This blog post examines why concrete has become an indispensable material in modern architecture despite changes in strength and form, analyzing its technological advancements and architectural applications.
Concrete is used diversely as a building material. While concrete has become an essential material in modern architecture, its origins date back much further. Although concrete is generally known as a product of modern technology, it was already used in ancient Roman times. Back then, the Romans built various structures through innovations in construction technology, and among them, structures utilizing concrete still boast their grandeur today.
Concrete is a mixture of cement combined with aggregates like sand and gravel, mixed with water. This mixture is used for diverse purposes, from building foundations to complex structures. One of concrete’s greatest advantages is its ability to be freely shaped. Pouring wet concrete into formwork and allowing it to harden enables the creation of structures of various shapes and sizes. Furthermore, concrete transcends being a simple building material; its properties adapt to environmental conditions, making it suitable for diverse climates. For these reasons, concrete has become one of the most widely used building materials worldwide.
The strength and density of concrete vary depending on the type and proportion of aggregates used. For instance, high-strength concrete is used in structures like high-rise buildings or large bridges, while lightweight concrete is primarily used in residential or commercial buildings where insulation performance is critical. Furthermore, since increasing the contact between aggregates enhances strength, mixing aggregates of different sizes is effective.
Reinforced concrete has been widely used as the most important building material since the modern era. However, research to increase its tensile strength continued, leading to the development of prestressed concrete. Prestressed concrete is produced as follows: First, reinforcing bars are placed in the formwork and tensioned before concrete mix is poured. After the concrete hardens, the tension force is released. As the reinforcement contracts, it creates compressive stress within the concrete, resulting in prestressed concrete with enhanced resistance to external tensile forces. This technology compensates for the weaknesses of reinforced concrete and enables the creation of larger, more open spaces.
The Kimbell Art Museum is one of the perfect examples showcasing this technological advancement. To create an open feel, the columns were spaced over 30 meters apart, forming a single-level interior exhibition space. This span was achievable only by utilizing a prestressed concrete structure and would have been difficult to realize with conventional reinforced concrete. Light streaming through the gaps in this long roof structure brightly illuminates the vast interior, making the reinforced concrete interior glow like marble. Such technical exploration of building materials has always been the driving force behind new architectural aesthetics.
Especially since the modern era, rapid technological advancement has enabled the creation of innovative architectural works. This innovation will continue, and new materials and technologies will open up even more possibilities. The organic relationship between building materials and architectural aesthetics will persist. Through this, architecture will contribute to creating new spaces that inspire artistic creativity, transcending mere functional structures.
