Presented at the 15th International Architecture Exhibition at La Biennale di Venezia, Beyond Bending is a joint project of ETH Zurich, Block Research Group, Ochsendorf, DeJong & Block (ODB) ans Escobedo Group. The cut stone vault at the centre of the installation is called the Armadillo Vault and its shape comes from the same structural and constitutional principles as the stone cathedrals of the past and embodies the beauty compression made possible through geometry.
Comprised of 399 individually cut limestone voussoirs, unreinforced and without mortar, the vault spans 16 m with a minimum thickness of only 5 cm. The tension ties equilibrate the form and its funicular geometry allows it to stand in pure compression.
Armadillo Vault at Venice Architecture Biennale 2016 from Block Research Group on Vimeo.
