Brief
German architecture firm Henn and researchers from TU Dresden have completed the Cube, the world’s first building made entirely of carbon concrete. The innovative use of carbon concrete could revolutionize the construction industry.
Insight
German architecture firm Henn and researchers from the Technical University of Dresden have completed the world’s first building made entirely of carbon concrete. The Cube, a five-storey, 220 square metre building in Dresden, showcases the potential of carbon concrete as a construction material.
Carbon concrete is a composite material made of carbon fibres and cement. It is much lighter and more durable than traditional concrete, which is made of cement, water and aggregate. Carbon concrete has been in development for over a decade, and is seen as a potential solution to the environmental impact of traditional concrete production.
The Cube’s five floors are supported by a grid of carbon concrete beams and columns, while its walls and ceilings are made from prefabricated carbon concrete panels. The panels were produced offsite and then assembled on site, reducing the construction time and waste. The building also features a range of sustainability features, including a rainwater harvesting system, solar panels on the roof, and an efficient heating and cooling system. Its energy consumption is expected to be 90% lower than that of a comparable building made of traditional materials.
The Cube is a collaboration between Henn and researchers from the Technical University of Dresden. The project was supported by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. The building has received praise for its innovative use of carbon concrete, which could reduce the environmental impact of construction and lower maintenance costs due to its durability.
The completion of the Cube is a significant milestone for the development of carbon concrete. While the material is still in the early stages of adoption, the success of the project could lead to wider use of carbon concrete in construction projects in the future
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