concrete creations
Continuing with the theme of building materials for the future, LiTraCon is “a ‘common’ concrete stone-block that turns out to be light conducting through its embedded glassfibers. From one side to the other light passes the stone without any significant loss and illuminates the darker side of the stone. Shadows are transmitted and shown in precise shapes on the opposite surface.” Optics.org hope that “the new material will transform the interior appearance of concrete buildings by making them feel light and airy rather than dark and heavy.”
Meanwhile, in a similar vein, Bill Price “set about breaking down the recipe for concrete to find the potential transparency of each ingredient. After consultations with specialists, Price established ways of making each of the main elements—aggregate, binder and reinforcement—a carrier of light. With the aggregate he tried varying the density of the gravel that is commonly used and added crushed glass to allow light to pass through. In the case of the binder he experimented with materials to replace cement such as translucent plastics. Instead of the steel rods that are normally used as reinforcement, Price developed alternatives that would act as vehicles for light. He also researched ways to work the surface and to make it ‘breathe light’.” The result: translucent concrete, discussed in both Metropolis and the RIBA Journal and pictured above.
March 25th, 2004 at 11:20 pm
Thursday: Bevy o’ Links
Why do they call it March Madness? Well, here’s a traditional-historical explanation. For me, 1.) it’s March, and 2.) I’m mad because CBS’ eye just blinked over to St. Joseph’s-Wake Forest, abandoning the better game in Phoenix where the go…
March 26th, 2004 at 10:12 pm
Fiber-Optic Lighting
My dad was telling me about fiber–optic lighting tonight, so I Googled for it. It looks really neat: you store an illuminator in some easy to access place and run fiber optic cables from there to where you actually want…
October 30th, 2004 at 8:55 pm
I am Mónica Acosta student Pontificia University of Colombia and I interesting for the glassfiber embedded concrete to my proyec of graduation.
Thanks for the information.
December 3rd, 2004 at 4:24 pm
We are interested in possibly producing, but certainly marketing, translucent concrete. We would appreciate any information and/or input that you might offer. Thank You, Paul Williams, Jarchow, Inc.
December 17th, 2004 at 3:14 pm
hi.I want to khnow how can i make a light blok concrete for coveriing the roof . i want the name of materiyal.i am working in IRAN and as you know manufacturing the bulding in IRAN is not modern.we use from very heavy bloks beetwen some beems and after that we cover it with concrete. this bloks are not light and working with them is deficult. so if it is posibel for you please tel me a formoul of materiyal. of course it mast be comercial. for blok producing we use from cement/sand and water.THANKS A LOT