The lectures comprising the Rethinking Stone Construction series will serve as the opening session of the International Workshop on Stereotomic Stone Architecture.

This series invites reflection on the role of stereotomy in the contemporary context, exploring the potential of stone construction as a structural alternative aligned with today’s challenges of sustainability and the transition to low-carbon practices.

In a context where reinforced concrete is recognized as one of the main contributors to global carbon emissions, it has become urgent to rethink not only the materials used in construction but also the very structural principles that underpin them. Beyond the substitution of materials, it is important to consider construction systems based on different stress regimes, namely structures that prioritize compression and geometric efficiency.

Inspired by historical masonry building traditions, stereotomy has been experiencing a resurgence through its integration with digital tools for design, analysis, and fabrication. Cable-supported structures, such as arches and vaults, demonstrate the possibility of spanning large openings with reduced use of materials with a high carbon footprint, by employing optimized geometries and geologically sourced materials with greater circularity potential.

It is within this context that the research project STBIM – Stereotomic BIM: Exploring Sustainable Design and Construction with Structural Stone takes place, which will be presented in this session as part of its final public dissemination. The project proposes the integration of stereotomic systems into the BIM environment, bridging the gap between academic research and professional practice through the development of digital tools that enable the design, modeling, and documentation of stone structures based on principles of compression.

Through the participation of researchers, architects, and industry representatives, the event promotes the intersection of research, professional practice, and material production, addressing design processes, digital fabrication, and assembly associated with stereotomic construction.

Participants in this session
• Solubema
• Giuseppe Fallacara
• Christophe Aubertin (remoto)
• Clemente Pinto
• McNeel

Program

Opening
STBIM – Final Project Presentation
Guest Speeches
Closing Discussion

Free admission (subject to room capacity).
Program subject to change (without prior notice).
This event may be recorded and shared by FAUP via photographs and video.
FAUP does not issue certificates of attendance or online participation for this event.

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