Proceedings of the First International Congress on Construction History, , 20th-24th January 2003, ed. S. Huerta, Madrid: I. Juan de Herrera, SEdHC, ETSAM, A. E. Benvenuto, COAM, F. Dragados, 2003.

Learning from stone traditional vaulted systems for the contemporary project of architecture. The experimental construction site at the Ponton de la Oliva (, 1851-1858): Survey of the small «boveda plana» of the Casa de Mina de Limpia, and reconstructive hypothesis for the Casa del Guarda flat-vault

Eliana de Nichilo

In thc latcst years there is a growing interest for the intrinsic qualities of traditional materiaIs and revaluation of the European tradition, culture and techniques (in terms of durability, performance, constructive natural materials (i.e. stone), and for the aesthetic quality, ete.) is self-evidently urgent, such as elaboration of a new rehabilitation strategy in the the elaboration of updated architeetural solutions for light of a sustainable management and preservation of stone vaulted systems. cultural heritage. A first attempt in this regard is represented by the In the European area, characterised by the model of a reinforced «tlat-vaulted» system, generaliscd use of load-bearing masonry systems specifically elaborated for the reconstruction of the with an organic character in traditional construction, Casa del Guarda covering system, at the the typological and constructive reform of traditional experimental construction site at the Pontón de la vaulted systems is a central question. The importance Oliva (Spain, 1851-58), that could also be regarded and cohesion of this cultural area, but also the as a remarkable example of a stereotomical extremely diffuse use of stone techniques, enables us application in hydraulics. In fifties it was substituted to propose their reintroduction into contemporary with a reinforced concrete roof. restoration and constructive practices. The projeet of the earth dam at the Pontón de la For many ycars the architectural research has be en Oliva at the beginning of the Canal Isabel TI (the dominated by the use of «new materials» and the channel which still provides water to the city of interest on vaulted systems (especially made in Madrid), retlects the social and productive situation stonc), has been relegated only in the direction of of the country during the last century. In Spain the historical studies and in that of surveys and long tradition of stone techniques, achieved in the reconstructive analysis. previous centuries and formalised in the Spanish The complcx examples of vaulted systems historical treatises, was utilised for solving the containcd in the historical treatises on stereotomy, probIcm of resisting the water pressure force by have been basically «ignored» in the architectural and means of a cut-stone masonry structure. engineering practice in favour of an exemplified and This well-established and long tradition is an reductive «modernist» formal repertory. important element for the comprehension of the In the next years, architects will be mainly formal and constructive characters of the interesting involved in a eomplex work of re-assessment and solutions realised within the site, such as the unique renovation of both historic landseapes and of the and original example of the «flat-vaulted» system at urban environments, and the recognition of the the «Casa de Mina de Limpia». 744 E. de Nichilo

