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74 Understanding the project e design process Understanding the space Organising the space e human interface Sustainable design Communicating design Understanding building structures Concrete has been used as a building material for centuries. It is a mix of cement with an aggregate, traditionally stone chippings or gravel. Concrete is generally used in construction, where it is poured to form slabs for fl oors and foundations, or into moulds (called shu ering) to form vertical features such as walls or columns. It is o en used in conjunction with steel reinforcing rods that combat tensile and shearing forces, but it is a very versatile material. It is increasingly used for its decorative qualities as it can be polished and coloured. e gravel aggregate can be exposed, or other materials (such as crushed recycled glass) may be substituted, which give new opportunities for colour and texture when the surface of the concrete is polished. However, the manufacture of cement used for concrete uses vast amounts of energy and produces a great deal of pollution, to the extent that many designers choose not to use the material because of the environmental harm that it causes. If used in large quantities in a structure, though, this damage may be off set by the thermal store eff ect of the mass of concrete which helps to regulate temperature. Considered over a period of at least 15 years (depending on the installation), this can off set energy used during manufacture. Concrete Textured concrete (the lower balustrade) and polished concrete (the fl oor) combine with English oak, bronze and glass to provide practical and decorative fi nishes in e Lightbox gallery in Woking, England, designed by Marks Barfi eld Architects. e concrete was poured into a rough timber container to give it a textured surface.