Fibre glass reinforced architectural concrete for the new Kaiser Hof building in Cologne, Germany

Curtain façade elements have, for some years now, been increasingly employed as shells for building structures. This construction method requires the thinnest and lightest free-formed façade elements possible so that classic reinforced concrete cannot be utilised due to the minimum concrete covering needed. By way of contrast, non-steel reinforced concretes, such as short fibre and textile concretes, offer great potential for application in this case. These new construction materials are generally composed of non-corrosive materials, meaning that a classic minimum concrete covering is not necessary and that filigree concrete structures with a great degree of lightweight materials can be implemented. Short fibres, textile meshes or rods made from alkali resistant glass or carbon can be utilised as alternative reinforcing systems.

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