Top 5 Most Impressive Concrete Structures
Posted on 27th November 2019 by Ever Readymix Concrete
Concrete Buildings That Shaped the World
Concrete is the world’s most commonly used man-made building material. Its astounding strength and versatility lends itself well to a whole host of constructions such as buildings, bridges, roads, skyscrapers and dams. In this article, we celebrate the use of concrete in some famous constructions, whether that’s in terms of height, beauty or sheer skill.
We’ve provided a range of 360° videos that you can navigate through to see these concrete structures in their prime. Simply play the video then click and drag your cursor on the video to rotate.
Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro
This statue stands at 38 metres tall, towering over Brazil’s capital city, on Corcovado mountain. Construction was completed over a 9 year period, with the statue opening in 1931. The monument has a fascinating history and was originally proposed to due to concerns over a lack of God in Brazilians’ lives after the church and state separated. The reinforced concrete used to produce this iconic sculpture was finished with a mosaic made of soapstone, a decision that architect Heitor Da Silva Costa was inspired to make after a walk along the Champs Elysees.
The Venetian Hotel, Las Vegas
A staggering 85,183,118 pounds of concrete went into building this masterpiece, a luxury hotel complex on the famous Las Vegas strip. As is suggested by the name, the hotel uses Venice, Italy as its design inspiration and replicates many Venetian landmarks such as the Palazzo Ducale and the Rialto Bridge.
Hoover Dam, Nevada
Just 30 miles southeast of Las Vegas lies the Hoover Dam, named after the 31st president of the United States. Completed in 1936, this is a considerable feat of engineering which produces hydroelectric power and water for irrigation. So many workers were part of the project that an entire town – Boulder City – was built to accommodate them. An impressive 3,250,000 cubic yards of concrete was used to build the dam, and even more for the nearby power plant and other structures.
The Met Breuer, New York
A list of concrete structures simply wouldn’t be complete without a feature from New York City. Though not the typical soaring skyscraper that we have come to associate with the ‘concrete jungle’, we’ve chosen The Met Breuer, the most recent addition to the Metropolitan Museum of Art family. This building – the brainchild of acclaimed designer Marcel Breuer – is a true work of art itself, a classic example of 20th century Brutalist architecture.
Burj Khalifa, Dubai
Saving the best until last, the Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world. Standing at a whopping 828 metres, this tower was designed by notable architect Adrian Smith. The building is constructed from reinforced concrete that was pumped using the world’s largest concrete pumps which, in a single stage, could pour concrete up to 600m high. Construction started in 2004 and took 22 million man-hours, finally opening in 2010.
Ever Readymix is a leading supplier of concrete, from ready-mix to volumetric. Operating throughout London, Surrey and surrounding areas, we are proud to offer a first-rate concrete supply and delivery service to our valued customers. For more information, don’t hesitate to contact our friendly team today.