Journalists

Concrete is the most used material in the world, after water! Every year, close to 7 billion cubic meters of concrete are consumed throughout the world. This works out at more than 1m³ per person. Concrete is vital for development, and yet it is often misunderstood and disliked. Sustainable, innovative, colored, resistant, lighter... Concrete has made considerable progress, in technical and esthetic terms. Find out the history and futures of concrete.

Hidden away in the hinterland of the Var coastline (France), the building ordered by the art dealer Enrico Navarra practically boils down to its 40 meter-long roof with a cantilevered surface of 7.80 metres. Exceptional, both aesthetically and for its technical complexity, this ultra-thin roof made of Ductal® concrete is a world first. It is the fruit of the boldness and expertise of Rudy Ricciotti, laureate of the National Architecture Grand Prix 2006, Romain Ricciotti, structural engineer, and Lafarge teams.

Ultra-high performance Ductal® concrete has a starring role in the R.A.T.P.'s new building in Thiais, France. In this building, created by the E.C.D.M. agency, the concrete serves as an envelope and cladding, while merging the walls, ground and underside of the building into one. It gives the building a unique visual identity, while ensuring that it blends into the site.

The Group works to integrate all of the players in the construction field, including designers, consultants and users, in a discussion on the future of materials. Over the last 10 years, Lafarge has pursued an active partnership policy with the architectural community.

Lafarge has joined forces with 2 prestigious engineering schools, Ecole des Ponts and Ecole Polytechnique, to create an academic chair for education and research in the "Science of Materials for Sustainable Construction." This interdisciplinary approach encompasses all of the environmental, economic and research issues in the field of materials.

Ductal®, an ultra-high performance concrete, made a splash at the 2006 Salon du Meuble in Paris. Designers were won over by its structural characteristics and unique aesthetics. From bookshelves to tables and bathtubs, all of the objects created are highly refined, light weight and have original textures.

Sustainable construction limits the impact of buildings on the environment while ensuring superior quality in terms of aesthetics, durability and strength. Sustainable construction applies across the complete lifecycle of a building, from the choice of initial materials, to demolition and recycling. The challenge is to build, but in a different way. Lafarge is committed to sustainable construction and works with the other players in the building sector to define the modes of construction of the future.