Last week we got a real lesson about what it means to take up an experimental building project. If you take a close read at our project abstract, you'll notice many variables and challenges: earth construction, complex geometries, tile vaulting technology transfer, building in the developing world, among others. We've moved along rather smoothly through the various phases so far: soil testing, block production, footings/foundations, structural wall construction, and tile vault prototype construction. When it came to building the vault at full scale, it did not go as smoothly. July 17: we began construction of the vault using the stabilized compressed earth tiles we fabricated with the sub-soil from the site. We focused on building arches over the rebar formwork. by the end of the first day, we completed arches across the length of the vault July 18th: we worked on extruding the arches off of the rebar. by the end of the second day each arch was now two tiles wide and a first course of second-layer tiles was laid along the base of the vault July 19th: we worked on closing the second layer of the arches over the rebars and continued to extend the middle arch. by late afternoon we had a major collapse right where we had been extending the vault and building the second layer. Since it was Friday afternoon, we cleaned up the wreckage and ended the work week. Over the weekend we continued to see signs of the structure getting weaker and by he following Monday much more of the structure collapsed leaving just the 2-layer arches supported by the rebar formwork. Upon close inspection we realized that due to lack of curing and many other factors, even these arches were very weak and had to be taken down.
While the stunning tile work of Rafael Guastavino has long been overlooked, that's finally starting to change. Find out why with these seven examples of Guastavino's finest.
A new exhibition showcases the architectural beauty and engineering strength of spaces created by Spanish immigrants Rafael Guastavino and his son, Rafael Jr., who immigrated from Barcelona in the late 19th century.
The Guastavino Vault inside the Tiffany & Co. Building, New York City
The National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., has a new exhibit about the soaring tile vaults built by a famous father-son team. The Guastavinos came to this country from Spain in the late 1800s, and left their mark on some of America's most important public spaces.
The Daily Pic: In 1904 in Manhattan, the great Guastavino Co. gave palatial roofing to a subway station that's now derelict.
A 14th century method for creating vaulted ceilings with tiles getting some modern love.
Guastavino tiles, a famed vaulting technique used in 200+ historical structures in NYC, can give anyone a new appreciation for architecture.
Archinect image gallery.
The Catalan vaulting technique in particular made it possible to build spectacular structures, with designs by, for example, Antoni Gaudí or Rafael Guastavino, and was employed in a wide range of applications during the first half of the twentieth century, at which time it was replaced by new methods of construction and modern building materials such as concrete and steel. http://detail-online.com/inspiration/technology-the-catalan-vault-%E2%80%93-a-historical-%C2%ADstructural-principle-with-a-bright-future-106565.html
[...]Read More... from Guastavino brick vaults and an effortlessly thin steel grid form as a modular house in Spain
¿Quieres conocer la Escola Industrial de Barcelona? Aquí te la presentamos.
Archinect image gallery.
Archinect image gallery.
The craftsmanship associated with timbrel vaulting has long vanished, but the achievements are still with us today.
For the first time in recent history, Ellis Island hosted a night tour. Normally closing ~5PM, they had a ferry bring us over during sunset for a wonderful dusk setting. We were free to roam the grounds (not South Ellis, boo!), light-paint buildings, and talk to the excited Park Rangers about this opportunity.
Beautiful arches, like the art deco skeletal system of a lost urban era, can be found throughout New York City, from Grand Central Terminal to bars and restaurants. Created with tiles by the Spanish father-and-son duo, Rafael Guastavino and his junior namesake, these structures were also marvels of artistic…
File name: 06_03_000294 Call no.: T.R. 27. 38 Title: Completed Guastavino tile vaults in basement, construction of the McKim Building Creator/Contributor: Stevens, Edward F. (Edward Fletcher), 1860-1946 (photographer); McKim, Mead & White (architect) Date created: 1889-07-11 Physical description: 1 photographic print : albumen silver print Summary: Section of the ceiling in the basement. Duplicate of 06_03_000083, photo No. 80 by Edward Stevens, Clerk of Works. Genre: Albumen prints Notes: Image from: Boston Public Library : photographs taken during the construction of central library building for McKim, Mead, and White ; Image caption: Tile arches from below, July 11, 1889 Subjects: Public libraries; Building construction; Vaults (Architecture); Basements; Boston Public Library Collection: Trustees’ Library Location: Boston Public Library, Rare Books Department Rights: No known restrictions
Archinect image gallery.