The analysis of the survey data of this dry- The project oI Canal Isabel TI was a political and assembled stone masonry flat-vault was the technologica] evento On the one hand the President oI preliminary condition for the elaboration of the the Government, Juan Bravo MuriJIo, strongly reconstructive hypothesis. promoted the realisation of a modern service for the The great problem before the «modern era of expanding city oI Madrid2 as a reply to the crescent concrete» was the use of no-tension material s (such as needs oI pure water for both domestic and industrial clay and mud or masonry) to face flexural out of purposes. On the other hand Spain did not lead the plane actions, to which these materials are not able to scientiIic and technological knowledge, developed in react appropriately. For this reason specific tectonic industriaJised countries in the same period, and the knots, solutions of contact surfaces among elements scientific and technological situation of the country and of chain and supporting elements had been was quite backward. elaborated and improved. The Government, then, decided to politically Therefore the paper intends to high]ights the support a project, which reflected and demonstrated tectonic principIes and the traditional syntax, and to the technical competence in public works already explain the complex passage from the geometrical achieved by Spanish technicians. model to the real model of the «tlat-vaulted» system, The redaction of such an important project was throughout the graphical one (which also involves a entrusted to engineers of the Cuerpo de caminos, that reflection on the updating of traditional stonecutting was the most prestigious technical institution of the methods, i.e. cad-cam processes). country.3 The engineers responsible of the project had a proved experience in previous public works, and in STONE TECHNIQUES FOR THE NINETEENTH-CENTURY particular in the construction oI canals, streets and TERRITORY'S INFRAsTRucTuREs: THE PROJECT OF ports in masonry: José Garela Otero, economic and THE CANAL ISABEL 11 optional Director oI the work, but also architect and inspector general of the the Cuerpo de caminos; On 16th July 1851 the Administrative Council' of Lucio del Va]]e Arana, Segundo director oI the Canal Canal Isabel II appointed four engineers of the Isabel II, architect and ingeniero jefe de segunda Cuerpo de caminos. canales y puertos for the clase (general Director of Obras Publicas Irom redaction of the executive project of the canal derived 1851); Juan de Ribera y Piferrer, ingeniero jefe de by the river, that, in the following years, had segunda clase; Eugenio Barran A vignÓn, and to almost duplicate the water supply oI the city oI Constrantino Ardanaz ingenieros primeros. Madrid (Fig. ¡). AII oI them directed or participated to the redaction of many project for territory's infrastructures (retaining wa]]s, earth dams, bridges, ports, etc.) a]] over Spain (Va]encia, Sevilla, Madrid). Some of them had a]so a solid career as professors of the Esquela de Caminos Canales y Puertos: Garcia Otero taught Principios de Arquitectura civil y Dibujo (tercero curso); Lucio del Valle was firstly proIessor oI Geometria Descriptiva (primer curso) and later on of Geodesia; finally Juan de Ribera taught Arquitectura y Estereotomia (segundo curso) at the same school. The technology adopted was mainly cut-stone masonry, because oI their perIect knowledge oI stereotomy and oI its application to civil architecture Figure 1 Planos generales del Canal Idabel Il (1851). Archivo Central and public works.4 del Ministerio de Fomento. (supplied by J. J. Gonzales Reglero) Learning from stone traditional vaulted systems for the contcmporry project of architecture 745

THE EXPERIMENTAL CONSTRUCTION SITE engineers responsible for this section of the project. Al' THE PONTON DE LA OLIVA (1851-1858) The labour was composed of 2000 prisoners, and 1500 workers (stone-cutters) for the different The Ceremony for the laying of the foundation stone operation of the construction site. of the masonry dam took place at the Ponton de la The building yard of the dam includes some Oliva on II th August 1851. The earth dam, that outlying service buildings: the prison barracks, the corresponds to the first section of the Canal Isabel II, house of compuertas, the house of mina de limpia, would be inaugurated on 24th June 1858 (Fig. 2). covered with a flat-vault, the casa del guarda, the auxiliary buildings dedicated to iron-work, wood- work, stone work, mortar fabrication, and a brick

DI: ~: ".\1\~L 1,"","". furnace. -"~--""""-~-"""-""" The stone employed for the construction of the dam and the annexed buildings was excavated in different quarries: the white stone of the dam derives from Redueña y Patones; the yellow limestone of the surrounding building s, canals, and inspection points, was obtained from quarries on the two margins of the river. The construction site at the Pontan de la Oliva could be regarded as an experimental and scientific «Iaboratory» of construction. Firstly expert stone- cutters had to train prisoners to the art of stone-work: soon after they became a qualified labour that had to be employed in the following public works all around Spain. Secondly it could be possible that the construction site had been visited by scholars during the summer, in order to study practical applications of stereothomy: this is probably the reason why the project presents some stereotomical «games», and peculiar vaulted masonry systems, such as that of the boveda plana (flat vault) at the Casa de Mina de Limpia. The masonry dam at the Pontan de la Oliva was an impressive work for the period (Fig. 3-4-5-6): it could contain 3.000.000 m' of water, and has a Figure 2 coroner 70m long, and 27 m high; the cross section Plan and Frontal view of the earth dam and its surroundings buildings (1851). Archivo Central del Ministerio de has a trapezium shape with the lower base of 51 m Fomento. (supplied by J. J. Gonzales Reglero) width and the top of 6.5m. For the dam' s construction the Administrative Council destined 4.174.659 reales.5

