View source for LiTraCon

'''LiTraCon''' is a [[translucent concrete]] building material. The name is short for  "light-transmitting concrete". The material is made of 96% concrete and 4% by weight of [[Optical fiber#Other uses|optical fibers]].<ref name="Technical Data Sheet for Litracon">{{cite web|url=http://www.litracon.hu/downloads.php|title=LiTraCon Official Website|accessdate=17 May 2011|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110518143342/http://www.litracon.hu/downloads.php|archivedate=18 May 2011}}</ref><ref>Kellogg, Craig, "Space-Age Concrete Blocks That Let You See the Light." New York Times. (Late Edition (East Coast)). New York, N.Y.: Apr 15, 2004. pg. F.3.</ref><ref>Gomez, Kevin, "LiTraCon shows concrete in new light."  ''Construction Contractor'' (Australia), Aug. 2005.</ref> It was developed in 2001 by [[Hungary|Hungarian]] [[architect]] [[Áron Losonczi]] working with scientists at the [[Technical University of Budapest]].<ref>{{cite web | last = Birch| first = Amanda| title = Material world| publisher = Building Design| date = 2005-03-18| url = http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=453&storycode=3048414&c=1| accessdate = 2009-01-19}}</ref>

LiTraCon is manufactured by the inventor's company, LiTraCon Bt, which was founded in spring 2004. The head office and workshop is near the town of [[Csongrád]]. {{As of|2006}} all LiTraCon products have been produced by LiTraCon Bt. The concrete comes in precast blocks of different sizes.

The most notable installation of it to date is [[Europe Gate]] - a 4 m high sculpture made of LiTraCon blocks, erected in 2004 in observance of the entry of Hungary into the European Union. The product won the German "Red Dot 2005 Design Award" for 'highest design qualities'.<ref>Anonymous. "Translucent concrete developed in Europe." Civil Engineering : Magazine of the South African Institution of Civil Engineering. Yeoville: Oct 2005. Vol. 13, Iss. 10; p. 27. Source type: Periodical. {{ISSN|1021-2000}}. ProQuest document ID: 958844411. Text Word Count 340. Document URL: [https://www.proquest.com/docview/221155857] (Proquest: subscription required). retrieved Dec. 22, 2006</ref>

Though expensive, Litracon appeals to architects because it is stronger than glass and translucent, unlike concrete{{Citation needed|date=May 2011|reason=This is a performance claim of a branded product.  Does not sound like from a biased POV}}. It was considered as possible sheathing for New York's [[One World Trade Center]].<ref>{{cite web | last = Collins| first = Glenn|author2=Dunlap, David W.  | title = Security at Symbol of Resolve: Many Demands on New Ground Zero Tower | work = The New York Times| date = 2005-06-07| url = https://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/07/nyregion/07security.html?pagewanted=3| accessdate = 2009-01-19}}</ref>

==References==
<references/>

== External links ==
* {{Official website|http://www.litracon.hu/}}
*[http://v3.espacenet.com/textdoc?DB=EPODOC&IDX=US2005183372&F=0 LiTraCon European Patent]

[[Category:Concrete]]