The use of concrete as a building material dates as far back as 2550 BC, when it was fundamental to assembling ancient Egyptian pyramids. But the use of exposed raw concrete as an end-finish in homes didn’t gain consumer acceptance until after World War II, according to Texas-based architect Paul Lamb. That acceptance was largely driven by the work of Swiss-French architect and designer Charles-Édouard Jeanneret, known as Le Corbusier, Mr. Lamb said. “A concrete wall can be both structure and finish,” said Mr. Lamb. In 2017,...

Source: Wall Street Journal September 03, 2020 16:32 UTC