Holcim Awards “Next Generation” 3rd prize 2011 North America

Foam concrete utilization research, Toronto, ON, Canada

Type of project:	Materials, products and construction technologies
Start of construction:	Not applicable
Main author:	Przemyslaw Latoszek, University of Toronto, Bradford, ON, Canada

Holcim Awards “Next Generation” 3rd prize 2011 North America presentation for “Foam concrete utilization research, Toronto, ON, Canada” (l-r): Member of the jury of the Holcim Awards 2011 North America, Professor Nader Tehrani, Head of Department of Architecture, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Member of the Management Board of the Holcim Foundation, Alexander Biner and winner Przemyslaw Latoszek, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

Project description
This material science project studies the building properties of foam concrete and the potential for wider use of the material in architecture and construction. The project raises some fundamental questions regarding concrete, yet seeks realistic solutions for practical application. It is driven by the general advantage of foam concrete to reduce the consumption of material and other resources (principally cement and energy). Another Side of Concrete reintroduces the utopian vision postulated by 1920s Modernists that “mass consumption of concrete possesses the power to encourage social progress on a global scale”.

Comment of the Holcim Awards jury North America
The jury recognizes the broad approach toward the seemingly only pragmatic and business-related question of material science in general and the concrete production in particular. In a clear manner the project extends into a number of parameters beyond its own discipline to explain the wide impact of the issue – the social, financial and environmental dimension. Even though the concept of magnetic formwork was questioned, the research on the application proves a high degree of transferability and the potential for an effect on aesthetics in the built environment.

Image gallery
Foam concrete utilization research, Toronto, ON, Canada
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