The styles of architecture that are popular now could have been deemed ugly in the past. The use of concrete is a perfect example of this ideal. In the 1970s concrete was a material mostly associated with boring and monotonous structures. Used for function over style. Then brutalism came along and materials like concrete started to be used in interesting ways that people found some beauty in.. That style has become more popular in the modern era. The development of different types of concrete, such as reinforced concrete for structures under heavy load, has made concrete more and more popular as a building material.
Concrete and Design in the Modern Era
From a design standpoint, people have found a new love for raw or exposed materials in their homes. Exposed materials like brick and concrete became increasingly popular with the minimalist approach to home design. The style that utilizes concrete most in design is known as brutalism.
The resurgence in the use of concrete came with the resurgence of a new take on the industrial style. An idea starting with abandoned industrial buildings into rental housing spaces cities, has now been developed into styling of personal homes and spaced. The industrial style incorporates symmetry, big windows, and the use of natural materials such as concrete. Now we see these ideals incorporated throughout modern design and with it comes the sharing of materials like exposed brick and concrete to add more character to modern homes.
Why Concrete?
Concrete is not only popular for its look or feel. Concrete is a great building material for multiple reasons.
Concrete is a popular material to use in commercial building spaces. A large factor in its popularity is its affordability. Concrete is one of the most efficient and cost effective materials, especially when constructing energy efficient buildings. Concrete is also easy to get. It can be sourced from local suppliers directly to your job site.
Concrete can be molded and shaped into whatever shapes the architects and builder can come up with. The use of poured foundations in outdoor spaces has become a very popular practice.
On top of being moldable, concrete is strong and safe. It can be reinforced for extra strength and can stand the test of time. It can withstand heavy loads, moisture, pests, and natural disasters. It is also a fire resistant material, it can withstand and contain the spread of fires making it beneficial for preventing further damages.
Wrap-Up
It will be interesting to see how the use of concrete develops as new construction methods such as 3D printing begin to be incorporated in larger scale projects. Concrete has survived this long, time will tell whether it survives through the next generation.
