Reocrete History Lesson: Famous concrete structures around the world
Concrete and rebar are essential building materials that modern construction can’t go without. We wouldn’t have these amazing monuments otherwise!
The Pantheon, Rome
The Romans created some prolific structures that attract tourists by the millions today, including the Pantheon. The temple was finished in the early first century AD by Emperor Hadrian and has the honour of having the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world. Roman concrete is made with lime, ash and rock aggregate. This simple mixture has amazed archaeologists for its durability.
Petronas Towers, Malaysia
The twin skyscrapers held the world record for the longest continuous concrete pour until 2007. The amount of time it took? 54 hours!
Petronas Towers is home to the offices of various conglomerates like Huawei, Bloomberg, Microsoft and Reuters. Besides the double decker walkway there’s a daily lightshow in the evening and a shopping precinct selling luxury brands. It’s also a popular setting for television shows and movies in the spy genre.
Christ the Redeemer, Brazil
Christ the Redeemer was completed in 1931 and is made of reinforced concrete and soapstone. It’s also listed as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. After construction was completed it quickly became a symbol of Christianity around the world and a major tourist destination in Brazil. Fun fact; the original design was quite different. Initial designs included Jesus carrying a cross over one shoulder while holding the globe in his free hand.
Burj Khalifa, UAE
163 floors, over 50 elevators and 36 window cleaners. That’s just some of the impressive numbers you can associate with the Burj Khalifa. It topped Taipei 101 in height after opening in 2008, scaling 829 meters. The building is so high that it has its own rules regarding Ramadan. People living on the higher floors must wait a few minutes longer for their fast to end thanks to their view of the sunset.
On the Corner, Japan
This apartment block takes ‘living on the edge’ to a whole new level. In a country where space is hard fought, EASTERNDesign Office got creative with what they had. Seven apartments fit into this tiny block, each with one bedroom and the balcony at the pointy end of the structure.
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