5 Iconic Concrete Structures in Tranquil Architecture

Concrete is known for its timeless strength, versatility, and aesthetics. Architects worldwide have pushed the boundaries to create iconic structures that merge form, function, and artistic expression. Concrete is a mixture of water, aggregate, and cement as a binder, making it a popular material for use in a wide range of infrastructure. Strong concrete is affected by environmental comfort factors, such as temperature and humidity. Concrete construction needs to be taken into account so that the forming materials can work optimally to affect the reinforcement. Here are five architectural works where concrete has become an iconic material, demonstrating its potential to shape extraordinary spaces and evoke the meaning behind them.

Meiso No Mori Municipal Funeral Hall (Cr: Toyo Ito & Associates)

Meiso No Mori Municipal Funeral Hall is located in Gifu prefecture, a mountainous region of meditation forests formed by Toyo Ito's two basic principles of architecture: flowing spaces that give a sense of dynamism and reality-  and organic spaces. These forms are articulated through concrete materials. The building's structure is achieved through the use of geometry and software processes, with a floating roof that has low weight.

Igualada Cemetery (cr: Duccio malagamba, hisao suzuki)

Miralles and Pinos, architects that conceptualized the building of Igualda Cemetery by connecting life cycle and integrating it with Catalonia's landscape. The building's concrete, stone, and wooden walls blend in an organic form as if embedded in the hills. Within the mausoleum, concrete niches are inserted into the walls that are constructed to restrict visitors from viewing the outside world and make them see the sky as the only existing entity.

Prefabrication is used in building this mausoleum because of its efficient and low cost construction. The prefabrication technique conveyed the meaning more freely and produced a more expressive work. Raw concrete surface was the architect's goal to blend in with the local topography.

UNESCO Meditation Space (cr: Libertas)

This building by Tadao Ando is a cylindrical space made of concrete. Curved shape represents the granite slabs of the Hiroshima bomb. Interesting features include the floating circular ceiling and gaps in the concrete walls that allow light to flow into the area. Building's feature are associated with spirituality and meditation. This building expresses communal and peaceful living. Visitors are encouraged to respect each other's presence and embrace different lifestyles through the building's comparatively smaller and less cramped dimensions.

Chapel of Notre Dame Du Haut Ronchamp (cr: Gili Merin)

Curves, light, and color were expressed in a concrete chapel by Le Corbusier. Building materials are considered meticulously by Le Corbusier that contribute to building's atmosphere, such as concrete, plaster, wood, iron, and bronze. The material applied are not only serve as aesthetics but is assembled in such a way as to meet the needs of users, such as acoustic plaster for the priest so that the echo of sound can be diffused. 

Sunset Chapel (cr: Esteban Suarez)

The concept of this building by BNKR Arquitectura is based on the notion of religion praising life and death. The building plays with contrasts between glass and concrete through life metamorphosis. The site is located in a hilly area, which needs to respect its environmental elements. The building utilizes views and sun as fundamental elements in its design. The building's design imitates stone as it is located on the hills of Acapulco, which are composed of large granite rocks.