Concrete

Poor concrete! He is still searching for himself at the hands of man.'His questions were as justified as his inability to answer them. Concrete, which has its origins in the pozzolan sands of the Roman Empire, is a mixed material in both constitution and form, especially since it began to be reinforced with steel in the 19th century to create a product that is unbeatable in its combination of economy and strength. From this alliance, in fact, reinforced concrete would become the predominant material in 20th century construction, to the point that, although it is often hidden behind partition walls and plaster layers, we can find it in the vast majority of the structures that support our cities.

It is possible that this tendency to go unnoticed has to do with another of its fundamental conditions. Despite its solidity, concrete needs other ephemeral structures, the formwork, to come to life. As a result, their configuration and shapes depend not only on the dosage of their components, but also on the configuration and textures of the formwork.As could not be otherwise, the works that articulate this itinerary not only do not hide concrete, but also highlight the wide range of possibilities that this material offers architects. Seeing these works as a whole, in fact, only brings us back to Wright's questions:Is it stone?

La Trufa he says yes. A mass concrete rock formed directly on the ground and occupied by straw bales that Paquita the cow, by eating them, turned into a small shelter. However, the Hipódromo de la Zarzuela (Zarzuela Hippodrome) denies it, that concrete is a light material, capable of flying over us with thicknesses that do not exceed 5cm at the edges.

Is it plaster?

The smooth surfaces of the Andalusia Museum of Memory invite us to answer in the affirmative. And yet, the traces that punish the finishes of the El Molino Cultural Centre once again call us into question.

Is it brick or tile?

It cannot be that a material that allows shapes such as those of the Casar de Cáceres bus station is it. However, when applied with the repetitive rigour of the Madinat al-Zahra Museum, our perspective changes.

And is it cast iron?

Well, as long as it can be moulded to assume a myriad of forms and motifs, as in the Miralles building and square on the University Campus in Vigo, it seems so. Although cast iron would be incapable of converting these same forms into structure, as is the case in the Magma Art & Congress Unitbase.

Poor concrete!