Ferro-Cement is a kind of cement building material mixed with plaster sand and reinforced with more steel or other building fiber at closer intervals than traditional construction. The reduced spacing increases strength by yielding a more uniform force dispersion. This makes building with ferrocement one of the strongest options available. Ferrocement acts similarly to paper-mache and can be applied to many different structural bases, such as chicken wire. One might think a house made of chicken wire and cement wouldn't be too strong, but these structures have proven to be virtually fire, hurricane, and flood proof. The paper-mache quality of the material also means it can be shaped organically in infinite building possibilities. Ferrocement is a popular choice of designer architects, and for the construction of domed houses, blending artistic efforts and practicality. In fact, this material is becoming very popular as a means to create both architectural and artistic sculpture.
Once completed, ferrocement structures have a very low cost of maintenance including insurance costs, and usually pay for themselves twice over (or more) during one generation! This material outlasts almost every other traditional building material.
Why haven't you heard of this "miracle" building material? It was largely stamped out in the 80's when its primary supporters, Veterans of the Second World War (in which ferrocement played a crucial role in the construction of barracks and other structures), began to retire due to infirmary. The government officials who replaced them as inspectors failed to see the worth of the material because it was expensive to build with, even though its benefits far outweighed the cost.
Ferrocement is experiencing another boom in popularity due to the rising costs of steel and wood building supplies and it's exceptional qualities of strength and versatility. Since it requires no lumber and lasts an extraordinarily long time without compromising its strength or safety, ferrocement is being hailed as the primary building choice of a sustainable generation.