers. Handcrafted by master artisans in San Leandro, California, each piece is distinctively one-of-a-kind—built with integrity and made to last a lifetime.
Through years of working with one of the world’s oldest and most elemental materials, we’ve learned to listen to concrete—refining its raw potential into expressive form. Our work spans custom installations and objects for residential, hospitality, retail, civic, and cultural spaces, each grounded in close creative partnership.
With Manos, our goal is to carry this legacy forward—offering a growing collection of indoor and outdoor pieces, including refined tubs, planters, furniture, and fire features—all made by hand, for hands.
At Manos, we value proximity and touch—the belief that the closer we are to the material, the closer we can be to you. For this series, we’re featuring our new Raw finish and the Hugo Collection, which includes both the Hugo Table and Hugo Planter sets.
The Hugo Table was originally developed in collaboration with LA-based Johnston Marklee and Schneider Luescher. Johnston Marklee is known for its conceptually driven yet materially sensitive architectural work, with projects held in major museum collections including MoMA and SFMOMA. Schneider Luescher, a Los Angeles-based studio, brings a thoughtful, spatially attuned approach to object and furniture design. Their combined perspectives helped shape the Hugo Table’s sculptural clarity and refined form. Working closely with both studios, we made their vision concrete—refining pattern, texture, and detailing through multiple iterations. The result is a piece that feels at once elemental and refined.
Raw embodies the ethos behind Hugo. It’s our most elemental finish—rough, tactile, and honest. It highlights the natural texture and subtle variations of concrete, bringing you closer to the material itself.
All Hugo pieces are made using our proprietary GFRC (glass fiber reinforced concrete) mix—a high-performance composite that’s both lighter and stronger than traditional concrete. This material enables us to create durable, lightweight objects with crisp detailing and clean edges. Every batch is mixed in-house using locally sourced aggregates, ensuring consistency, quality, and control from start to finish.
To protect the surface, we apply Trinic’s H-13 matte concrete sealer, a penetrating treatment that maintains concrete’s natural tone and texture. We offer a range of sealing options tailored to the specific needs of each space, whether indoors or out.
Concrete is time-tested, durable, and endlessly versatile. We love it not only for its strength, but for the way it ages—gaining character, depth, and beauty over time. The result is furniture that is both minimal and expressive—built to last, and to be lived with.
View the Manos by Concreteworks profile.
