1 May 2018
The Concrete Centre were back for a second year since the launch of the event in 2017 and it proved to be another successful two days.
Taking place at the ILEC Centre in West London, Materials for Architecture embraces the event’s ethos of innovation in the development and specification of materials for architecture, construction, and design.
The Concrete Centre held a prime position and displayed three lightbox plinths containing concrete with different samples of colour, texture and shades of grey alongside a variety of other innovative concrete samples, industry related publications and copies of their Spring Issue of Concrete Quarterly.
A jammed packed conference programme for 2018 highlighted some of the newest, most innovative themes within the built environment and Elaine Toogood, The Concrete Centre’s Senior Architect delivered an insightful presentation on Low-carbon concrete and the latest advances in sustainable concrete for a low-carbon future.
Elaine’s presentation provided the latest guidance on specifying sustainable concrete including low-carbon cements, recycled aggregate and responsible sourcing. It also included some useful strategies for providing low whole life carbon using concrete.
On Wednesday from 6:00 – 8:00pm as part of the evening reception, Elaine along with Marek Behnke of Cemex and Manser Medal winners: Cezary Bednarski of Studio Bednarski and Chris Loyn of Loyn + Co Architects formed the judging panel for the Young Researchers Forum.
A selection of early-career researchers, new appointees to industry and academia, and PhD Students pitched their ideas for the development of new materials as well as innovative methods of manufacture and uses for existing ones.
After a short interview by the judges, and a presentation to the audience, the winning proposal by Ehab Sayed, Founder of Biohm, was awarded a trophy and prize of £500 for his work exploring a biomimetic future. The judges were, however so impressed by Alalea Kim’s paper examining an alternative form of permeable concrete that they decided to sponsor a second prize and award £200 to recognise this student from Imperial Colleges London’s achievement.
The Concrete Centre, Senior Architect Elaine Toogood commented “I was blown away with the innovative and inspirational ideas that we saw presented today – and so much concrete! it just goes to show what huge potential concrete has to keep evolving. We are also thrilled to have a member of the Loyn + Co architecture team speaking at our Better Built Seminar, on 22nd June, at the UK Self Build Centre, on the designs of their award-winning houses”.