Though it might not be pretty and it requires a lot of energy to produce, there’s a reason that concrete still exists. If made well, the material is exceptionally flexible, durable, and cheap.
CityLab chronicles the history of concrete, the mixture of sand, water, and cement that can be made into forms that are waterproof, stormproof, and fireproof. Unlike wood, which rots, and steel, which rusts, concrete remains in tact. It’s been used by humans for at least 8,000 years, and possibly as many as 12,000 years. Civilizations in ancient Rome and Greece were big fans of concrete, and many of their structure still stand today.
Concrete was modernized in the mid-19th century when a French gardener stumbled upon creating reinforced concrete, where the material is laid over steel for additional strength and longevity. Researchers are still developing new uses for concrete.
There’s “self-healing” concrete, full of bacteria that secrete limestone, which reseals any cracks. And “self-cleaning” concrete, infused with titanium dioxide, breaks down smog, keeping the concrete sparkling white. Improved versions of the technology may even give us street surfaces that clean what’s coming out of car exhausts.
