Brutalist Concrete Laptop Stand
Hardware
desk accessory
SHOW HN2026
How HN took it
34 positive, 50 neutral or asking, 9 mixed, 31 critical, out of 124 comments about the project. Thread score +0.05.
Design: 13 for, 13 againstIdea: 11 for, 10 againstExecution: 2 for, 4 againstPerformance: 3 for, 0 againstDocs: 1 for, 0 against
The thread, comment by comment
Each row is a top-level comment and its replies, in HN's order. Select a cell to open that comment on HN.
positive neutral or mixed critical about another commenter or something else the maker
What HN said
What people liked
Striking design and aesthetic
From 4 comments
This man poured concrete around a power strip, chemically aged copper with ammonia, rusted rebar with peroxide, faked a damaged cable for vibes, and vibrated out the air bubbles…
atlgator on HNLooks awesome! I like raw concrete. Plays well with the tech around it.
aquir on HNI love it. I also really really like the brutalist/derelict aesthetic, and I think this nails it. Well done.
stavros on HNLooks amazing, I love it. Nice work!
hypnot on HN
Impressive craftsmanship and creativity
From 2 comments
I 100% would not want this on my desk, but I absolutely love it! Just the execution of making it is impressive. Have you worked in concrete before? Or were you just like…
davenporten on HNThe contrast between raw industrial material and polished tech is what makes it work. There's something satisfying about building things purely for yourself with no product…
jmrgz on HN
Objections
Too heavy to move
From 3 comments
I love concrete as a medium but that's got to be heavy af and I would manage to smack my elbow on it all the time as well as smash my coffee mug on it.
weirdmantis69 on HNHow much does it weigh?
masfuerte on HNThis is pretty cool. How much does this weigh?
kriz9 on HN
Not really brutalist; more decay or industrial
From 3 comments
Cool project, but not brutalist
khalic on HNMore Industrial interior design than brutalist architecture
OrvalWintermute on HNI'm not an art theorist but I think the decay makes it something other than brutalist IMO
mhh__ on HN
Could scratch the laptop
From 2 comments
Is that surface concrete? Will it scratch the laptop?
qwertytyyuu on HNThe most obvious issue here is that there needs to be a mat on the top to avoid scratching the bottom of the laptop.
nephihaha on HN
Poor ergonomics, no angle
From 1 comment
And yet that laptop stand is not even the slightest bit slanted, one of the crucial details. I could simply take a book and put the laptop on top of that, to get the same…
zelphirkalt on HN
Requests
Lighter weight version
From 2 comments
I wonder what the practical limit is on how thin and light you can make concrete for non-structural items? I can see someone selling concrete mugs on Etsy, for example. Maybe…
pjc50 on HNok, it's stable (at least from the photos), but I would prefer a more lightweight approach
wolfi1 on HN
Conduit for the exposed wiring
From 1 comment
Also known as an inertial mass dampener for your sit-stand desk. I appreciate++ the design except for the too-perfect rebar and the exposed wire directly _in_ the concrete. Pros…
xpe on HN
Questions
How much does it weigh?
From 2 comments
How much does it weigh?
masfuerte on HNThis is pretty cool. How much does this weigh?
kriz9 on HN
Is it real concrete and how was it made?
From 2 comments
Does it have to be real concrete?
linuz on HNHow did you make the "missing" corner? I'm assuming it wasn't chiseled out. In the last picture is the to-be-removed section made of plaster and then concrete poured around it?
gangstead on HN
Alternatives named
Foam concrete for lighter builds
From 1 comment
I love this! The pure weight of it is amazing, and distinctly makes a statement. Its a fun concept one could play with if they were making their own! I think a "clean" and…
zer00eyz on HN