Stone Roof Research Articles

Tracing the biographies of textiles in the transition of medieval to modern times: Wool fabrics and brigandines from an Iberian castle

Findings of archaeological textiles and fibres in Northern Iberia are extremely rare. The occurrence of a set of textile fragments, dated between the 14th and 16th centuries CE at the Pambre castle (Palas de Rei, Lugo, Spain) is exceptional. The original stone roof of the southeastern tower was intact. The dark, cold and moist conditions inside the tower favoured the preservation of a unique series of waterlogged textile remains. In addition, a set of pseudomorphs preserved by mineral replacement were recovered from the east edge of the north wing in the main hall of the castle. Fibres have been identified using optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and they have been chemically characterised using Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDX). We also performed analytical pyrolysis-GC-MS (Py-GC-MS) and thermally assisted hydrolysis and methylation (THM-GC-MS) of the wool fabrics and pseudomorphs to assess their state of degradation and the presence of chemical markers associated to the use of these textile remains. High performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD-MS) and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS/MS) analysis were applied on wool fabrics to identify the chemical markers of dyes but without success. To expand the information related to raw material identification and the technical aspects of the fabrics, further evidence such as adherences identified as opal phytoliths, seeds, and insect remains associated to wool fabrics were examined. These findings offer a unique glimpse into the clothing dated to the end of the Medieval period, and its life-cycle. Wool scraps were probably part of at least two different garments, whereas the mineralised textiles probably formed part of at least two brigandines which were made of bast fibres, flax, or hemp.

The timber roof structure of Chapel XVI at Sacro Monte of Orta: an example of conservative strengthening work

The principles of conservation of existing structures (like evidence of regional construction techniques) pose a significant challenge in the general field of structural safety, increasingly claimed by the new technical codes. The restoration building site of Chapel XVI at Sacro Monte of Orta San Giulio (Italy) testifies to a respectful design approach to enhance the timber elements still recoverable without distorting the original static scheme. The preliminary knowledge phase allowed for correctly interpreting the historical construction phases (including analysis of archival documents and diagnostic investigations), the vulnerabilities of the roof structure, and the peculiarity of the stone roof covering as a construction technique to be preserved and improved. The recovery project has exploited the potential of the laser scanner and micro-invasive diagnostic techniques to move towards limited replacement choices of wood elements that could no longer be recovered. The recovery of the roof of the XVI Chapel, as a pilot building site of an international research project on the maintenance of historical sites (INTERREG ITA-CH “Main10ance”), is evidence of a fruitful multidisciplinary discussion aimed at improving the methodological approach to the strengthening work of historical structures.

КАМ’ЯНІ ГРОБНИЦІ ЗРУБНОЇ КУЛЬТУРИ ПІВНІЧНОГО ПРИАЗОВ’Я (ЗА МАТЕРІАЛАМИ КОМИШУВАТСЬКОГО МОГИЛЬНИКА)

