Why isn't Roman Concrete used today?

Roman concrete redefined the limits of architecture. But could it be used to build a modern skyscraper?
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Chapters:
0:00 The origins of concrete
1:25 Building with Roman concrete
2:49 Why the Romans didn't build skyscrapers
3:33 A hypothetical modern project
4:20 The "Insula" method
5:23 The "Colosseum" method
7:17 Possible, not comfortable

[frank_zapping]

The Building of the thumbnail was built in 1936, it is called "Palazzo della civiltà italiana", also known as "Colosseo quadrato" (square Colosseum)

[alimanski]

That ‘answer, not a solution’ sounds like it came straight from Garret’s teaching days

[billcampbell]

Modern concrete does NOT need air or CO2 to “harden”. The water chemically reacts with the cement (hydrating). This is an exothermic chemical reaction (it produces heat). Modern concrete can indeed be poured and set under seawater (it’s a challenge but possible). The exact properties of modern concrete are adjusted according to specific needs by the addition of admixtures (additives to control various properties). Extremely strong and durable concrete can be produced if desired.

[Wyattinous]

What a well rounded and succinct explanation to this topic, your final words even more so. The methods were amazing for there time, but methods change and adapted to the project at hand. I’d love to see Roman concrete utilized to build structures again, and people finally finding out how it was made had me excited.

[MarkACarroll]

That building in Chicago is indeed a hulk of a space. Solid hallways, but not claustrophobic when one walks it. Open to the public as well. First floor has small shops.

[watching]

how did finance system in rome work? how did they pay rent? where loans with intrest a thing back then. How did companies work in that time? And how did the companies get financing for growth and new projects?

[TibiHIPHOP]

The last time i was so early pompei still had the go to red light district

[brick]

Concrete is certainly a pretty amazing material, but on its own, it can be pretty ugly, especially in places with gloomier climates. I like the Roman idea of hiding it away behind a nice layer of masonry. I used to live in Warsaw, a city shaped by a post-war love of modernism and brutalism. Perhaps it's just a style that's too old to be modern and not old enough to be valued yet... but I don't like it!

[GrooveSpaceArk]

It supports this channel which is a monument in its own right

[kalrandom]

At the end you stated piers and breakwaters, I wonder about building a dam with it.

[OceanHedgehog]

Such a great video and channel. Clear and concise.

[EPWillard]

I feel like we often get carried away with ideas of what could have been if we stretch things to the limit that we forget that they did things that were actually practical.
it's really amazing when you look at how much we have advanced in the last century-and-change of building tall stuff and how we sometimes forget that when we assess how impressive things were.

[togeiin]

Didn't know this was a question I needed answering, but when I read the title... ❤

[leviosssa]

this is terrifying, i LITERALLY asked myself this question 30 minutes ago, man you're good

[AO-qyfp]

Woo! Told in stone! One of my fav channels.

[geoffreymclean]

Love this one. Keep rewatching to catch details I missed the first time or two. One thing about the “insulae” or apartment buildings. I’ve read about how in Rome, they would extend upper stories using wood construction. Unlike today, the poorer you were, the higher you went.

[danielintheantipodes]

I had always wondered! Thank you for the video!

[kaifengwu]

As an architect I would like to propose iron reinforced travertine on corners and load bearing exterior columns, paired with Roman concrete vaults between those columns to stablize them laterally, and one additional medial layer of concrete columns and vaults to sablize them in depth. Then, all flooring will be wood over wood truss. This is somewhat similiar to the sections of many roman basilicas. I'm sure there would be ways to optimize the structure, lean on the strengths of the selection of materials to create larger windows and less ristricted living spaces.

[JohnCaldwell]

Roman concrete is an example of just one type of ancient "geopolymer." Other cultures, like the Egyptians and Incans, had their own recipies. Geopolymers are quite different from modern "portland concrete." If we simply focus on the chemistry, we will find geopolymers an excellent material for modern applications including skyscrapers! There are many companies working on modern geopolymers for industrial and commercial uses. Perhaps a video should focus on how the Romans discovered how to combine the ingredients in the correct order to create a type of carbon-neutral concrete that has lasted 2000+ years?

[animalfriends]

Garrett, I should speak up more, but please understand I love everything you do here on YouTube. Remember when History Channel was cool? I do. You're part of the modern version of History Channel. Thanks for regurgitating the knowledge that led you to a PhD right here in public where we can lap it all up. It means a lot to me. Plz hook up with all the other history YouTubers and get the planet back on track. Stay happy and thanks for all the videos!