The Palazzo Italia in Milan is built from cement that absorbs pollution. When in direct sunlight it captures pollutants from the air and turns them into inert salts that wash off in the rain. 80 percent of this air-purifying cement is made from recycled materials, such as unused Carrara marble. The Palazzo Italia will also be fitted with a photovoltaic glass rooftop to generate solar energy during the day. Manufacturers say it has the potential to cut air pollution by 75 per cent.

Thanks to the durability granted by cement, concrete plays a major role in water management in many urban areas. Harvested storm water can be reused for irrigation of public areas such as gardens, parks and playing fields, thus reducing urban demand for fresh water. Flexibility in concrete also means that local rainwater management can work hand in hand with urban development. Architects can create new attractive spaces, near by ponds and canals which citizens use to stay active or simply to meet and relax.

Dams are among the largest, heaviest and most impressive structures used for renewable energy production. They are also essential in controlling river flow and regulating flooding. At the design stage, it is of vital importance to select the right type of cement. Engineers need to choose the concrete mix very carefully depending on the dam location and purpose. The dams situated in the Valais Mountains are Switzerland’s greatest source of renewable energy, which actually accounts for 90% of domestic electricity production. The Valais reservoirs also offer unforgettable experiences for tourists hiking or cycling in the Alps.

Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) is a high-strength material, resistant against aggressive environments. UHPC can also be characterised by its fluidity and increased bond capacity, making it a perfect material for maintenance and rapid repairs to critical infrastructure. This reduces material use, cost and more importantly, the time needed to repair motorways, bridges and runways, thus limiting inconvenience and the emissions caused by detours and increased traffic.

‘Biblioteca degli Alberi’ or ‘Library of Trees’ is an award winning park praised for its flexibility and smart use of materials. With the theme being ‘connection’, it ties its surroundings together with a criss-cross of paths for its many daily commuters. These concrete pedestrian paths are the subject of an innovative design solution with a finish that combines aesthetic appearance and bad weather resistance. Thanks to the typical light colouration of cement and its thermal properties, they also lead to a heat reduction of up to 30 degrees, compared to asphalt. This is an important factor during hot summer days when cities can overheat. In addition, nature’s ability to assimilate CO2 is complemented by the building’s ability to absorb pollution, creating a safer, healthier space in the heart of the city.

Concrete foundations made with cement are indispensable for wind renewable energy. Wind mills can also be made out of concrete, allowing for more cost-efficient construction and maintenance. Limited space for on-land wind farms and fewer shallow coastal sites available for exploitation are pushing wind production into deeper waters. This is vital to realising the EU’s energy policy whilst also meeting its Paris climate agreement targets. In addition, offshore deployment has a minimal environmental impact as there is no need for piling operations into coastal sea beds, thus reducing the displacement of marine species and other knock-on effects.

Cement facilitates the construction of picturesque architectural designs connecting urban development with natural beauty in a seamless and harmonic way. The Paseo Marítimo in Benidorm, Spain, was transformed from an unpopular part of the city into a frequently visited sight. By removing barriers and installing a fluid dynamic flow of concrete combined with wood and earth, the entire area has undergone a complete regeneration.

Cement, and its end product concrete, makes the building of robust and durable bridges, subways or tunnels possible, providing an environmental solution for shortening the routes of cars, reducing congestion and cutting CO2 emissions. The 1,408m-long Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge in Istanbul is all the more significant for connecting train traffic between Asia and Europe, forming part of a “New Silk Road” linking China and Europe together.

Concrete constructions prevent many European cities from major flooding. The Basalt Dyke in Zeeland is located in an area which is particularly vulnerable to floods, an area that was already historically protected by smaller dams. Being robust and durable, the concrete dykes made possible thanks to the unique properties of cement provide long-lasting protection against storm surges from the sea or rivers.

The Lexicon Library in Dún Laoghaire Rathdown is the result of a two-stage international competition held in 2007 by the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland. Choosing to use the many possibilities offered by cement and reinforced concrete, cast in-site was essential to realise the design intent, which was for a voluminous concrete shell with interlocking volumes and expansive openings to bring light in and show the panoramic views out.

The versatility of cement allows it to be incorporated into different environments and installations. The Bosco Verticale project is a residential development in Milan, Italy, with two towers housing trees in their balconies, saving land and promoting biodiversity and sustainable living. Thanks to resilient concrete structures, cities of the future can integrate skyward forests and harness vertical farming.

One of the ways of making a building more energy efficient is to use the energy storage capacity. Concrete has the unique ability to absorb heat during the day and release it at night, thus reducing dependence on heating and cooling. This effect is referred to as ‘thermal mass’. Not only does it mean that buildings use less energy, but it also reduces peak power demand, CO2 emissions and allows for more affordable housing. In addition, CO2 savings in buildings built in concrete off-set the CO2 embodied within the cement used, in months rather than decades.

Harbours play a major role in the world economy and need to be robust and resilient to extreme weather conditions. Concrete is the most reliable and durable material that can ensure ports and harbours can withstand extremities of weather, while being practical and easy to construct. Developed thanks to the industry’s constant investment in innovation and new solutions, floating concrete now allows to extend harbours into deep waters or difficult sites. It can be assembled remotely and then installed at the wished position, traveling up to 2000 kilometres in the case of the Monaco dock, coming from its fabrication site in Algeciras (Spain).

Concrete has the ability to host unique characteristics, adding design elements to its appearance while retaining high quality standards. Translucent cement is a clear example of this, as well as an example of the cement industry’s sustained focus on innovation, as new solutions are advanced on a daily basis. Translucent cement walls allow for increased light, making the interior of buildings appear bigger and lighter, while adding value to modern architecture.

Concrete and cement are vital for the future, allowing new applications apart from the traditional methods where cement is used in mortar. Architect Massimiliano Locatelli, on the occasion of the 2018 Milan Design Week, proposed a prototype of a house printed on-site with a 3D machine, the first of its kind in Europe. Named 3D Housing 05, the single-storey concrete home is earthquake proof and the walls can be expanded both laterally and in height. The 5 main principles of the concrete 3D construction were creativity, sustainability, flexibility, affordability and rapidity. Its aim is to bring about a shift in the way the construction industry operates.