The site is 65 km away from Madrid, and is comprised in the administrative municipality of THE FLAT-VAULTS Al' THE CASA DE LIMPIA: Patones (province of Madrid) and (province of AESTHETIC QUALITY OF CISTERNS AND INSPECTION Guadalajara) on the North of the capital. POINTS' COVERINGS This terrific natural site was chosen in August 1851 as starting point of the Canal Isabel II, that in a few There great ability of the stone-cutters, who worked years would conduct the water of the Lozoya river to at the construction site, is proved not only by the Madrid. Lucio del VaJle and Juan de Ribera were the terrific results obtained in the masonry dam, bUI also 746 E. de Nichilo

Figures 3-4-5-6 Period picture of the construction site (supplied by J. J. Gonzales Reglera); The earth dam in activity (fram Lopez berges, Emilio, Informes de la Construccion, n. 533-4, page 4); The context of the dam at the Pontbn de la Oliva, Photos by the author (May 2002)

in some minor examples and architectural details that few realised examples of flat-vaults composed of could be found in the surrounding buildings. serial elements with a polyhedric shape.6 It is the case of the small boveda plana that covers The flat vault, mainly indicated and described as a the Casa de Mina de Limpia (Fig. 7), that is one of the geometrical game, could be regarded as a direct quotation from A.F. Frezier's Traité de Stéréotomie (1737-39), one of the most important treatise of stereotomy. The solutions designed by Frezier7 started from the analysis of the original model elaborated by Abeille (1669'1-1752'1), described in Pl. 31 Fig. 37, and quoted the existence oftwo later solution by Sebastien Truchet (see Pl. 31, Fig. 38). He then describes his original new variants (see Pl. 31, Fig. 39 and Fig. 40) that could be considered as simplifications of the fine, and also complicated Truchet's solution,s in order to reduce and clarify the process of execution. These successive variants could be regarded not only as a geometrical game but mainly as an attempt to improve the static performance s of the system.8 The model, realised probably for the first and last time at the Ponton da la Oliva (Fig. 11), was designed by Lucio del Valle and/or Juan de Ribeira with a Figure 7 direct reference to Frezier' s solution contained in View of the boveda plana. Photo by the anthor (May 2002) Pl. 31, Fig. 39 (Frezier, 1737-39). Learning from stone traditional vauJted systems for the contemporry project of architecture 747

Figure 8 Figure 9 3D virtual Model of the flat-vault system. Drawing by the Abacus of flat-vault elements. Drawing by the aUthor (June author (J une 2002) 2002)

The vaulted system and its supporting elements are process for their realisation is quite simple: too acute modular and prevailingly symmetric (Fig. 8). angles are avoided, because they constitute points of Moreover the original units of measurement (Spanish frailty and rupture; the projection of the bases and of feet) have been con verted into metres9 in order to better the sides in order lO obtain the patrones/panneaux understand the proportioning process of the ashlars. that guide the execution are direct and do not require The small boveda plana covers a rectangular space complicated geometrical constructions; the stone- (dimensions 31Ox380cm) which accommodates an cutting proceeds according to planar cuts. inspection point. The overall dimensions of the flat The inclination of the sloping sides follows an system at the extrados are 397 cm x 328 cm, and its angle of 67° (comprised between 45°-75° and 34'), thickness is around 21 cm. and there is a very small utilisation of mortar so that The form, geometry, proportions and dimensions the flat vault could be considered dry-assembled. of the elementary ashlars inform the entire The solution is characterised by the continuity of composition: the intrados and extrados, that offers a better resistance to the collapse (Fig. 10-11-12-13). - the square at the lower base is very small There are also interesting constructi ve solutions (around 35 cm side), and its composition adopted for contrasting the horizontal trust of the designs an intrados' texture made of 9 per II system that can hardly be recognised from the sq uares; intrados: the L shaped massive blocks in - the top base is a polyline figure, and the correspondence of each comer (Fig. 14-15-16-17), circumscribed rectangle has overall dimensions that are replicated with few variations in the elements of 35 x 51 cm (Fig. 9). that compose the parastas of the closing walls, creates a chain mechanism that avoid the collapse. Frezier's rules for a correct execution of a flat-vault system, and its identical ashlars are respected. The 748 E. de Nichilo

Figure 10-1 ]-12-13 Details of the boveda plana. Photo by the author (May 2(02)

