Concrete is a highly transformative building material. Its story begins in the ancient world, where early builders discovered that mixing lime with volcanic ash created a remarkably strong substance. The invention of Portland cement in the 19th century, and concrete’s systematic reinforcement with steel in the 20th, further revolutionized modern construction. While concrete remains a hard-to-replace material, the huge carbon footprint and environmental impact of its production have become the focus of much recent research and concern.

This volume looks at the future of concrete from different perspectives, investigating how its sustainability will draw from innovative research and from past solutions.

New concrete types and their effect on climate change, innovations in design and conservation, carbon-neutral formulations, earth-based "concrete" mixtures – learning from these will only be possible through a total rethinking of the relationship between carbon and the materiality of the built environment.

26 essays in four chapters look at the past and future of concrete

Interdisciplinary approach with scholars from many different backgrounds

Concrete has been an indispensable building material for the past 100 years