The article presents the results of research on the burials of the Late Bronze Age Zrubna/Timber-grave culture in the stone tombs of the barrow group near the village of Komyshuvate in the North Azov region in the south of Donetsk region of Ukraine. The article considers the ritual and inventory complex of burials through the prism of the created general register of burial mounds of the Zrubna/Timber-grave culture of the North Azov region. This allowed us to clarify and systematise the source base, to give a comprehensive formalised statistical description of the funerary sites, to consider some aspects of the social organisation, material and spiritual culture of the Late Bronze Age tribes based on the data of the studied necropolis. The article analyses the stone tombs of the North Azov region, which are divided into three main groups according to their design features. The distribution of funerary complexes made in different types of burial structures by horizons allowed us to clearly illustrate the previously identified chronological features that reflect the time of appearance of a particular type of grave. The Azov mounds are largely characterised by a variety of stone architecture. The area of distribution of burial mounds with stone structures is quite extensive. However, the use of stone in mound construction is unevenly distributed and is not typical for the whole region. The mapping method allowed us to identify the location of burials with stone structures in the immediate vicinity of the raw material base. These burial grounds tend to be located in the areas of the Donetsk Ridge and the Azov Upland, which are rich in open outcrops of natural stone. The Don Delta is the eastern border of the widespread use of stone in funerary rites. In the western part of the Donetsk Ridge, in the upper rivers of the Dnipro basin, the use of stone in mound construction was not practised. Large-scale stone structures in the mounds to the west of the Berda River also remain unknown. Stratigraphic observations and analysis of the ritual and inventory complex made it possible to establish with a certain degree of probability the sequence of construction of the mounds of the Komyshuvate burial ground and the burials made in them. Qualitative features manifested in the shape and proportions of ceramic vessels, material composition, surface treatment and ornamentation allowed us to attribute the ceramic corpus of the burials of the Komyshuvate cemetery to the second (developed) horizon of the Zrubna/Timber-grave culture cemeteries of the North Azov region. According to the proposed classification, tomb 1 of mound 1 of the Komyshuvate cemetery belongs to group I (tombs with vertical masonry walls), tomb 1 of mound 4 - to group II (tombs with horizontal masonry walls), and tomb 2 of mound 4 - to group III (combined tombs with horizontal and vertical masonry walls). Burial 2 of Mound 4 and burial 1 of Mound 1 can be confidently attributed to the second (developed) horizon of the Zrubna/Timber-grave culture of the North Azov region based on the ritual and inventory complex of features. The inlet stratigraphic position and the ritual and inventory complex of burial 1 of mound 4 allow us to attribute it to the final of the II (developed) or beginning of the III (late) horizon. The late horizon is characterised by inlet burials, less often by main burials in mounds, in ground pits under stone structures, as well as in classical tombs with horizontal masonry walls and combined stone tombs, which were most common in this period. In addition, the analysis of the materials allowed us to approach the problem of social reconstructions. Researchers have repeatedly pointed out that burials in stone tombs with horizontal and combined masonry walls are distinguished by their equipment and a set of ritual features as having a high social status. Thus, the construction in the form of a stone tomb is in itself extraordinary and a sign of social rank. Both burials of barrow 4 of the Komyshuvate cemetery demonstrate a number of deviations from the model of a regular burial of the Zrubna/Timber-grave culture of the North Azov region. The presence in the burial of a wooden bowl with a metal figured rim and a "ceremonial" ceramic vessel with a "calendar" motif are status signs marking the persons involved in ritual activities. The presence of traces of ritual actions outside the grave, a stone roof over a complex stone structure, excessive equipment and meat food (the honorary back part) are also clear indicators of the social extraordinariness of the deceased and signs of high rank. Keywords: North Azov region, archaeological research, Late Bronze Age, Zrubna/Timber-grave culture, barrow, tomb, stone architecture.

Simulating a stone roof for the Maltese Neolithic temples: Analysing stress to understand specialisation

The Neolithic temples of Malta are large megalithic structures built between 3700 BC and 2400 BC. Around 30 temples have survived to present day, providing extensive evidence of Neolithic culture in the Maltese islands. However, while the temple walls are generally well preserved, there is a longstanding debate regarding the nature of the temples’ roofing, of which scarce indication remains. With material evidence existing both for wooden and stone roofs, new techniques are necessary to determine the overall plausibility of different roofing options. In this paper the possibility of a stone roof is tested using 3D simulation of stress within a temple model. By measuring the forces in play within the temple structure, and observing interesting architectural features in situ, the suggestion of a stone roof is reinforced. Temple walls appear to have been constructed with the direct aim of dispersing excessive weight, showing a complex understanding of architectural principles. Observations made by the study also have wider implications for the Maltese Neolithic, especially with regards to cultural transmission throughout the island and different generations.

Characteristics and Development of Wind Bells unearthed from the Korean Peninsula

