Researchers from the University of Tokyo’s Institute of Industrial Science have figured out how to produce concrete without using cement, the traditional binder made of clay and calcined lime. Using a reaction between alcohol and a catalyst, the researchers ultimately bonded the fine aggregate, or sand particles, together, according to a university press release. The process has the potential to reduce the CO2 emissions resulting from cement production, which accounts for 8% of global CO2 emissions. It also can ease construction in desert and even extraterrestrial regions. “We obtained sufficiently strong products with, for example, silica sand, glass beads, desert sand, and simulated moon sand,” said the paper’s second author, Ahmad Farahani, in the same release. “These findings can promote a move toward a greener and more economical construction industry everywhere on Earth. Our technique does not require specific sand particles used in conventional construction. This will also help address the issues of climate change and space development.” [University of Tokyo]
Autodesk
Autodesk
Software developer Autodesk has partnered with the Fondation du Patrimoine in France for the conservation and protection of Notre Dame Cathedral. Autodesk will provide caretakers of the iconic structure, which has been under reconstruction since a devastating fire in 2019, with “design and construction solutions, including Building Information Modeling (BIM) support, an intelligent data and 3D geometric modeling process, and technical expertise” to help create “a historical digital record for increased resiliency for future events and restoration,” according to an Autodesk press release. Using reality-capture technologies, Autodesk generated 3D BIM models of the cathedral before and after the fire, for comparison purposes. [Autodesk]
New York–based nonprofit Community Solutions has raised a $100 million fund to combat homelessness in urban areas. However, their approach differs from traditional attempts to increase the overall housing stock by building new affordable housing units. Instead, Community Solutions buys existing multifamily residences and lowers unit rents, creating supportive housing communities located near existing employment opportunities and social service organizations. “This approach has the ability to double the amount of affordable housing that is brought online in communities every year,” Community Solutions director of real estate Dave Foster tells Fast Company. [Fast Company]
Gehry Partners
View From Eisenhower Memorial Grounds Toward U.S. Capitol
Frank Gehry, FAIA, is 92 and keeping busy. In a recent interview with The New York Times, the famed postmodern architect offers insight into his activities during the pandemic and his current focus on projects that promote social justice. “I’m just free now that I don’t have to worry about fees,” Gehry tells The Times. [New York Times]
With regions around the world already experiencing the impacts of climate change, including increased rainfall and extreme temperatures, some urban areas have introduced subtle interventions in nature to mitigate the impact. From sponge parks in the United Kingdom to vertical gardens in Spain and Poland, Phys.org dives into the latest techniques that cities are deploying in the face of extreme weather. [PhysOrg]
courtesy Stantec
Richard J. Lee Elementary School in Plano, Texas, designed by Stantec
More daylight is not always better in classrooms. “[B]ig windows [do not] necessarily mean adding quality daylight in a space,” explains Shivani Langer, AIA, a principal, senior project architect, and regional sustainability leader at Stantec. Read more about lighting strategies for educational environments in Murrye Bernard, AIA’s piece for ARCHITECT’s April issue. [ARCHITECT]
In an effort to reduce our carbon footprint, ARCHITECT is teaming up with The American Institute of Architects to encourage subscribers to opt for the Digital Edition of the official journal of AIA. Subscribers will still experience the magazine’s award-winning design—just at the cost of fewer trees. [ARCHITECT]
Timothy Hursley
Jacksonport State Park Visitors Center, Newport, Ark.
The American Institute of Steel Construction announced the winners of its 2021 IDEAS2 Awards, recognizing 10 projects that exemplify the potential of steel construction. [ARCHITECT]
What can architects learn from kintsugi, the Japanese practice of repairing broken pottery with gilded lacquer? ARCHITECT columnist Blaine Brownell, FAIA, dives into the potential architectural applications in his latest article. [ARCHITECT]
Leonid Furmansky
How can architectural design encourage community? That was just one of the questions facing five architecture teams tasked with designing microhouses for the second phase of Community First! Village, a neighborhood for formerly homeless individuals in Austin, Texas. [ARCHITECT]