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Can someone please explain why they are using styrofoam inside the walls of the cathedral? Styrofoam is basically plastic.
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My dictionary defines 'replica' as a copy [of an object]. So unless this monastery is a copy of another monastery (and according to what I read it's not) it's not replica. Not being a copy, it's absolutely a new thing as much as a blues song written yesterday, in spite of blues not being new thing.
replica means that its fake. Yes its a copy, of monasteries generally, not of a particular monastery.
Can someone please explain why they are using styrofoam inside the walls of the cathedral? Styrofoam is basically plastic.
Insulation. Stone is pretty terrible at insulating. Old cathedrals are either cold, or extremely expensive to heat.
Stone actually can work well with the proper detailing (dealing with cold bridging, styrofoam is a good way to break the cold bridging ):
Heat Storage: Stone, being a dense and heavy material, has a high thermal mass capacity. It can absorb and store a significant amount of heat during the day when exposed to sunlight or internal heat sources like heating systems. This stored heat is gradually released back into the indoor space during cooler periods, such as evenings or nights, helping to stabilize indoor temperatures and reduce heating or cooling requirements.
Temperature Regulation: The thermal mass of stone can act as a natural temperature regulator, slowing down temperature fluctuations within a building. During hot summer days, stone absorbs excess heat, keeping indoor spaces cooler. In colder weather, it releases stored heat, helping to maintain a more comfortable and consistent temperature.
Energy Efficiency: By using stone as a thermal mass material, buildings can reduce their reliance on mechanical heating and cooling systems. This, in turn, can lead to significant energy savings and lower utility bills, as the building naturally regulates its temperature with less energy input.
Passive Solar Design: Stone can be strategically placed in a building's design to maximize its exposure to sunlight during the day. This allows for efficient passive solar heating, where the stone absorbs solar energy and releases it slowly, reducing the need for active heating systems.
These diamond wires are also used for quarrying the stone.
The BRG Group at ETH Zürich has delivered some stunning project exploring a modern take on stereotomic / stone construction, both in terms of fabrication and engineering
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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.
Just down the road was the Imperial Institute [1], built in the 1880s. It was demolished in 1957 and now it looks like this [2] and this [3]. [1]: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Imperial_Institute.j... [2]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sherfield_Building_over_Q... [3]: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Imperial_College_Bus...
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We cannot, but there are several specialists from Turkey, Iran and other Middle Eastern states who can still do.
> there are several specialists from Turkey, Iran and other Middle Eastern states who can still do That makes it sound like somehow only those people can carve stone? That is far from the truth. Look at this guy for example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTCVaDTxTC4 He is a young fella somewhere in a UK happily knocking on stone until it becomes part of a cathedral. It is merely an economic decision how many of the…
Such as the stonebridge from Mostar.
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Insulation. Stone is pretty terrible at insulating. Old cathedrals are either cold, or extremely expensive to heat.
Insulation is about retaining heat. In the netherlands there's been too much emphasis on heat retention in houses built over the last ~15 yrs or so -- these houses are uncomfortable during the summer, since retaining too much heat. Another interesting take is that "passive" houses require heaps of mechanical ventilation, and these systems wear out in ~15-20 yrs. So over the course of the lifespan of a house, that add…