Sunday, May 26, 2013

University of Minnesota School of Architecture ~ Light & Stone

This is incredible! Light and Arches, my favorite things:

http://blog.lib.umn.edu/arch/studentwork/2011/06/University of Minnesota School of Architecture ~ Student Work
http://blog.lib.umn.edu/arch/studentwork/2011/06/Second Sky
Author(s)Participants in 2011 catalyst
Date PostedJune 7, 2011 9:18 AM
ProgramM. Arch
InstructorBrownell
DescriptionIn an era of active material investigation, light has become an increasingly important ingredient in the pursuit of optimal and unforeseen material effects. One notable trend has been the adoption of fiber optic principles of bending and extending light to a variety of materials--such as light pipes, acrylic tubes, and mirror ducts. These principles have been harnessed to produce responsive material effects at the scale of a detail, as well as smart day lighting and energy optimization strategies at the scale of a building. This four-day intensive design + research catalyst introduced examples of light behavior and material integration, in addition to methods for developing physical structures that utilize light as a primary ingredient. Participants designed and constructed multivalent lenses and surfaces that filter, modify, and channel light emitted by a mirror duct system called the 3M Light Guide that is being installed in the second-floor south studio space in Rapson Hall.

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Stereotomic Structures Catalyst

Author(s)Participants in 2011 catalyst
Date PostedJune 7, 2011 8:52 AM
ProgramM. Arch
InstructorBenjamin Ibarra-Sevilla
Description

The goal of this Catalyst "Stereotomic Structures" is to analyze, understand and apply practically some principles of stereotomy in architecture. This Catalyst Studio explores stonecutting properties, rules and reactions of self-supporting structures made of stone. The aim of this Catalyst is to create a vehicle to translate drawing into a spatial map of gravity forces depicted by objects on the space gathered by stereotomic rules.

This course emphasizes very particular constructive characteristics of masonry using skew arches as provocateurs. The lens to observe and develop architecturally these type structures takes a specific problem of stereotomy faced by stone masons in the past when arches were supported on oblique walls. The study of the skew arches focuses on how "the constructive" is the creative engine of the architecture. The goal is to understand history through architectural technology exploring different modes of practice in the discipline of architecture.




ibarra_catalyst_01.jpg

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more: http://blog.lib.umn.edu/arch/studentwork/2011/06/


© Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.

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  1. Stereotomic Structures Catalyst - University of Minnesota

    Jun 7, 2011 – The goal of this Catalyst "Stereotomic Structures" is to analyze, understand and apply practically some principles of stereotomy in architecture.

  2. Stereotomic Structures | U of M School of Architecture Graduate ...

    Benjamin Ibarra/Enrique Lastra or Rene Caro: Stereotomic Structures (1cr) This Catalyst Studio will explore the stereotomic properties, rules and reactions of ...

    Working with stone, stone cutting:

    Stereotomic | Define Stereotomic at Dictionary.com

    Stereotomic definition, the technique of cutting solids, as stones, to specified forms and dimensions. 

    Definition of Stereotomy


    1. 1. stereotomic research

      www.arch.ttu.edu/people/faculty/driskill_d/.../stereotomic.htm
      Explaining "Stereotomics"....as defined by architects of the past ... elements inbuildings according to their relative stability characteristics (Frampton, 1995).

    2. Gottfried Semper addresses the classification of ... - Building Matters

      buildingmatters.wordpress.com/semper/

      Conversely, the stereotomic Semper defines as “earthwork, formed out of the ...Buildings acquire meaning through their act of building from the ground up, ...

How to Apply a Perfect Silicone Bead of Caulk

Does silicone caulk fit with Spanish Colonial monasteries and cloisters?

I guess so, since I will have a modern bathtub. I've always wanted to know how to install a decent clean bead of caulk or silicone, and here's how! Use foaming spray window cleaner (without ammonia in it) and your finger! See more. One commentator said just use any kind of "liquid" and I've heard of using alcohol, too, wiping with a paper towel soaked in alcohol. Soak the paper towels in a shallow dish with alcohol and use as needed. I'll try the glass cleaner tip first, shown below.

Thanks to the wonderful guy from Corvus Construction who posted this online. If he lived near me, I'd hire him all the time! The brand he uses is Sprayway foam glass cleaner, without alcohol.

Excerpt from the video notes:

"The trick I'm sharing in this video I've picked up many years ago from my shower glass installers. Right after application of the silicone sealant, spray over the fresh bead with an Ammonia-free foaming glass cleaner, and then finger the excess silicone away constantly wiping your tool (or finger) on a clean paper towel. After the tooling of the silicone is complete just let the leftover glass cleaner over-spray dry (don't try to wipe it off) and you have a perfect silicone bead."

More: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHwmqkoz1tE







Corvus Construction
Address:
Po Box 2856
Everett, Washington 98213

Contact Us:
Phone: 206-355-4981
Toll-Free: 877--CORVUS-8 (877-267-8878)
Fax: 877--CORVUS-8 (877-267-8878)
E-mail: Info@Corvus-Construction.com
or reach us here : http://www.corvus-construction.com/contact-us

  • ---

    Then we have another caulking system shown on YouTube, the "corner-tape method" with small, innovative tools for caulk and grout remover. Looks very handy!


    CornerTape System - Perfect silicone everytime




Sunday, May 19, 2013

Pilgrims & Cloisters

I am determined to build this and live here, too. This is my spiritual world, inside & out.
Dear God please show me The Way.



Pilgrim. Photo by Alessandro Pucci




Spanish Monastery & Romanesque Cloister ~ Photo by Roy Winkelman








Monreale Cloisters

http://www.paradoxplace.com/Perspectives/Sicily%20&%20S%20Italy/Montages/Sicily/Palermo/Monreale%20Cloisters.htm

Monreale Cloisters: Norman King of Sicily  William II (1153 - 1189) presents his new cathedral to the Virgin and Son (capital)







* * * * DEFINITION OF CLOISTER * * * * *

  1. Cloister - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloister

    cloister (from Latin claustrum, "enclosure") is a rectangular open space surrounded by covered walks or open galleries, with open arcades on the inner side, ...

  2. The Metropolitan Museum of Art - Visit The Cloisters

    www.metmuseum.org › Home › Visit

    The Cloisters museum and gardens, the branch of The Metropolitan Museum of Art devoted to the art and architecture of medieval Europe, was assembled from ...

  3. Cloister - Merriam-Webster Online

    www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cloister

    b : an area within a monastery or convent to which the religious are normally restricted. c : monastic life. d : a place or state of seclusion. 2. : a covered passage ...

  4. cloister - definition of cloister by the Free Online Dictionary ...

    www.thefreedictionary.com/cloister

    A covered walk with an open colonnade on one side, running along the walls of buildings that face a quadrangle. 2. a. A place, especially a monastery or ...



    Cloister
    A cloister is a rectangular open space surrounded by covered walks or open galleries, with open arcades on the inner side, running along the walls of buildings and forming a quadrangle or garth. Wikipedia

    Feedback / More info