Figure 14-15-16-17 Details of the boveda plana L-shaped corner blocks. Photo by the author (May 2(02)

THE HYPOTHESIS OF Rf:CONSTRUCTION OF THE FLAT-VAULT AT THE CASA DEL GUARDA: AESTHETlC QUALITY, TECTONIC KNOTS, STEREOTOMY, AND DRY-ASSEMBLY METHODS FOR UPDATED «FLAT-VAULT» SYSTEMS

In fifties some restoration works interested the earth dam and its surrounding bui]dings. In this occasion the building destined to the Casa del Guarda was deeply modified with the demo]ition of the room s at the first floor and the substitution of the intermediate f]oor with a reinforced concrete structure (Fig. 18). The analysis of the archives' data (original project: plans, sections and frontal views; period pictures, etc.) and the presence of recurring constructive and architectural details (the same L shaped massive blocks in correspondence of each comer, identical para stas of the closing walls for the chain mechanism, etc.) suggest the existence of a second flat-vault system corresponding to the intermediate tloor, now Figure 18 demolished (Fig. 19-20-21-22). View of the extrados at the Casa del Guarda. Photo by the The hypothesis of reconstruction followed some anthor (May 2(02) preliminary conditions: Learning from slane traditional vaulted systems far the cantemporry project of architecture 749

Figure 19-20-21-22 Details af the supporting structure. Photo by the author (May 20(2)

- among the different possible t1at-vault solutions 304,20 cm (11 piez) x 373,84 cm (14 piez and it was selected a lacunar ceiling, obtained 4 pulgadas); overturning the Abeille's original solution; - the overall dimensions of the extrados were - the inclination of the sloping sides had to 348,30 cm (12 piez and 6 pulgadas) x follow an angle of around 60°; 417,96 cm (15 piez); - the thickness of the system has to be 23.22 cm - the support tapering was around 22 cm (lO pulgadas); (9 pulgadas). - the overall dimensions of the intrados were 750 E. de Nichilo

Figure 23-24-25-26 View oí' the intrados at the Casa del Guarda. Photo by the author (May 2(02) and photomontage oí' the reconstructive hypothesis

The obtained fiat-vault system is a rectangle with a ductility safety) prevent the use of un-reinforced extrados made of 12 per 10 squares. The dimensions pushing structures (Fig. 27). of the serial e1ement are the following: For these reasons the reconstruction hypothesis pro vides an fiat-system improved with - the ]ower base is a rectangle 58,05 cm x 11,61 cm (2 piez x 5 pulgadas); - the top base is a square 34, 83 x 34,83 (15 pulgadas x 15 pulgadas) with the same dimensions of the nearest realised example ash1ars' intrados; - the sloping sides, that follow an angle of 56°, are conformed with a mortise joint (tectonic knot) that improves the friction among the elements, contrasting the bedding thrust.

The Abeille' s problem of the pyramida1 ho1es extrados (that have to be filled in order to obtain a tramp1ing layer) is sol ved by the continuous square plot. However the preference for this architectura] scheme, and for the aesthetic quality of such a 1acunar ceiling (Fig. 23-24-25-26) involved the solution of important structura] and techno1ogical problems. 10 Firstly the discontinuity of the intrados constitute a lack of resistance lO the collapse, only partially sol ved Figure 27 by the emp]oy of mortise joints. Secondly the Abacus oí' reconstructed tlat-vault elements. Drawing by the contemporary structural requirements (static and author (May 2002) Leaming from stone traditional vaulted systems for the contemporry project of architecture 751 reinforcements: the tie-beams, positioned In depict by means of static images, and with the correspondence of the block central axes in both purpose of offering an important contribution to the directions, represent a security stitch against plastic comprehension of the construction and assembly deformations and frail rupture of the flat vault. process of the traditional stone systems analysed. Moreover the special blocks in correspondence of They both exemplify the different phases for the each side of thc overall structure receive the tie- ashlars' traditionallelectronic execution to non-expert beams with their anchor slabs, positioned in the stone-cutters and architects, and clarify the system' s corresponding cavities. The application of a construction process. pretension to the tie-beams involves some advantages There are several advantages in using cad-cam in the management of the restoration site: the entire processes for the realization of the flat-vault ashlars system, in fact, could be pre-assembled and set on the (Fig. 28): existent structure. The necessary contrast to the horizontal actions will be provided by both the tie- - executive precision; speedness ofthe realization process in comparison with traditional stone- beams and the existent monolithic L-shaped blocks at cutting; rationalization and repetibility of each comer of the system. cutting and finishing processes, in the light of a dry-assembly;

