New concrete technologies at the Chicago Architecture Biennial 2019
On the occasion of the Chicago Architecture Biennial 2019 the architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) erected a curvilinear concrete structure supported by two columns.
Il progetto rappresenta un prototipo di una struttura per la costruzione di un piano di un grattacielo e ha come obiettivo il diminuire l’impatto inquinante del calcestruzzo. E’ costruita grazie a una tecnologia robotica per realizzare le casseforme fornita dall’azienda danese Odico, la quale afferma la maggiore sostenibilità di questo procedimento rispetto ai metodi tradizionali.
Il momento storico non potrebbe essere più opportuno, dato che esperti e attivisti affermano per combattere il cambiamento climatico la necessità di abbandonare progressivamente le costruzioni in calcestruzzo, considerate responsabili di ben l’8% delle emissioni globali di anidride carbonica.
IThe project represents a prototype of a structure for the construction of a skyscraper floor and aims to decrease the polluting impact of concrete.
It is built thanks to robotic formwork technology provided by the Danish company Odico, which affirms the greater sustainability of this process compared to traditional methods.
The historic moment could not be more appropriate, given that experts and activists affirm the need to progressively abandon concrete construction, considered responsible for 8% of global carbon dioxide emissions, to combat climate change.
The project is therefore positioned as a sort of intermediate step, since although it does not completely abandon the construction material, it improves its environmental impact characteristics. The introduction of this technique for the production of concrete floors would have an impact on about 40/60% of the total emissions of the construction of a skyscraper.
The curvilinear shape of the structure is obtained thanks to a reusable formwork in expanded polystyrene, and allows the use of a much lower quantity of material compared to traditional methods, thus significantly improving also the disposal phases.
Precisely SOM states that about 20% less cement is needed for its construction.
Photos courtesy of Dave Burk
