This is hardcore

In Monty Python's film The Life Of Brian, when John Cleese asks what the Romans have ever done for us, apart from sanitation, medicine, education, irrigation, public health and roads, he forgot to mention the invention of concrete. So reminds Sarah Gaventa, design historian, author of the recently published book Concrete Design and one half of Scarlet Projects, the initiators and curators of the Royal Institute Of British Architects' major new exhibition, Hardcore! Concrete's Rise From Utility To Luxury.

In addition to exploring the history of concrete, Hardcore! highlights concrete architectural projects around the world, shows new colours, finishes and innovations including flexible concrete and photo-etching and constructs a concrete interior with a poured concrete floor and concrete furniture, lamps, vases and jewellery. Walks, talks and lectures include how concrete has been portrayed in post-war cinema, and visitors can also win a trip to the town of Concrete in Washington State.

'No one's ever looked at the cultural history of concrete before,' Gaventa enthuses. 'It's been neglected yet it's the most important man-made material in the world. It's hard-wearing, completely versatile, retains warmth, insulates sound, can be made from recycled materials and can even be recycled to make new concrete and it doesn't have to be grey. The future's definitely concrete.'

Hardcore! Concrete's Rise From Utility To Luxury, from Tue 26 Mar, RIBA Gallery, RIBA Architecture Centre, 66 Portland Place, W1 (0906 302 0400)