CRITICAL REFLECTIONS ON THE CAD/cAM - predominance of «border processes» (cutting, bordering, drilling, etc.) towards «shape PROCESSES' APPLICATION TO THE ARCHITECTURAL processes» (mainly used for the realisation of ELEMENTS PRODUCTlON no planar surfaces), that implies a short time in The twenteenth-century generalised lack of the elaboration of the CN-file to be used by the experimentation in load-bearing stone construction CNC machining centre; has determined, not only a suspicious approach to the elements' dimensions and proportions traditional repertory of vaulted systems (i.e. vaults, compatible with almost all the more common trompes, etc.), but also a great difficulty in finding CNC machining centres at our disposal. expert stone-cutters for their execution. Recently the on-going research field established by Prof. Claudio D' Amato at the Politecnico di Bari, has experimentally proved the potentiality of informatics' technologies (i.e. cad-cam processes) for the revaluation of the Mediterranean constructive tradition, specifying the application of cad-cam process to the realization of stone architectural elements.ll The elaboration of the reconstructive hypothesis for the flat-vault could be regarded as a critical reflection on the the traditional relationship idea- construction, expressed in the stereotomy treatises' repertory. On the one hand the 3D model and render images have been elaborated in order to analyse the texture of the stone system in the light of the ashlars' execution with CNC machines. On the other hand the 3D model could be easily imported by many structural engineers' programs for the description of the structural behaviour. lt also provide a clear Figure 28 differentiation of supporting and supported elements. 3D virtual Model of the reconstructive hypothesis: lt could also be used for the elaboration of comparative analysis of mortise joints solutions. Drawing by animations, that illustrate concepts that are not easy to the author (May 2002) 752 E. de Nichilo