본 연구의 최종 목적은 풍탁이라는 유물에 있어서 시간과 공간의 의미를 읽어내는 것이다. 풍탁(風鐸)은 사찰의 전각 처마 끝이나 탑의 옥개석 끝에 달려 바람이 불면 소리가 나는 장엄구(莊嚴具)이자 불교의 범음구(梵音 具)이다. 타격하거나 흔드는 등 사람의 행위에 의해서 소리가 나는 여타 범음구들과 달리 풍탁은 사람의 손이 닿지 않는 곳에 달고, 바람의 움직임으로 소리가 난다. 사람이 소리를 제어할 수 없다는 의미에서 소리를 내는 기능보다는 종교적 상징성과 장식적 의미가 큰 불교 공예품이라 할 수 있다. 풍탁은 대상 유물 간에 비교검토를 통해 결론을 도출하기에 수량은 적고 개별 특징은 매우 다양하게 나타난다. 따라서 우선 최대한 많은 특징을 검토하고 그 의미를 파악하였다. 일부 특징은 오랜 시간 동안 유지되고 그속에서 또 다른 특징들은 다양한 차이를 보이는데 이때 오랜 시간 유지된 특징에서 시간의 흐름에 따른 변화양상을 명확하게 확인할 수 있었다. 시간의 흐름에 따른 변화양상이 가장 뚜렷하게 확인되는 특징은 풍탁의 하단부 횡단면이다. 횡단면은 행인형→사각형→원형으로 변화를 보인다. 이는 석탑의 전개 과정과 마찬가지로 백제에서 시작되어 신라의 제작기술이 반영된 풍탁의 등장과 확산 속에서 변화한 것으로 이해된다. 그리고 이러한 변화는 제작이 쉽고 풍성한 소리를 내기에 효과적인 방향으로 이루어진 것으로 볼 수 있다. 바람에 의해 소리를 내는 풍탁의 음향 원리를 고려했을 때 풍탁의 몸체와 설의 움직임은 폭이 넓고 자유로울수록 소리가 더욱 풍성해질 수 있다. 시간과 공간의 폭에비해서 출토 수량이 적음에도 불교 문화의 흐름과 일치하는 전개 양상 역시 한반도 출토 풍탁의 특징이라 할 수있다. 본고는 풍탁이 출토되는 전 시기에 걸쳐 시간의 흐름을 명확하게 보여주는 특징을 통해 풍탁의 전개 양상을확인하고 불교 장엄구이자 범음구라는 풍탁의 성격 속에서 그 의미를 파악하였다. 다만, 세밀한 편년 작업이 되지 못하였고, 시간의 폭이 넓은 한계를 가진다. 이는 고고학적 자료의 축적과 함께 추후 연구를 통해 채워나가고자 한다.The wind bell(Pungtak) is mainly an instrument for Buddhist sound that makes a sound when the wind blows at the end of the pavilion s eaves or the stone roof of the stupa in the temple. Basically the form resembles the form of a bell, but it has a feature that it has wind plates compared with similar Buddhist sound instruments such as bell, chimes, and so on. This study is on the wind bells unearthed from the korean peninsula. Due to small amount of the subjects, I examined most various features of it, and based on the results, I classified them by choosing connection methods such as cross-section and longitudinal section which reflects the temporal characteristics. Because it proceeded in small quantities, there appeared to be a gap between periods, and the number of artifacts contained in each type is too small under three to name it as a type. Therefore, I give a significance on looking at the aspect of the changes of the wind bells according to the time, without dividing the time by force. The wind bell is a kind of the ornamented articles(Jangeomgu) that are not used solely but hanging somewhere. Therefore, as the use place changed, the form of the wind bell may also have changed, and it might have changed along with the fashion and propagation of that use place . Until now, the use places of the wind bell are known as the pavilions and stupas of the temple. The regional distribution was similar to the development of the stone pagoda. The wind bells was first made with an apricot-style cross-section under the influence of Baekje, but it changed into a rectangular cross-section of a square-shaped horse bell in Silla, and it seems to have spread nationwide like the distribution of Silla stone pagoda since 9th century. The wind bell is a Buddhist artifact that reflects the flow of culture based on the Buddhist thought of the time and it has just begun to be studied, but it must be researched steadily with the accumulation of archaeological data.

Dub, Utopia and the Ruins of the Caribbean

The weathered stone, collapsed lintels and hollow roofs of the ruin have long evoked a sense of pathos, standing as monuments to the disastrous contours of history and the possibility of alternative futures. In this article, I ask: What is the meaning of the ruin in the postcolonial context of the Caribbean? There are few physical ruins in the Caribbean, resulting in a feeling of lack: the architectural landscape fails to speak to the catastrophes of slavery and colonialism. Dub, a subgenre of Jamaican reggae, responds to this sense of deprivation. The dub producers of the 1970s decomposed reggae songs, creating ruinous constructions where crucial elements of the original version are missing. Fragmented dub compositions act as icons of the traumatic history of the Caribbean and a utopian pique to the imagination, forcing the listener to fill in the gaps and imagine the world remade.

