Concrete innovation for new architectural challenges special edition 04 Journey into the heart of the “gray matter” 06 Concrete, a green material! 08 Concrete, at the heart of sustainable construction 10 A matter of architecture… BRUNO LAFONT Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Lafarge © Jacques Grison THE MATTER, THE MATERIAL, THE FEAT 14 Zaha Hadid challenges materials 16 Marrec & Combarel : Radical modesty and a passion for concrete 20 The structural revolution of Villa Navarra n emerging markets, the demand for housing, facilities and infrastructure is 22 Le Corbusier’s church is finally “topped out” growing exponentially. To satisfy this huge demand today there is no credible i alternative to concrete. Is this a good enough argument to justify its use? Certainly not. But in view of the challenges of our time, concrete has many other THE EMOTION, THE DREAM, arguments in its favor than the mechanical properties or the competitive pricing THE SENSES that have made it successful. At the time of the battle against climate change 26 Christian de Portzamparc and of the need to design highly energy-efficient buildings, this fantastic material Dreams of musical architecture opens up unsuspected possibilities in answer to the questions asked by society. 28 Rudy Ricciotti’s material dreams It is accessible to the vast majority and can be easily produced everywhere. It is a material of exceptional and unrivalled durability. It is a versatile material that 30 Frédéric Borel: Architecture, a multi-sensory journey has an infinite number of properties and potential uses. Although concrete can be easily produced, the scientific complexity of its content gives an 32 Rémy Marciano builds tomorrow’s memories almost infinite potential for technological innova- TOMORROW’S WORLD, THE THINKING, Concrete, a modern-day material tion. Finally, it is a natural THE VISION material, using widely available resources. A totally recyclable material, whose production requires 36 The sky’s the limit for today’s towers little energy and is always carried out close to the sites where it is used and is 40 Hypergreen: the tower building that captures the sunlight therefore only transported over very short distances. Through all these proper- 42 Managing urban growth ties, concrete is recognized as a “green” material, fully in phase with its time, a time when architects must reconcile ever greater environmental, urban planning, 46 Objective: “zero net energy” technical and aesthetic constraints in order to bring their projects to life. In taking up this constant challenge, concrete offers them almost unlimited 48 At the cutting edge of innovation freedom. We are proud to be able to bring to the service of their art a material 50 New generation concretes that improves in performance every day, a material that stimulates their creativity, a modern-day material. BRUNO LAFONT © Médiathèque Lafarge - Eric Tourneret - Le Corbusier (architecte) José Oubrerie © Médiathèque Lafarge - Eric Tourneret CRESCENDO SPECIAL EDITION | LAFARGE | OCTOBER 2008 | PAGE 3 A forerunner in studies on materials on a nanometer scale, Lafarge makes understanding of the infinitely small the cornerstone of its research. The research finds its application in the development of new ranges of ultra-high performance concretes. © Photothèque Eiffage - Daniel Jamme Norman Foster (Architecte) Millau viaduct, France, by Norman Foster, architect. Journey into the SCIENTIFIC PARTNERSHIPS Progress in fundamental research has heart of the “gray matter” enabled the acquisition of a profound View of an knowledge of matter on an infinitely small unpolished concrete, magnified scale. The Group, which employs more 1,000 times. © DR than 500 people of more than ten different nationalities in Research and View of polished Ductal® concrete, Development all over the world, takes magnified 1,000 times to show the density of the material. a particular interest in the latest scientific discoveries and the training of engineers esistant, ductile, long lasting, sustainable… A ver- and future researchers. Desirous of itable revolution is happening in the world of con- supporting fundamental research, Lafarge crete, where very high performance materials, View of a sound, polished concrete, works closely with the most prestigious r magnified 1,000 times in which which enhance the finished appearance of build- the cement has been hydrated and universities and engineering schools in the ings, revolutionize mechanical resistance capa- the components well distributed. world. In the United States the Group has bilities and ensure improved thermal and acoustic unequalled structural properties, concrete has established partnerships with the insulation are making their appearance. become the material of the future. In the United Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Their development has gone beyond the exper- States, the first highway bridge built using Ductal®, the Universities of Berkeley (California) imental to enter the realms of science. “We are filaments and the grains of the “gray matter” Cutting-edge technology or the Villa Navarra in France, whose very thin and Princeton (New Jersey). In Canada, a long way from concrete by the trowel,” jokes which is concrete. Thanks to new technologies, Such innovations have been made possible roof stretches over a length of 40 meters, have the University of Toronto and the Laval Paul Acker, scientific director of the Lafarge the exploration of matter on a nanometer scale thanks to techniques such as nuclear magnetic made the most of the possibilities offered by a University in Quebec are associated with Research Center. “Today, our concretes are for- has brought to light the numerous mechanical resonance or electron microscope scanning… new generation of concretes. similar programs. In Europe also, Lafarge mulated by computer for accuracy to the near- properties of concrete, as well as the way these “Cutting-edge tools allow for the observation and A composite material whose use gradually works with Imperial College London, the est gram. A huge technological revolution has change over time. Understanding of the granu- better understanding of the physical and chem- became the norm during the 20th century, con- Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale in Lausanne taken place over the past ten years, bringing lar mass of concrete has enabled reductions in ical phenomena created in materials on a micro- crete today is the product the most consumed and, in 2006, created the “science about a revolution in construction methods.” its water content and therefore made it extreme- scopic scale.” The construction of works such in the world after water. And it continues to evolve, of sustainable construction materials” Research into the infinitely small makes travel ly resistant to external forces (climate, pollution, as the Millau viaduct, an authentic technological offering ever more possibilities. Modern, respect- chair with the Ecole Polytechnique and into the heart of matter possible and allows acid rain…). “The result is greater density and achievement, has had the full benefit of these ful of the environment, perfectly malleable and the Ecole des Ponts. Finally, in China, understanding of the complex alchemy that gov- enhanced mechanical performance for an even breakthroughs. Capable of taking on any shape, versatile, concrete the world over is well-suited Lafarge is the partner of the CBMA and erns the relationships between the pores, the more durable material,” explains Paul Acker. whether prefabricated or made on site and having to the most daring architectural undertakings. ■ the University of Tongji in Shanghai. PAGE 4 | LAFARGE | OCTOBER 2008 | CRESCENDO SPECIAL EDITION CRESCENDO SPECIAL EDITION | LAFARGE | OCTOBER 2008 | PAGE 5 Obvious for some and a surprise for others: concrete is green! RESPECT FOR THE In addition to its astonishing mechanical properties, this natural material ENVIRONMENT: ACTIONS AND has many environmental qualities which make it an irreplaceable product COMMITMENTS for construction in the 21st century. Founded in 1833, Lafarge has always attempted to reconcile growth with respect for the environment. Economy of resources, rehabilitation of quarries, reduction of CO2 emissions, conservation and Concrete, a green material! development of biodiversity, prevention of health risks… The Group’s commitment attempts to respond in a responsible and innovative way to the challenges of construction in the 21st century. ement, water, aggregates… In spite of the appar- COMPARATIVE ent simplicity of its composition, concrete is, in TABLE OF MATERIALS reality, a complex material which for a few years c Energy consumption now has been revealing the true extent of its poten- tial. Subject only to empirical analysis in the past, by kilogram of material produced (in mega joules) it is now the subject of scientific research which Steel: 43 MJ/kg has shaken traditional views, improved the under- Wood: 27 MJ/kg standing of its behavior and helped to develop rapid growth in emerging countries where the Brick: 3 MJ/kg new, often revolutionary formulas. In view of the infrastructure needs are immense in order to Concrete: < 1 MJ/kg challenges facing sustainable construction, at a ensure economic and social development. CO emissions time when needs in terms of housing, mobility Because it is also an affordable product, concrete 2 by ton of material produced The law courts in Pontoise, and infrastructure are considerable, concrete has is the only one able to meet this demand and can made