The employ of a CNC machining centre implies an Decreto during the kingdom of Queen Isabel II and her enlargement of the expressive possibilities: firstly husband King Francisco de Asis. The structure of the exclusive solutions (i.e. Truchet's one) could be Council included three reprcsentati ves of the easily obtained with a CNC machine; secon dIy the Government: Juan Fernandez de Cordoba, XIV conde de Sastago, who was also the President of the Council; cad-cam process could be elaborated for both the Jose Solano Mata-Linares, marques de Socorro and ashlars' positive (i.e. the traditional natural cut-stone deputy-President of the Real Academia de Ciencias element) and their negative (Le. their formwork in Exactas, FÜicas v Naturales: and Manuel Cantero. steel, polystyrene, etc. ). member of the Government in the Banco Español de This opens new horizons for the architectural San Fernando. experimentation, in terms of use of different materials 2. The Cuerpo de Ingenieros de Caminos, Canales v (such as reconstructed stone), and defi nition of new Puertos included technicians (soldiers and engineers) methodologies a high qualified prefabrication. trained to the Real Casa de Cahalleros Pajes and later on to the Esquela de Caminos Canales y Puertos (re- opened for the third time in Madrid in 1834). The Institution had a hierarehical strueture: at the top there ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS was a very limited number of inspectores generales, followed by inf!,enieros jefes de primera clase, This paper summariscs, in some aspects, the contents ingenieros jefes de sef!,unda clase, ingenieros primeros of an on-going research project titled «Typological and segundos. and constructi ve updating of vaulted systems for the 3. An important aspeet lO be considered is the rale that contemporary project in stone» (G. Uva; E. de stereotomy had in the nineteenth-eentury engineers' Nichilo, A. Di Roma, G. Fallacara). The project has training. Different application of stereotomy were gained in 2002 MIUR y oung Researchcr funds and taught in many courses at the uni versities, and the is being carried out at the School of Architecture preliminary eondition to follow them was the perfect knowledge of French. The Freneh and Spanish treatises of the Politecnico di Bari. One of the distinctive of stereotomy and military arto in faet, were used as characteristics of the School resides in the research textbooks. The engineers of the Canal had a great line on stone construction, under both traditional knowledge of these treatises and contained eonstructive aspects and needs for its technological updating. models, proved by the adoption of many solution in the This is the general frame that has strongly canal construction. supported the intensive and experimental work I have 4. It is important to compare the Spanish situation with the carried out in close collaboration with Giuseppina coeval French and ltalian ones. In Nineteenth-century Uva. I am very much debited to Professors the generalised request for new technieal and C. D' Amato Guerrieri and M. Mezzina, Politecnico di specialised competenees had two important, and Bari, for their precious suggestions. Prof. E. Rabasa contrasting eonsequences. On the one hand the need and Diaz, offered his extremely important comments, and the preference for praetical aspeets of the discipline explained the abandonment of the treatise in favour of enabled me to connect this study with current work on the manual, that contained ready-to-use solutions. On the history and theory of stereotomy. Finally I would the other hand, the strictly geometrieal experimentation like to express my gratitude to Juan J. Gonzales of ,ome authors (i.e. Monge) led to the elaboration of Reglero, Fundacibn Canal Isabel 11, who was a true stereotomical abstraet models that lost their referenee to support during the survey at the Pontbn de la Oliva the eonstruetive reality. On the role and predominance (May 2002). He not only offered his technical of the «Art of building» in the French and Ital ian suggestions, but al so was very generous in putting his architects/engineers' training see: RAMAZZOTTI, facilities and the material of the archive of the Luigi, L'edilizia e la regola. Manuali nella Francia Fundacion at my disposal. del! 'Of/ocento, Edizioni Kappa, Roma 1984; and SAKAROVITCH, Jael, Épures d'architecture: De la coupe des pierres á la géomélrie descriplive XVI-XlX siecles, Basilea, Birkhauser, 1998. NOTES 5. Cfr. Gonzales Reglero, J. J., 1851. La creaciÓn del Canal de Isabel 11. El Marco Hislorico, Volume n, 1. The Council was instituted by the Government headed pp. 203-234, Fundacion del Canal de Isabel n, Madrid, by Juan Bravo Murillo on 181h June 1851with a Real 2001. Leaming from stone traditional vaulted systems for the contemporry project of architecture 753

6. The small tlat-vault at the Pontim de la Oliva is the constructive r~form of the Mediterranean house study-case of the PhD thesis the author is carrying out, 1999-2001, (national and local coordinator: PraL and titled Vaulted and domed architectural systems in C. D' Amato, Dipartimento [CAR, Politecnico di Bari). dry-cut stone in Spain. Sixteenth-Nineteenth centuries. 9. The conversion units utilised are: Sequences, tectonic knots and stereotomical techniques 1pie:.:(Spanish foot) =27.863 cm in comparison. Thesis supervisors: ProL C. D' Amato, I pulgada = 2,322 cm Politecnico di Bari Dipartimento ICAR - ProL E. I pie:.: = 12 pulgadas Rabasa Dlaz, E.T.S. de Arquitectura de Madrid, Cfr. Gonzales Reglero, 1. 1.. 1851. La creaciÓn del Departamento de Ideacion grafica arquitectonica, PhD Canal de Isahel 11. El Marco Historico, Volume 11, Course in Progettazione Architettonica, Universita degli pp. 225-226, Fundacion del Canal de Isabel 11,Madrid, Studi di Palermo. ciclo XIV. From the seventeenth 2001. century a formal and stylistic research field on tlat- 10. For the hoveda plana structural mechanism see: vaults had been developed in a limited number of - E. de Nichilo. G. Uva, «Hydraulics and Stereotomy: French and Spanish treatises as evolution of the the Experimental Construction Site at the Ponton de traditional vaulted systems. lt is possible to divide the la OJiva (Spain, 1851-1858). Stone Techniques for different tlat-vault systems (voute plate/boveda plana) the Nineteenth-century Territory's Infrastructures» in two great families: the tlat-vaults with converging (pp. 61-68) PART 11 (by Giuseppina Uva): cuneiform ashlars (such as the one realised by Juan de Development of structural technicalsolutionsfor the Herrera at the S. Lorenzo's Monastery, Escorial 1575); out-of-plane strength ofcut-stone masonry. Proceedings and tlat-vaults composed of serial elements with a 01' the International Conference Landscapes of Water. polyhedric shape. The solution realised belongs to this History, Innovation and Sustainahle Design, Monopoli second family: its survey, conducted by E. de Nichilo, 26-29 September 2002, Corcelli Editore, Bari 2002;

