More info
Traditional tile vaults are typically constructed springing off walls or from straight arches built from support to support on falsework. From these, the vault’s surface can be built in space with minimal or no guidework.
Initial research focused on continuous surface expression, representing fully three-dimensional equilibrium surfaces in compression: http://block.arch.ethz.ch/brg/research/project/free-form-catalan-thin-tile-vault
This research has inspired many other projects, of which Bricktopia in Barcelona by MAP13 is the best known
The next phase of research explored the design potential of fully three-dimensional networks of structural ribs. This new structural typology for tile vaults was investigated and tested through two intensive design-build workshops in Australia:
- University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) in October 2012
http://block.arch.ethz.ch/brg/teaching/masterclass-studio-at-uts-sydney
- Monash University Art Design & Architecture (MADA), Melbourne in May 2013
http://block.arch.ethz.ch/brg/teaching/transmaterial-workshop-mada
More teaching workshops can be found in our Teaching section.
Be on the look-out for more surprising tile vaulting appearing soon from the Block Research Group!
