Researchers from the Technical University of Dresden alongside experts from German architecture firm Henn are developing the world’s first carbon concrete building, a report from Dezeen explains.

The team behind the project will use a novel method to reinforce the building’s concrete with carbon fibers rather than steel rods, as part of a German Federal Ministry of Education and Research-funded research project aimed at developing construction innovations called “C³ – Carbon Concrete Composite”.

Reducing construction CO2 emissions by up to 50%

The building, dubbed The Cube, is currently under construction at the TU Dresden University campus. Henn says that its carbon concrete material is four times stronger than traditional concrete at the same time as being four times lighter, due to the reduced requirement for extra structural sections.

The newly developed carbon concrete allows for the same structural strength while using far less concrete. “With this new building material, the light yet robust carbon fibers allow for flexible and resource-saving construction. The conversion to this innovative material can reduce CO2 emissions from construction up to 50%,” Henn explains on its website. Similarly, the developers behind the UK’s second high-speed rail line recently announced they would use a 3D printing construction method in which concrete is strengthened with graphene instead of steel rods — also reducing the construction’s carbon emissions by up to 50 percent.

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