Iron+and+Steel

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Cast iron, although generally used in construction, has alternative applications such as cookware and tool making. Concrete is very weak in tension forces, that is why it is usually combined with steel to make it more resistant. When the span between columns of a building is not well calculated beams usually have too much effort on the ends, which causes an effect called bending. Columns are used with beams in a structural arrangement that bears the weight of the building. The building I live in has a beautiful brick veneer, which makes it look very interesting.

“//the old cast iron buildings died out. I'm not really sure whether the new skyscrapers killed them, or the new esthetics//” In my opinion those buildings didn’t die out completely. Surely there are no more constructions based on cast iron, but the use as a structural material of this type of metal was the stepping stone for steel. So, what I’m really trying to say is that I don’t think cast iron passed away, this construction material evolved and gave birth to what we now use in architecture.

Evolution of metals in the history of architecture:

TIMELINE