Archinect image gallery.
[...]Read More... from Guastavino brick vaults and an effortlessly thin steel grid form as a modular house in Spain
Queensboro Bridgemarket is an architectural terra cotta Guastavino Tile project completed by Boston Valley Terra Cotta. Learn about Boston Valley’s projects featuring TerraClad Rain Screen, Roof Tile, Guastavino Tile, TerraPreCast, and more.
The architects of America owe him [Rafael Guastavino i Moreno] a debt of gratitude for not only having been a faithful and conscientious contractor, but for having made possible a larger field of architectural design. — Peter B. Wight, 1901 The documentary film, below (RTVE only in Spanish)
A new exhibition showcases the architectural beauty and engineering strength of spaces created by Spanish immigrants Rafael Guastavino and his son, Rafael Jr., who immigrated from Barcelona in the late 19th century.
The question was asked: Is brick construction obsolete? There are so many masonry buildings in the fabric of our cities that I have trouble accepting that brick is obsolete. Within the last 150 ye…
The Spanish architect’s work can be found in monuments and landmarks across the U.S.
Designed by Rafael Guastavino Jr., this Long Island home features extensive tile work and the vaulted ceilings for which Mr. Guastavino and his father were known. (Visit the House of the Day homepage.) -- Sushil Cheema
The Guastavinos helped design thousands of buildings around the U.S., but nowhere is their work as prominent as in New York City.
Las bóvedas tabicadas se construyen con ladrillos colocados de plano, es decir, unidos por sus cantos, formando varias capas o «gruesos». BÓVEDAS SIN CIMBRA Las bóvedas tabicadas se inscriben dentr…
Beautiful arches, like the art deco skeletal system of a lost urban era, can be found throughout New York City, from Grand Central Terminal to bars and restaurants. Created with tiles by the Spanish father-and-son duo, Rafael Guastavino and his junior namesake, these structures were also marvels of artistic…
EVEN though I have chronicled NYC’s lost, magnificent City Hall Station a number of times in Forgotten NY I had only visited once before, in a 1998 Transit Museum tour that…
While the stunning tile work of Rafael Guastavino has long been overlooked, that's finally starting to change. Find out why with these seven examples of Guastavino's finest.
Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh with Guastavino vaulting and staircase. The buildings designed by Henry Hornbostel
NEW YORK (AP) — The domes and arched ceilings — each arrayed with tiles in herringbone and basket-weave patterns — are hidden in plain sight. Millions of peo...
Construction administration photos of the Boston Public Library, taken by McKim, Mead, White's 'clerk of the works' in the early 1890's. The full set resides here - Revival Source
If all politics is local, then much architectural history is also a neighborhood matter. Thus I harbor an abiding fondness for the Spanish émigré master builder Rafael Guastavino. Time and again in old New York buildings, it’s a delight to lift up your eyes and unexpectedly find Guastavino’s distinctive herringbone terracotta tile patterns overhead.
In conjunction with the current exhibit on the Guastavino Company, the Boston Public Library is hosting a Saturday 2pm tour of library's vault ceilings designed by Guastavino. This the grand entrance way to the library.
Designed by Rafael Guastavino Jr., this Long Island home features extensive tile work and the vaulted ceilings for which Mr. Guastavino and his father were known. (Visit the House of the Day homepage.) -- Sushil Cheema
[...]Read More... from Guastavino brick vaults and an effortlessly thin steel grid form as a modular house in Spain