G. Uva and G. Fallacara in May 2002, has highlighted - G. Uva, Learning from Traditional Vaulted Systems the presence of many interesting stereotomical typical for the Contemporary Design. Updating of Flat- Vaults: details, and the differences with the abstraet model Analysis (~f Structural Performance and Recent Safety deseribed in the treatises. Requirements. Proceedings 01' the First International 7. Frezier A. F., Traité de Stéréotomie,[ 1737-39] 1980, Congress on Construction History, Instituto Juan de pp. 68-79. The Abeille's original solution was Herrera, E.T.S. de Arquitectura de Madrid, January presented at the Academie des Sciences in 1699, and 20-26, 2003. edited in Machines et inventions approuvées par 11. Since the beginning 01' Nineteenths ProL Claudio l'Academie Royale des Sciences, Tom. 1 pp. 159, 1735). D'Amato Guerrieri heads a more general but complex The serial elements had a polyhedric shape: the lower project, on the updating of traditional techniques of base is a square, the top base is a rectangle, and the construction using cad-cam processes. The first sloping sides are trapeziums. lt is possible to assembly impressive research result 01' cad-cam applieation to the ashlars, alternating the directions of the placed architectural elements' produetion, was the 9/A capital pieces and obtaining the covering of a square space. The replica of Apollo Epicurius' Temple at Bassai, made of texture of the intrados has a square plot while the Carrara marble (l20x60x60 cm) using numerically extrados presents pyramidal holes that have to be fil1ed controlled machines (CNC machines), presented at 35° in order to obtain a trampling layer. J. M. Perouse de Veronafiere MARMOMACC in 2000. Montclos, in 1.'architecture a la francaise, does not mention any realised examples of the Abeille's solution or its variants in France. E. Rabasa. in Forma y REFERENCE LlST construccion en piedra, has documented one more small example of a tlat-vault in Spain: the boveda plana Espinosa Romero, 1.; Gonzales Reglero, J. J., 2001. l1i51. 01' the Northern tower of Lugo Cathedral, designed by La creaciÓn del Canal de Isabel fI. El Marco Historico, Julian Sanchez Bort (1727-1785). Here the Abeille's Volumes I-II. Madrid: Fundacion del Canal de Isabell!. system is poured and adapted to a rectangular plan. The Frezier, A.-F., [1737-39] 1980. La théorie et la pratique de central part was reconstructed in 1879. la coúpe des pierres et des hois pour la construction des 8. A comparative analysis of the different tlat-vault voútes el autres parties des batiment civils el militaires ou solutions contained in Frezier's treatise. with reference Traite de stéréotomie a l'usage de l'architecture. to both geometrical characteristics and structural Strasburgo-Parigi, Edited by J. Laget. Nogent-Ie-Roi: behaviour, was developed by the author and G. Uva, LAM.E. within the Research Unit of the Politecnieo di Bari of López Berges, E. 1948. El proyecto del Canal de the MIUR ex-40% funded research The typological and Conduccion de las aguas del río Jarama, para el 754 E. de Nichilo

abastecimiento de Madrid, in Informes de la Lugo. In Actas del Primer Congreso Nacional de Construccion, n. 533--4, Madrid: Istituto Tecnico de la Historia de la Construciim, pp. 409-415. Madrid: Construccion y del Cemento. Instituto Juan de Herrera. Montclos, J.-M. Pérouse (de), [1982] 1997. L'architecture a Rabasa Díaz, E., 2000b. Forma y construcciim en piedra. lafrancaise, XVI, XVII, XVIII siécles, Paris: Picard. De la canteria medieval a la estereotomia del siglo XIX, Rabasa Diaz, E., 1998a. La boveda plana de Abeille en Madrid: Akal.