Seismic risk assessment for central Indo-Gangetic Plains, India

Seismic hazard for the central indo-gangetic plains (CIGP) is either available in terms of generalized hazard spectrum as per IS 1893:2016 or in terms of only Peak Ground Acceleration (PGA) at the city level. Also, the study region falls in the seismic gap region, which has a potential for an earthquake of Mw>8.0. Hence, in this study, the seismic risk is assessed for the first time at the district level in the seismically critical region of India, the CIGP. In addition, the relative contribution of parametric and model uncertainties is also quantified from sensitivity analysis. Seismic risk results reveal that mud mortar bricks with temporary roofing (MMB) have the highest collapse probability of ~0.6. Further, brick walls with stone roof (BSR) and brick walls with metal sheet roof (BMS) also have high extensive and collapse damage compared to other building groups. These building types need immediate retrofitting / replacement for effective disaster mitigation. Also, geo-unit Allahabad, even though lying in zone II as per IS 1893:2016, has the most number of homeless and uninhabitable dwellings. Further, for a future earthquake of magnitude in the range of Mw 7.5 and 8.5, the expected financial loss might vary from 60 to 150 billion dollars, and the human loss might vary between 0.8 and 2.8 lakhs, respectively. Finally, results from this study will create awareness in the general public, policymakers, and structural engineers for taking up necessary mitigation measures on the existing buildings of CIGP for better preparedness from a future strong earthquake.

Stone roofing in the Aosta Valley, Italy: Technical properties and durability of traditional Lithotypes

The Aosta Valley Region has promulgated in 1990 a law to partially finance stone roofs to the owners of houses in the historic centers of the valley, provided that the stone material chosen was suitable for this use. This suitability was certified by physical, mechanical and durability tests. More than twenty years ago, roofing slabs were extracted in north-western Alps mainly from schistose rocks. In recent time instead roofing slabs, according to global market, have an international origin. All the traditional stones tested showed excellent technical features according to the local legislation on roof slates. One of these traditional stones is a phyllite whose trade name is “Porfiroide” having the best physical and mechanical properties compared to the other kinds of traditional stones, but with a high standard deviation in the results of flexural strength performed after the freeze and thaw cycles. In the roofing installed 40 years ago, despite their best technical features, the “Porfiroide” roof slabs show a poor state of conservation with widespread detachments, fractures, growth of mosses and lichens, variations in colours. Otherwise, stones with a lower value of flexural strength and higher water absorption instead show good behaviour in the roofing in situ and also in terms of colour change.Evidently the only characterisation of the stone materials is not sufficient but it must be associated to a on-site verification, comparing each slab to be installed with a reference sample, part of the sample submitted to the tests, and to a control on site of the resistance of the stones to degradation.

Local climatological study on layout of stone roof storehouses in Tsushima Island, Japan

Local climatological study on layout of stone roof storehouses in Tsushima Island, Japan

