Sunday, May 17, 2020
Equipoise vs scaffolds
Via Eurekalert, a new piece of research on a very old construction technique. The title is 'Double Helix of Masonry', but the resemblance to DNA is sort of secondary.
From the original article:
The Brunelleschi herringbone pattern was certainly known by the Sangallo in the 16th century, who developed their own self-balanced construction technology for masonry domes based on the cross-herringbone spiraling pattern. Such technology was used for over one century in Italy to build masonry domes without shoring and formwork. However today it is not well known how this cross-herringbone spiraling pattern enables equilibrium states of self-balancing masonry domes.The real correspondence to life is broader than the resemblance to the double-helix. This balanced pattern extends itself without a supporting scaffold or form. When life creates cells or structures inside cells, no scaffolds are needed. The double-helix is just one among many resulting patterns. Symmetrical reflection is the key in all of these constructions. Must admit the octagonal dome is what caught my attention. Is there something about this shape that stirs the inhabitants to think symmetrically and build things with equipoise? A metalayer to the scaffoldless pattern?
Labels: Equipoise, Grand Blueprint
¶ 11:02 PM
