2. 1. Translucent Concrete
• Concrete buildings are known more for their stability than their
great lighting. That was until translucent concrete started to make
its way on to the market.
• Translucent concrete is mixed with glass fiber optical strands,
which create a solid but sheer block. LitraCon, as the concrete is
known, can be used in flooring and pavement.
• According to the concretes manufacturers, the optical fibers make
up only 4 percent of the mixture. Meaning that blocks made from
this material still have the ability to support load-bearing walls.
3.
4. 2. SensiTile
• As you walk across your kitchen floor to get something from
the refrigerator, the floor twinkles with lighted path that
guides your way through the dark room. At least it would, if
you had SensiTiles.
• The concrete of the tiles is embedded with acrylic fiber-
optic channels that transfer light from one point to another.
As shadows move across Terrazzo's surface, the light
channels flicker with a randomized, twinkling effect.
• Their tiles are available for use as flooring, in bathrooms
and even ceilings, so you can have twinkling lights follow
you all over the house.
5.
6. 3. Electrified Wood
• You may never have to deal with the tangle of wires again thanks
to “Wood.E.” This European-designed material incorporates a
source of electricity directly into tables and chairs.
• Two metal layers are pressed between the wood of the furniture,
making it possible to pass an electrical current through the whole
thing. The 12-volt power is fed to the metal layers via one
connector, and lamps, and other devices can be connected via the
other.
• Not sure if this furniture will work with all electrical outlets, but
we're for any piece of furniture that means we don't have to find
a way to tie all our wires together.
9. 4. Flexicomb
• The Flexicomb's name describes it quite well. Designed by
PadLab's Dan Gottleib while he was still an undergraduate at the
Yale School of Architecture, the Flexicomb is a flexible honeycomb
matrix, which can be used to build lighting fixtures, furniture and
sculptural installations.
• The material is made from thousands of closely packed
polypropylene tube that will bend in the convex direction while
remaining rigid in the concave one. Flexicomb is so versatile; it
can be used for almost any imaginable purpose.
11. 5. RichLite
• A counter-top made of paper might not sound too sturdy,
but a Richlite counter is almost indistinguishable from one
made of wood.
• 70 % of the material is made with recycled paper. The
countertops are made by treating paper with a resin, and
then baking it to create solid sheets. Richlite was first used
in the aerospace, boating, and sports industries as
reinforcement for surfaces like fiberglass, but now is
available for architectural purposes as well.
13. 6. Self-Repairing Cement
• It may seem that most of the materials have been designed to replace
concrete, but cement is itself still evolving. A new self-healing cement is
currently being developed which has the ability to repair its own cracks.
• This cement is mixed with microcapsules that release a glue-like epoxy
resin that will automatically repair any cracks that form in the sidewalk
or roadway. In addition this cement will have the ability to regulate
heat. Phase-change materials that can absorb or release large amounts
of heat have also been included in the ingredients.
• With this material we would be able to save energy by developing
buildings that can control their own temperature, and save money on
repairs as well.
15. 7. Carbon Fiber
• Carbon fiber is an extremely strong, lightweight material. It's five
times as strong as steel, two times as stiff, yet weighs about two-
thirds less.
• Carbon fiber is made up of carbon strands that are thinner than
human hair. The strands can be woven together, like cloth, and
then that can be molded to any shape you might want. In addition
to being strong, carbon fiber is also flexible, so it's the perfect
material for construction projects in areas with that are exposed
to hurricanes and tornados.
17. 8. Liquid Granite
• According to its creators, liquid granite has the ability to completely
replace cement in concrete. The material is a lightweight and has the
same load bearing capacity of cement, but is made of recycled
materials.
• Liquid granite has none of the environmental impacts that cement and
concrete do. It is made up of between 30 and 70 percent recycled
material, and uses less than one third of the cement used in precast
concrete. Which means that it has a greatly reduced carbon footprint.
• Finally, liquid granite is astoundingly fire resistant. It can withstand
temperatures of up to 1,100 degrees Celsius while still maintaining its
structural properties. Unlike concrete it does not explode in high
temperatures.
19. 9. Bendable Concrete
• Traditional concrete is a very brittle material; any buckling or bending will
cause it to crack. A new type of fiber-reinforced bendable concrete might just
be putting an end to that issue.
• This new concrete is around 500 times more resistant to cracking than regular
concrete thanks to the tiny fibers, which account for two percent of its make
up. The fibers slide within the concrete when bending occurs, providing it with
enough give to prevent breakage.
• It isn't just the fibers though; the materials in the concrete itself are designed
for maximum flexibility as well. And thanks to these precautions, this concrete
has a much longer life expectancy, which means it will cost a less in the long
run too.
21. 10. Concrete Canvas
• Concrete Canvas is a flexible cement impregnated fabric that hardens on
hydration to form a thin, durable water proof and fire proof concrete layer.
• Essentially, it's concrete on a roll Just Add Water.
• CC is available in man portable rolls for applications with limited access or where
heavy plant equipment is not available.
• Once hydrated, CC remains workable for 2 hours and hardens to 80% strength
within 24 hours
• Rapid
• Flexible
• Strong
• Durable
• Water Proof
• Fire Proof
• CO2 Savings
• Low Wash Out
• Environment Agency Approval (UK)
24. 11. Low-E Glass / Films
• Low-emissive (Low-E) glass is window glass that has been treated
with an invisible metal or metallic oxide coating, creating a
surface that reflects heat, while allowing light to pass
through. Windows treated with Low-E coatings are proven to
reduce energy consumption, decrease fading of fabrics, such as
window treatments, and increase overall comfort in your home.
26. 12. Transparent Aluminum
Extremely durable crystalline material with excellent optical transparency
• To be used windows, domes, plates, rods and tubes in a wide range of
sizes and thicknesses
• Excellent clarity
• Total absence of birefringence
• Outstanding hardness and high strength
• Available in a wide variety of sizes, shapes and thicknesses
• Produced using proven ceramic forming processes
• Readily scaled up to high volumes
• Cost effective advanced material solution
• Applicable to a wide variety of industries including aerospace,
security, defense and Semiconductor, Energy and consumer products.
27.
28. Transbay Transit Center, San Francisco
Architect Pelli Clarke Pelli has updated the Façade
from Glass to Transparent Aluminum
29. 13. Paper Insulation
• Made from recycled newspapers and cardboard,
• Superior alternative to chemical foams.
• Both insect resistant and fire-retardant (Due to the inclusion of
borax, boric acid, and calcium carbonate)
• Can be blown into cavity walls, filling every crack
• No health Problems.