Thomas Edison invented concrete houses first, even before Le Corbusier

An NJIT researcher has claimed that Thomas Edison- who developed many devices including phonograph, motion picture camera, and a long-lasting, practical electric light bulb- had also invented the concrete house before it was conceptualised by the European avant-garde with whom it later became associated.

NJIT assistant professor Matt Burgermaster illustrated how Edison invented and patented in 1917 an innovative construction system to mass produce prefabricated and seamless concrete houses.

Typically most people associate this style of architectural design and type of building technology with the European avant-garde of the early 20th century such as Le Corbusier and the Bauhaus.

However, unknown to many people, many Edison houses remain standing in towns surrounding West Orange, New Jersey, where Edison's factory was located and is now a National Historic Park.

On the park grounds is even a prototype of Edison's concrete house.

"Edison's one-of-a-kind system was patented for the purpose of building a single, repeatable structure without any parts, with a single act of construction. And, remarkably, 100 years later many of these houses remain standing," said Burgermaster.

Burgermaster presented his study at the 64th annual meeting of the Society of Architectural Historians.