Cement-free concrete recipe bonds sand using alcohol

Concrete is the most commonly used building material in the world, but unfortunately the cement used to make it carries quite a carbon footprint. Now, scientists at the University of Tokyo have created a cement-free alternative that directly bonds sand… Continue reading Cement-free concrete recipe bonds sand using alcohol

Graphene made from old tires helps strengthen concrete

Researchers at Rice University have developed a new process to convert old tires into graphene, which can then be used to make concrete. Not only is it more environmentally friendly, but the team says the resulting concrete is substantially stronger.Co… Continue reading Graphene made from old tires helps strengthen concrete

New concrete recipe improves its carbon capture efficiency

Concrete is one of the world’s most commonly used materials, and unfortunately its production is a major source of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Now, engineers at Purdue University have developed a new cement recipe that can absorb CO2 twice as fas… Continue reading New concrete recipe improves its carbon capture efficiency

Smart bricks store energy in the walls themselves

Boring old bricks might not seem like something that can really be made high-tech, but researchers keep proving us wrong. Now, a team has found a way to turn bricks into energy storage devices, using them to power a green LED in a proof of concept stud… Continue reading Smart bricks store energy in the walls themselves

Laser system designed to keep an eye on bendy buildings

Even the smallest of deformations in structures such as buildings or bridges can lead to cracks or other failures, so the sooner that they’re noticed, the better. A new laser-based system is designed to do just that, quicker and cheaper than ever befor… Continue reading Laser system designed to keep an eye on bendy buildings

Bendable concrete goes cement-free to cut environmental footprint

Concrete is the world’s most widely-used building material thanks to its incredible strength – but it doesn’t stand up well against bending. Now, researchers at Swinburne University have developed a new type of concrete that can not only bend better, b… Continue reading Bendable concrete goes cement-free to cut environmental footprint

Light, flexible panel burns the rule book on where PV can be installed

The Australian National Maritime Museum has installed the country’s largest lightweight solar panel roof on its Wharf 7, Heritage Centre. By using flexible, glass-free solar panels from SunMan Energy, buildings which previously were considere… Continue reading Light, flexible panel burns the rule book on where PV can be installed

Why you need a supercomputer to build a house

When the hell did building a house become so complicated? Don’t let the folks on HGTV fool you. The process of building a home nowadays is incredibly painful. Just applying for the necessary permits can be a soul-crushing undertaking that’ll have you running around the city, filling out useless forms, and waiting in motionless lines […] Continue reading Why you need a supercomputer to build a house

Box Forts For Adults: Best Practices and Design Strategies

Many a grown up can reminisce about building various architectural wonders in their youth. Forts, whether based on boxes or blankets, were the order of the day, and an excellent way to spend a rainy Sunday afternoon.

It just so happens that there is no law against scaling up such activities once one has reached the age of majority. However, to build a structure at this level takes some careful planning and consideration, and that is the purpose of our article here today.

Location, Location, Location

The first major consideration when starting your build should be the area in which …read more

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Oracle to buy construction collaboration software maker Aconex for $1.2B in cash

 Oracle will pay $1.2 billion in cash to buy construction software developer Aconex, the companies announced today. Based in Melbourne, Aconex’s cloud-based software allow teams working on building projects to collaborate and share documents… Continue reading Oracle to buy construction collaboration software maker Aconex for $1.2B in cash