Invisible Integration: When Concrete Becomes Part of the Architecture

A Design Vision Built on Comfort and Ease 

When Peloton set out to reimagine its office environment, the design brief emphasized something rarely associated with workplaces: comfort. According to A+I architect Chris Shelley, the company wanted a space that felt inviting, residential, and deeply human. 

“Peloton wanted their people to feel like they were showing up to someone’s home,” Shelley said. 

This emotional objective shaped every architectural decision — including how the concrete elements would appear within the space. They couldn’t feel added on. They needed to feel foundational. 

Where Biophilia and Architecture Meet 

Plants played a central role in shaping that sense of comfort. But Shelley and his team were clear: biophilia needed to feel architectural, not decorative. Instead of scattering greenery around the office, they wanted landscape features that appeared embedded into the structure itself. 

This meant the planters had to do more than hold plants — they needed to become part of the space’s architectural identity. 

And that is where Trueform Concrete entered the picture. 

Letting the Existing Structure Lead 

The Peloton space included large, beautiful, four-foot concrete columns and expansive polished concrete floors — materials full of character and patina. These existing elements became the inspiration for the entire material palette. 

To honor that authenticity, the planters, platforms, and steps needed to feel as though they had always belonged alongside those columns. 

“We wanted the planters to feel like they were part of that concrete structure — like they were there from day one,” Shelley explained. 

Trueform’s task was clear: create pieces that didn’t compete or call attention to themselves, but instead blended into the language of the building. 

More Than Planters: Supporting the Architecture Itself 

In addition to the custom planter elements, Trueform also contributed structural concrete components that helped define the layout of the space — often in ways that went unnoticed by design. 

As Paul Grech from the Trueform team put it: 

“Much of the work is foundational — such as the reveals underneath the reception desk and seating areas leading into the steps — and helped to define the perimeters of specific spaces. In these cases, our work is not shouting for attention. It’s not the hero, and instead plays a supporting role.” 

This included everything from bench bases and structural cores to patio tables and round seating elements — each one designed to disappear into the architecture while enhancing how people move through and experience the space. 

Crafting Concrete That Disappears Into the Space 

To achieve this sense of invisibility, Trueform custom-developed precast concrete pieces that matched the building’s existing surfaces in texture, tone, and detail. The final finish echoed the slightly worn beauty and patina of the original structure — the kind of match that doesn’t shout, but simply fits. 

Shelley noted that the goal was “seamlessness, not spectacle.” And when the installation was complete, the team got exactly the reaction they were hoping for. 

“People didn’t specifically compliment the planters,” he said. “They just assumed they were supposed to be there.” 

In other words: the planters achieved true architectural integration — the kind where the work is so well-harmonized that it becomes practically unnoticeable. 

The Beauty of the Quiet Compliment 

In design, not all praise is loud. Sometimes the greatest success is when an element feels so natural, so intuitively right, that it becomes ingrained in the overall composition without calling attention to itself. 

That’s the core of Invisible Integration:   
Concrete pieces that elevate the design by disappearing into it. 

For Peloton’s workspace, Trueform’s planters didn’t act as accents. They acted as anchors — grounding the biophilic elements, tying the space together, and honoring the building’s inherent character. 

Crafting Concrete That Belongs 

At Trueform Concrete, we believe the best work is the kind that feels inevitable — as though the material, the space, and the purpose were always meant to align. Our team thrives in that intersection of design intent and craftsmanship, where concrete becomes not merely an object, but a quiet architectural force. 

If you’re exploring ways to integrate concrete features that feel natural, seamless, and essential to your space, we’re here to collaborate. 

Start your custom project today!