Translucent concrete is made by combining two major materials; fine concrete, made with cement and aggregate (sand), and optical fibres. The optical fibres conduct light from artificial and natural sources even at an angle of incidence of more than 60 degrees. There are three different layers in the optical fibres shown here:

The light is transmitted through the core of the fibre. The only main difference in manufacturing is the fibres themselves, which are only around 4-5% of the overall volume (A Brief History and Future Use of Translucent Concrete). Even with the slight change in material for the overall volume of the concrete, the translucent counterpart has an amazing comprehensive strength of over 10,000 psi (or 70MPa). In fact, these fibres are said to add more strength than other aggregate materials (B. Kamdi 173). This is comparable to any high-strength concrete on the market today. With this type of concrete being quick-setting, strong, and comprehensive it checks the same boxes as the materials used for existing canal linings and lock chambers. Furthermore, translucent concrete is considered a more sustainable material. It has been discovered that crushed glass can be used as an aggregate instead of sand without sacrificing structural integrity (B. Kamdi 174). This material is also frost and salt resistant while having the highest UV resistance out of all concrete recipes (B. Kamdi 173).

At this time only the Lock 4 and 5 channel walls are being considered for the redesign. It will have to be studied and surveyed before the Niagara Region commits to redesigning all of their channel walls. These walls protrude from the surface and offer observers a look at the scale of the engineering of the lock chamber. The raised channel wall provides a silhouette piece of the ships passing through the locks, offering a look into the schematics of the chamber while ships pass. 

This particular design doesn’t just add a modern and futuristic look to the chamber but also adds some practicality for the ships passing through. Translucent concrete has the ability to transmit light, which brings with it many applications in the future. BFT International recently won an award for their contribution to smart cities where they used the light transmissive properties of concrete for guidance around the city, i.e. with crosswalks and roads. Alternatively, this concrete can be used in a similar way for ships passing through the lock. Lights can be used to gesture ships, keep them on the right path, and notify them of delays and usage times. Further applications of lighting at the base of the canal will be further explained by Liam Cleland in Project 5.

The current canal walls serve only one purpose which is to secure the water in the chamber. The use of translucent concrete makes the chamber more useful, beautiful, and practical. When thinking about how to improve the canal walls I referred to the ten principles of good design by Dieter Rams (Dieter Rams’ 10 Principles for Good Design). Two of the principles that meant the most to me were to improve aesthetics but not without improving function. Additionally, a good design will also make itself understandable; creating a window to the public showing how the lock chamber works is right down that alley.

The lining, lock walls and doors will be made of the translucent concrete metamaterial. The lining, lock walls, and doors will be externally lined with an artificial light source that penetrate the optical fibres and illuminate the water. The lock wall facing the road will not have a light source as this wall will provide observers with a silhouette of the ship and schematics of the chamber. In order to present this silhouette, there will have to be an absence of light between one of the lock walls and the ship. All of which will be outlined in my speculative redesign model.