CORQ® Landscape Cast Iron: Bringing the Beauty of Weathered Steel to Floors and Outdoor Spaces
- Product
- COR-TEN
- corq
目次
Rust is not always something to hide. In architecture and landscape design, its changing color and texture can become part of the material’s appeal. CORQ® (pronounced “cork”) carries that idea into a compact cast-iron paving unit designed for floors, pathways, and carefully selected outdoor accents.
Kumagai Specialty Steel Co., Ltd. now offers CORQ together with consultation on combinations using COR-TEN steel plate, cut parts, and fabricated elements. Sample is also available for designers and clients who want to examine the material before specifying it.
CORQ Landscape Cast Iron in 60 Seconds
This 60-second video showcases the unique, rugged texture and authentic feel of cast iron, along with how beautifully it harmonizes with gardens and architecture. Please take a moment to experience the distinct character of CORQ.
What Is CORQ?
CORQ is a landscape cast-iron product developed to bring the expressive qualities associated with COR-TEN weathering steel to walking surfaces and architectural details. It is not COR-TEN steel plate. The product is made from spheroidal graphite cast iron equivalent to JIS G 5502 FCD500-7.
Each unit is approximately 100 mm square, 25 mm high, and 900 g in weight. Five surface patterns create subtle variation when multiple units are laid together. The iron surface changes with exposure, developing a deeper brown tone over time. Because the appearance is formed by the environment, no two installations will age in exactly the same way.
| Specification | Details |
| Material | Spheroidal graphite cast iron equivalent to JIS G 5502 FCD500-7 |
| Approx. dimensions | 100 × 100 × 25 mm per unit |
| Approx. weight | 900 g per unit |
| Surface patterns | Five patterns; supplied in a mixed configuration |
| Primary application | Indoor and outdoor flooring and paving accents |
Why Designers Choose CORQ
1.A surface that gains character with time
The rusted surface is not treated merely as deterioration. Its gradual transition toward a rich, dark brown becomes part of the design. CORQ is therefore well suited to projects where material aging is intended to add depth rather than be concealed.
2.Tactile variation in a compact module
Five surface designs produce a restrained, irregular rhythm that can sit comfortably beside stone, gravel, planting, timber, exposed concrete, and weathered steel. The weight and texture of cast iron give small areas a strong physical presence.
The Philosophy of Wabi-Sabi
The Poetry of Time
CORQ Landscape Cast Iron — Living Evolution Palette
0.5 Month
First Bloom
of Amber
1.5 Months
Vibrant
Terracotta
6 Months
Deepening
Earthy Auburn
2 Years
Rich & Mature
Chocolate
5 Years
Dark, Soulful
Patina
40 Years +
The Eternal
Harmony
Unlike ordinary materials, CORQ breathes with nature to forge its own elegant armor. It begins its journey with a vibrant amber touch of the wind and rain, before settling into a deep, soulful dark patina over the decades.
“Time does not degrade its strength;
time perfects its beauty.”
This slow, mesmerizing evolution captures the profound traditional Japanese aesthetics of transience and organic imperfection. A living cast iron designed to coexist gracefully with modern architecture and landscape design.
Kumagai Specialty Steel | Japan
Note: The color progression and timeframes shown in the table above are for illustrative purposes only. Actual appearance may vary depending on environmental conditions.
3.An interlocking installation concept
Projections and recesses on the units fit together during installation. The system does not rely on grout curing, so the finished area can be used without waiting for joint material to dry. The substrate, perimeter restraint, drainage, loading conditions, and pedestrian safety must still be designed for each site.
A Premium Accent Rather Than Conventional Paving
CORQ is a premium material compared with ordinary outdoor floor finishes. Its value lies in the visual impact, material authenticity, and evolving patina it brings to a project—not in covering the largest possible area at the lowest cost.
For that reason, selective use is often the most effective approach. A narrow path through a high-end garden, a threshold at an entrance, a band beside a reflecting pool, or a small feature zone can create a memorable focal point while keeping the design deliberate.
Where CORQ Can Be Used
- High-end residential gardens, courtyards, and approach paths
- Entrances and feature zones in hotels, restaurants, and retail spaces
- Museums, art galleries, and cultural facilities where materials contribute to the visitor experience
- Public and civic spaces that require a distinctive architectural accent
- Temples, shrines, memorial spaces, and heritage settings where time and material expression are important
CORQ has also been used at Iiyama Resurrection Church in Nagano Prefecture, where the material’s changing appearance can be read as part of the architecture over time. Suitability for any new project should be assessed from the actual site conditions and design requirements.
Pairing CORQ with COR-TEN
CORQ and COR-TEN share a design language built around the beauty of weathered metal. Used together, they can connect horizontal surfaces with vertical elements and create a more coherent material palette.
- CORQ paving with COR-TEN edging or border plates
- CORQ approach paths with COR-TEN signs or nameplates
- CORQ feature areas with COR-TEN planters or landscape elements
- CORQ accents coordinated with custom-cut or fabricated COR-TEN parts
Kumagai Specialty Steel can discuss CORQ together with COR-TEN steel plate, cut pieces, and fabricated components according to the intended application and installation environment. These are project-specific proposals rather than a fixed packaged product.
Individual CORQ Samples Available
Material selection is easier when the actual weight, texture, and color can be evaluated in person. Kumagai Specialty Steel offers paid CORQ samples starting from a single piece. International shipping is also available. Please contact us for sample pricing, shipping costs, lead times, and delivery availability for your country or region. CORQ is available in five surface patterns; however, the pattern supplied cannot be specified.
Points to Consider Before Specification
- nitial rust runoff may stain adjoining concrete, walls, paving, drains, vehicles, or other surfaces. Plan separation, drainage, and protection accordingly.
- Avoid details that encourage standing water. Confirm the substrate, perimeter treatment, drainage route, and expected loads for the site.
- Each unit weighs approximately 900 g. Handle carefully to avoid dropped-object and finger-pinching hazards.
- Color and patina vary with climate, exposure, water flow, and maintenance. Samples indicate the material, but they cannot predict an exact future appearance.
- Final dimensions, weight, installation requirements, and suitability should be checked against the latest technical information before ordering.
Discuss Your Project with Us
If you are considering a distinctive material for a garden, entrance, museum, gallery, public facility, or cultural space, CORQ may offer the depth and sense of time that conventional paving cannot. Kumagai Specialty Steel can help you review the intended use, site conditions, sample requirements, and possible coordination with COR-TEN components.
Landscape Cast Iron “CORQ” – Frequently Asked Questions