We can\’t agree more with this article from the WSJ. we LOOOOVE concrete and all the different applications it brings.
The material’s durability and unique visual quality has made it a solid choice for some homeowners
Source: wsj.com – see the full article here.
The use of concrete as a building material dates as far back as 2550 BC, when it was fundamental to assembling ancient Egyptian pyramids. But the use of exposed raw concrete as an end-finish in homes didn’t gain consumer acceptance until after World War II, according to Texas-based architect Paul Lamb. That acceptance was largely driven by the work of Swiss-French architect and designer Charles-Édouard Jeanneret, known as Le Corbusier, Mr. Lamb said.
“A concrete wall can be both structure and finish,” said Mr. Lamb. In 2017, along with architect Ted Young, Mr. Lamb remodeled a high-concept contemporary home in Austin, Texas, whose main structure comprises concrete walls. Located in the West Lake Hills neighborhood, it is currently on the market for $8.995 million.
These days, Mr. Lamb said concrete homes are generally perceived as edgy, arty, tough, and not for the faint of heart. That hasn’t stopped consumers from scouting them out.
“Concrete is appealing for builders and home buyers because of its durability and sound-reducing qualities,” said Robin Goelman, a Maryland real-estate agent who is listing a Silver Spring condo in a circa-1894 brick and concrete block building.
Concrete also has unique visual qualities, said Richard Higgerson, the listing agent for a poured-concrete home in Norwich, Vt. “There is a strong and evident command of the elements in a concrete home, including natural light that diffuses into interiors at just the right angles.”
