Inside Wolkberg: Redefining Concrete Through Design, Innovation and Sustainability

Ramielle De Jager

At 100% Design Africa, Wolkberg Casting Studios offered a compelling look at how material innovation, craftsmanship, and contemporary South African design can come together. Founded with a desire to rethink conventional surfaces, the studio has developed its own distinctive approach to concrete, creating products that are instantly recognisable through texture, movement, and a carefully considered colour palette.

SA Décor & Design caught up with Ramielle De Jager at the show to discover the thinking behind Wolkberg, the development of its signature material and why sustainability has been part of the brand’s story from the very beginning.

1. What inspired the creation of Wolkberg?

“As designers, we identified a gap in the market for something new in the kitchen space. We were particularly interested in creating kitchen countertops from a more sustainable material.

We could see people using natural resources such as marble and granite in kitchens without necessarily having a sustainability plan, and we thought that, as designers, it should be our job to come up with a new solution.

We thought concrete seemed easy enough, so we decided to try. It wasn’t easy – it took around six years of research and development – but we got there. Today, we have our sustainable alternative to marble or granite.”

2. How is Wolkberg redefining concrete in modern design?

“It really is about design, and it’s not just concrete. Limesite is concrete refined – that’s our tagline, and it’s there for a reason.

We didn’t simply pour concrete into a mould. We designed an entire manufacturing ecosystem around this innovative material and developed a unique aesthetic called the Dimensions Aesthetic. It has this sense of movement and texture that appears consistently every time we cast.

It took a lot of time to reach that point. We essentially took the characteristics that might traditionally be considered flaws in concrete, turned them into features and then worked out how to recreate them consistently.”

3. Why is sustainability so important to Wolkberg?

“We feel a sense of responsibility. I always wanted to know what would happen to the product further down the line, even if I’m no longer here or the business no longer belongs to me. I wanted us to have a full-circle plan for what happens to a product after it reaches the client.

Because we’re a relatively new business, we’ve been able to build sustainability into the foundations of the brand. It’s about understanding what happens throughout the entire product lifecycle.

My background in product management also plays a role in that. We don’t only consider the product at its inception; we’re always thinking about its lifecycle. Sustainability was already an important conversation when Wolkberg started, so we were fortunate to be able to incorporate it into the business from the beginning.”

4. What makes Wolkberg products so recognisable?

“Our design language is very intentional. I have a team of industrial designers, and we don’t simply put products out into the world – we design them with the intention of creating a recognisable Wolkberg aesthetic.

We want someone to walk past a restaurant, see one of our products and immediately say, ‘That’s a Wolkberg tile.’ And our clients really can do that.

A lot of attention goes into how each tile looks. The Dimensions surface I mentioned earlier is our proprietary surface design, and that texture runs through all our products. Whether it’s a flat tile or a relief, you can recognise that movement.

Our colour choices are also very specific. We curate the palette so that it becomes another recognisable part of the Wolkberg identity. At the same time, we want those colours to be timeless and versatile.

Ultimately, we try to create products that work seamlessly across different design styles. Whether the interior is modern, classic or retro, the idea is that Wolkberg can find its place within it.”

From years of material development to an unmistakable visual language, Wolkberg’s approach demonstrates the possibilities that emerge when design begins with both curiosity and responsibility. Its surfaces may be rooted in concrete, but through Limesite, considered colour and the signature Dimensions Aesthetic, the studio has created a material identity distinctly its own.

Contact: Wolkberg Casting Studio.
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