Santa Monica native Thomas Musca will demonstrate his concrete artistry during a public "pour party" Sunday evening, creating a custom bar table for a local establishment while inviting community participation.
Musca, a Roosevelt, Lincoln and Santa Monica High School alumnus who earned his Bachelor of Architecture degree from Cornell University, founded Cassius Castings in Santa Monica shortly after graduation. The company has gained recognition for creating sleek, complex brutalist pieces that appear to challenge conventional engineering principles.
The Sunday evening project involves casting a 10-foot bar-height table for Not No Bar, with members of the public invited to participate in the live concrete pouring process on Main Street. These interactive events have become a signature element of Musca's practice, allowing friends, clients and community members to witness custom, site-specific pieces take shape in real time.
Musca's recent pour parties have attracted attention in design publications, highlighting his unique approach to public engagement with architectural craftsmanship.
The architect's fascination with concrete began in 2019 when he started experimenting with glass fiber-reinforced concrete furnishings. His work draws inspiration from John Lautner's Sheats-Goldstein residence and 20th-century Soviet brutalism, combining these influences into contemporary designs.
What began as a personal hobby has evolved into a Santa Monica-based business specializing in made-to-order furnishings and custom site-based projects that explore concrete's creative potential. Cassius Castings focuses on pushing the boundaries of what can be achieved with the versatile building material.
The public event will take place at 2422 Main Street in Santa Monica, beginning at 7 p.m. Sunday, August 10. Community members are encouraged to attend and participate in the concrete casting process.
Musca's work represents a growing trend of architects and designers who are making their creative processes more accessible to the public, breaking down traditional barriers between professional practice and community engagement. The pour parties serve both as marketing events and genuine opportunities for public education about architectural techniques and materials.
Edited by SMDP Staff