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A medieval Gothic monastery built using CAD / CAM

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Re: A medieval Gothic monastery built using CAD / CAM

#51

Where do monks get the money to build this beast?

They no doubt receive donations, but they also roast coffee [0]. [0] https://www.mysticmonkcoffee.com/

Thanks.

From their about page - https://www.mysticmonkcoffee.com/pages/about-us-wyoming-carm...:

> From their monastery nestled deep in the Rocky Mountains, the Wyoming Carmelites (a small group of Carmelite Monks) ­were looking for a way to support their growing community.

> After much discernment and prayer, the monks had the inspiration to start roasting coffee and selling the beans online. The first samples were roasted on a cast-iron skillet in the monastery kitchen and in 2007, Mystic Monk Coffee, a catholic coffee company was born.

Re: A medieval Gothic monastery built using CAD / CAM

#52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> beautiful things My first association is "fake" - which _is_ appropriate to describe (especially the roman catholic) churches (organisations, not buildings). But I guess that that's not their intention ;) > Hopefully they're entitled to spend their money the way they like. I don't know about the US, but in Europe spending money in such a way would be heavily criticised.

> My first association is "fake" Better fake than the the latest fad in architecture. At least fake gothic could never have resulted in brutalist buildings.

Gothic Revival (aka Victorian Gothic) was the original "fake gothic" (gothic-style building built with "modern" Victorian tech) and tbh it's absolutely delightful. The same can't be said for Brutalism, which originated much later (1950-1960s) but generated frankly ugly and non-maintenable buildings.

Re: A medieval Gothic monastery built using CAD / CAM

#53
post #18
post #12

Having read Anathem recently, I'm disappointed that they aren't taking it upon themselves to learn how to do it by hand.

Exactly. The whole point of doing replica of something so old especially for religious reasons is the struggle. It doesnt matter how long it would take or hard it would be. It might never get finished and in this case that would be fine too. Instead this seems closer to concrete/plaster Disneyland for monks wanting to roleplay times long gone.

Catholicism is known for recognizing of value in bringing beauty into the world, but AFAIK it's agnostic (see what I did here?) about using hand vs tech in achieving this goal. Also, it's not replica, it's a new thing following old tradition.

Re: A medieval Gothic monastery built using CAD / CAM

#55
post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Exactly. The whole point of doing replica of something so old especially for religious reasons is the struggle. It doesnt matter how long it would take or hard it would be. It might never get finished and in this case that would be fine too. Instead this seems closer to concrete/plaster Disneyland for monks wanting to roleplay times long gone.

I know where you're coming from, but I'm not sure I agree. Traditional medieval cathedrals were built right on the limits of the materials, skills and labour available and still took generations and sometimes still collapsed due to overambition: especially lantern crossings, which are heavy and only supported in the corners. Builders of cathedrals used the cutting edge tools and techniques of their days. If they'd de…

I think the very effort, the manual investment, was a form of sacrifice and honouring of god in itself. Ergo, this would be cheating.

(atheist)

Re: A medieval Gothic monastery built using CAD / CAM

#56
post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Exactly. The whole point of doing replica of something so old especially for religious reasons is the struggle. It doesnt matter how long it would take or hard it would be. It might never get finished and in this case that would be fine too. Instead this seems closer to concrete/plaster Disneyland for monks wanting to roleplay times long gone.

I know where you're coming from, but I'm not sure I agree. Traditional medieval cathedrals were built right on the limits of the materials, skills and labour available and still took generations and sometimes still collapsed due to overambition: especially lantern crossings, which are heavy and only supported in the corners. Builders of cathedrals used the cutting edge tools and techniques of their days. If they'd de…

Something I've wondered about CAD for a long time (as a non-user) is whether the sheer physical labor involved in operating the CAD software influences design choices.

Re: A medieval Gothic monastery built using CAD / CAM

#58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> My first association is "fake" Better fake than the the latest fad in architecture. At least fake gothic could never have resulted in brutalist buildings.

Gothic Revival (aka Victorian Gothic) was the original "fake gothic" (gothic-style building built with "modern" Victorian tech) and tbh it's absolutely delightful. The same can't be said for Brutalism, which originated much later (1950-1960s) but generated frankly ugly and non-maintenable buildings.

Not sure if it counts as Victorian Gothic, but The Natural History Museum in London is one of the most delightful building I've seen.

Not only the general architecture, but all the natural history theme that applies to all the Gothic design elements. Animals replacing Gargoyles, etc.

A beautiful building.

Re: A medieval Gothic monastery built using CAD / CAM

#59
post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I know where you're coming from, but I'm not sure I agree. Traditional medieval cathedrals were built right on the limits of the materials, skills and labour available and still took generations and sometimes still collapsed due to overambition: especially lantern crossings, which are heavy and only supported in the corners. Builders of cathedrals used the cutting edge tools and techniques of their days. If they'd de…

I think the very effort, the manual investment, was a form of sacrifice and honouring of god in itself. Ergo, this would be cheating. (atheist)

I think either way this takes investment and effort. Just because you’re not chiseling it yourself doesn’t make it easy. As well one other factor is that the Carmelites are traditionally a “contemplative” order, so it may be very in line with their traditions to devote their time to God even if it’s via doing it via CAD/CAM.

(Christian, non-Catholic)

Re: A medieval Gothic monastery built using CAD / CAM

#60
post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Brutalism is yet another form of socialism that managed to make the world a bit sadder.

I don't disagree, but i don't like how you make out socialism as the villain, sounds like you grew up with a lot of cold war propaganda. The absence of socialism means violence and war. If the states had a working social system, crime rates would be much lower. Personally I like to blame humanism for everything, that is, the delusion that humans are somehow better than what we really are.

I don't disagree that some degree of social policy is needed for a country to be healthy. Brutalism, though, was the blind application of the socialist principles to architecture, which generated more misery than what it tried to prevent.
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