Concrete has been used all over the globe to create some of the world’s most stunning and well-known concrete structures and architecture. Here, we look at some famous concrete structures from around the globe.
The Colosseum (AD 70)
Constructed in 70 AD from limestone, volcanic rock, and concrete, the Colosseum is an oval amphitheatre in the heart of Rome. It was designed to hold up to 80,000 spectators, making it the biggest amphitheatre constructed at the time. In the early mediaeval period, it was used for gladiatorial fights, animal hunts, and theatrical performances. Later, it was used for housing and religious organisations. Most of the Colosseum is still standing and is a famous representation of Imperial Rome despite earthquakes and stone robbers steadily destroying it.
Christ The Redeemer (1920)
Christ the Redeemer is on the list because not all concrete buildings need walls and a roof to qualify as well-known examples of concrete architecture. This 98-foot-tall, 1445-ton building in Rio Janeiro, Brazil, is composed of soapstone and reinforced with concrete. Christ The Redeemer, which took nine years to create, is the largest statue in the Art Deco style on Earth and the fourth largest monument of Jesus worldwide.
The Philips Pavilion (1958)
The Philips Pavilion in Brussels was built to house a multimedia exhibit honouring the advancements in technology following World War II. This striking building was composed of reinforced concrete and had nine hyperbolic paraboloids and asbestos-coated wall speakers to add texture to the walls. Regretfully, a year later, this building was destroyed.
Geisel Library (1970)
Initially named in honour of American children’s novelist, screenwriter, filmmaker, artist, poet, political cartoonist, and animator Audrey and Theodor Seuss Geisel, the Geisel Library is located at the University of California, San Diego. Despite being constructed much more recently than the Colosseum, the Geisel Library is an intriguing building that combines futurism with brutalism in a fascinating way. The Geisel Library comprises 38,000 square feet of plate glass and 17,000 cubic yards of reinforced concrete.
Jubilee Church 2003
The Jubilee Church in Rome, made of Roman travertine and concrete that resembles white marble, is shaped like a ship with three large, curved walls that rise in height, much like a ship’s sail. These three concrete walls regulate the building’s interior temperature to avoid temperature swings and produce an energy-efficient structure. The cement used in this structure is believed to break down air pollutants, and titanium dioxide is utilised in the walls to preserve the chapel white.
It’s safe to assume that there is more to concrete than you might first believe based on a small selection of well-known concrete structures.
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