This year’s New York Climate Week (NYCW) played host to the launch of the Global Cement and Concrete Association’s (GCCA) ‘Concrete in Life’ global photography competition that emphasises the power of concrete to act as a sustainable force in the built world.
This year will be the fifth time GCCA has held its ‘Concrete in Life’ photography competition that invites people from all over the world to capture the quotidian beauty of concrete. The competition subsequently generates discussions on the immense decarbonisation potential of concrete. In celebration of the competition’s launch, an exhibition of numerous photos from the last five years was on display in New York.
Competition emphasises usefulness of concrete to sustainability
Association CEO Thomas Guillot is proud to be a judge in this year’s cherished industry competition and represent GCCA at the renowned NYCW where policymakers, governments and activists congregate to devise ways to combat climate change.
“It was important to give people attending NYCW a chance to see the role that concrete plays in supporting communities across the planet,” he says.
He says the democratised nature of the competition allows communities from far and wide to ponder the importance of concrete in pursuing sustainable building practices.
“Our Concrete in Life Competition gives every community across the globe a chance to show how essential concrete is to our lives and building a sustainable world,” says Guillot.
Last year’s overall winner – Teopanzolco Cultural Center, Mexico photographed by Saeed Rezvanian.
The hidden sustainable power of concrete
Guillot is joined on the judging panel by Gensler global co-chair Diane Hoskin, who is a fierce proponent for harnessing the versatility and ubiquity of concrete. She calls on designers and architects to apply the same creativity and lateral thinking used in design when drafting net-zero solutions.
“Concrete opens up an incredible opportunity for innovation and creativity,” she says.
“As architects and designers, we strive to achieve beauty, function, and resilience in our work. This is the power and promise of the built environment and the materials that bring it to life.”
Competition captures wonder of concrete across numerous sectors
The competition is separated into four categories – urban concrete, concrete infrastructure, concrete in daily life and beauty and design.
The top accolade up for grabs is a $10,000 USD ($14,400 AUD) prize, alongside a People’s Vote winner valued at $5000 USD ($7200 AUD) and four category winners valued at $2500 USD ($3600 AUD). Winners will be announced in March next year.
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) is excited to come on as a partner in this year’s competition, as institution members are all-too-familiar with concrete’s usefulness to the net-zero journey. RICS president Tina Paillet also adopts a spot on the judging panel.
“We know how important concrete is to meeting the world’s net zero targets via the circular economy,” she says. “I’m looking forward to judging this year’s Concrete in Life competition and getting the chance to see many awe-inspiring photographs from around the world.”
Photography supplied by GCCA.
Low-carbon concrete emerges as a possible clean-energy construction material.
