School of Architecture Faculty Work

Stereotomic Transmission: Stonecutting Studies of Three 16th Century Mexican Rib Vaults

Author(s)	Benjamin Ibarra-Sevilla
Date Posted	September 29, 2010
Description	Stereotomy, the science of cut solids, is a field of study that connects building technology to the history of Architecture. Deviating from past studies that focused on the art historical implications of stereotomy, the focus of this research is to better understand the true origin of the discipline of stereotomy and the means of its transmission from Europe to America through the lens of Architecture. Three 'late-gothic' masonry vaulting systems in Oaxaca, Mexico have been chosen as the focus for this research. The rib vaults will be documented in both analog and digital format and then studied using three-dimensional modeling.