There were six nominees for the 2017 RIBA Stirling Prize for the best of British architecture, which was handed out at the end of October. The winner, Hastings Pier, is notable for its imaginative use of wood, but many of the nominees for the prize relied on concrete to create stunning visual effects. This year’s […]
Read MoreStudents and researchers at Washington University have constructed an eco-house built mainly from concrete to demonstrate that the material can be used in sustainable ways. Crete House is a solar-powered building constructed almost entirely from precast concrete. Water coils embedded in the concrete flooring and ceiling provide heating and cooling. Large gutters provide shade and […]
Read MoreResearch is currently being undertaken to print 3D objects in concrete, perhaps literally paving the way for concrete flooring to be produced in an entirely different way. The building contractors Skanska is working with a number of partners to develop 3D printing of concrete. Loughborough University started researching 3D concrete printing in 2007 a year […]
Read MoreTarmac, a building materials and solutions firm based in the UK, has created a new type of concrete that has the ability to soak up a copious amount of water. This type of porous concrete is able to take in around 4,000 litres of water within the first 60 seconds, with an average intake of […]
Read MoreConstruction teams from the Merseylink Consortium have completed the most recent phase of building the Mersey Gateway Bridge, and have marked the occasion with a 24-hour concrete pour. The construction team saw a total of 1,400 cubic metres being poured during this timeframe, with the concrete acting as part of three pylons being installed to […]
Read MoreThe University of Exeter has marked a milestone in the construction of its new £52.5m facility with a topping-out ceremony. Members of the University staff and its partners, including representatives from BAM Construction, were present at the traditional ceremony that marked the construction of the building’s highest aspect, which measures at 40 meters. The building […]
Read MoreWith the New Year almost upon us, many people working in construction will start thinking about spending a week in Las Vegas. This is not to play the slots or work the tables though, (or not exclusively in any case), but to take in the 2013 World of Concrete event. A 40-year-old event, it is […]
Read MoreMany of London’s landmark buildings constructed over the last few years remain largely empty, throwing into doubt the completion of many other projects in the capital. In the last few months, Europe’s tallest building, The Shard, has been launched to a glittering display of fireworks, TV coverage, and many column inches in the press. However, […]
Read MoreAn experimental new concrete, which is able to self-repair, is to have a series of outdoor tests ahead of an expected launch onto the market. The new product, which is integrated with bacterial spores and nutrients capable of producing limestone, could revolutionise many forms of concrete flooring. The bacteria, activated by liquids such as rainwater […]
Read MoreA new range of ‘ultra-high performance’ concrete has been developed by one of the world’s biggest cement providers. Ideal for use in harsh environments, it could offer concrete flooring contractors and customers the perfect solution. Developed by Cemex, ‘MicroTech’ has been specifically designed to deliver strength, impermeability, durability and fast-gain strength. Highly resistant to acids, […]
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