![Material Minds: The Possibilities Of Ultra High Performance Concrete - Featured Image](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5553/68d6/e58e/ce92/c700/03b4/large_jpg/Waikiki_08.jpg?1431529678)
Since the beginning of the Modernist era a century ago, concrete has been appreciated by architects for its strength, versatility and sculptural potential. For many countries, concrete played a key role in their recovery from the Second World War, and in their continued modernization during the second half of the 20th century. But in recent years - while it is still as widely-used as ever - concrete has fallen on something of an image problem, with criticisms of its environmental impact and its aesthetic appearance becoming commonplace.