image via Lisa Town

While scoping out the Bavarian Garden Show last year in Neu Ulm, Germany, I came across the concrete pavilion that was showcasing new stuff in concrete. The best was definitely the light transmitting concrete from Litracon that is not only cool for it’s slight see-through effect but it also looks pretty neat too. The otical fibers woven into the fine concrete are quite beautiful and I personally love the imperfections that come from being hand woven (see: expensive).

While this is extremely cool and beautiful, it is not at all transparent. There needs to be a pretty good light source and the object or person needs to be practically right up against the other side of the concrete blocks in order for their shadow to show through very well. But again, it’s still beautiful and makes for a sleek “window” effect. I liked how they had the blocks hanging with cables through an opening at the exhibit.

Weburbanist recently had a post on futuristic materials available now and this concrete was part of it. There are some other interesting materials in the mix like solar shingles.

image via weburbanist