長崎県対馬における石屋根の倉の分布と残存状況の実態に関する研究

長崎県対馬における石屋根の倉の分布と残存状況の実態に関する研究

Gabriel Pacheco: Illustrator – Mexico

Gabriel PachecoIllustrator – Mexico Temi Odumosu Click for larger view View full resolution Illustration comes together in a space of silence, like an ink blot that finds form. It’s true, the shape that we see appearing in the stone roof, the crinkles of the paper, the stain left by the ink, the trail of a brush on paper, or the shape of the clouds...we have already seen it within ourselves, but we have just forgotten it over time, and picture books give that back to us. G. Pacheco whatever abstract moments we might remember from our dreams or from fairytales, Gabriel Pacheco recalls them back in his surreal scenes and compositions: A woman bound to a horse with a feather on her head, surrounded by a cascade of umbrellas. A solitary stag wounded by an arrow looking back to us from the doorway of a room indoors. A ghostly ship squeezing its way through a quiet city. Using a restrained palate of grey shades, accented by azure blue and poppy red, Pacheco softly transports readers to spaces that are both magical and uncanny, visions that give symbolic form to the words of writers he chooses to collaborate with. In this sense, he is a literary illustrator. Born in Mexico City in 1973, Pacheco began his creative journey as a set designer, studying scenography at the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes. He also took classes in illustration and life drawing at the Escuela Nacional de Artes Plásticas, later completing a Diploma in Children’s Literature in Barcelona. However, he attests that the focus towards illustrating books came by chance following a request by his sister to illustrate a book called The Enchanted Frog (1997). This experience created an opening for his thinking and practice, building a desire for storytelling through images that has been with him ever since. Even so, he maintains that, holistically, it is the writings of Octavio Paz, the vision of filmmaker Theo Angelopoulos, and the dramaturgy of choreographer Pina Bauch that taught him how to look. Pacheco’s work travels between different realities reflecting his philosophical approach to making visual poetry. He conceives of the fragment (of time, space, memory) as a window onto story but also a means of articulating what is forever lost. It is, for example, the fragments of old book pages embedded in the trees and plants of his illustrations for The Jungle Book (2012) which remind the reader that the book they are holding is a long gone story that has already been told. Similarly, the illustrations for 12 Illustrated Poems by Lorca (2013) are composed like the poet’s fragments of verse: How does Pacheco depict a child who insists he wants to be silver and water? By giving him his own special rain cloud that drenches him thoroughly, with a silver lining draped around his wrist. SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY La Rana Encantada. By Jazmín Flores Yarce. Mexico: Cornuda, 1997. Print. Google Scholar Taller de Corazones. By Arturo Abad. Pontevedra: Oqo Editora, 2010. Print. Google Scholar El libro de la Selva. By Rudyard Kipling. Trans. Gabriela Bustelo. Barcelona: Sexto Piso, 2012. Print. Google Scholar 12 Poemas de Frederico García Lorca. By Frederico García Lorca. Pontevedra: Kalandraka, 2012. Print. Google Scholar Arenas Movedizas. By Octavio Paz. Mexico: Fondo de Cultura Económica, 2014. Print. [End Page 40] Google Scholar Copyright © 2016 Bookbird, Inc.

Experimental Investigations on Ferrocement Roof Slab System for Low Cost Housing

The work presents the results of an experimental investigation carried out to assess the strength of pre-cast roof slab system comprising of ferrocement slab panels resting over RC beams. In the ferrocement panels, the cement was replaced by 0 and 20 % fly ash. This roof slab system proves out to be a cost effective and structurally safe and viable alternative for low cost housing, much better than the conventional roofing system comprising of steel girder and brittle sand stone panels commonly used in regions where sand stone panels are easily available. The testing includes three sets of roof system comprising of 12 ferrocement panels placed on two pre-cast RC beams, and an enclosure of brick walls on four sides. A similar set of roof slab system comprising of 12 sand stone panels in place of ferrocement panels were also tested for comparison. The testing was continued till the cracks were pronounced. It was observed that load carrying capacity of RC beam and ferrocement panel system with same thickness is higher as compared to similar arrangement of RC beam and sand stone panels. The crack propagation phenomenon was also studied. The ferrocement roof slab system exhibited ductile failure whereas brittle failure was observed in case of sand stone roof slab system. Cost analysis reveals that two pre-cast systems of RC beams and ferrocement panels with and without fly ash are economical as compared to red sand stone panels or RC slab system. The theoretical calculations have also been carried out to establish the adequacy of the sections to sustain the flexural loading applied in the present investigation.

Practical strength criterion for coal mine roof support design in laminated soft rocks

The stone roofs of coal mine roadways typically comprise low strength, thinly bedded and closely jointed mudstones, siltstones and sandstones. A practical strength criterion for use in currently available numerical codes should include consideration of the pronounced transverse isotropy introduced by the bedding and the tensile strength should be set to zero. The compressive strength is then the greater of either the damage/brittle criterion implemented as cohesion = UCS/6 and a friction angle of 0° or a purely frictional component with a friction angle of 33°. This criterion can be used to estimate the maximum height of a roof fall in bedded sedimentary rocks similar to coal measures.

Wood Sheds with Stone Roof in Tsushima Islands, Southwestern Japan Sea, Have the Merit of an Earth Heritage

Wood Sheds with Stone Roof in Tsushima Islands, Southwestern Japan Sea, Have the Merit of an Earth Heritage

The Wooden Roof of <i>Banesa e Skendulate</i> in Gjirokastra, Albania: The Role of the Diagnostic Test Campaign in the Structural Safety Evaluation

Banesa e Skendulate is part of the historical center of the museum-city of Gjirokastra (Albanian UNESCO World Heritage), an unique and well-preserved example of Albanian urban vernacular architecture influenced by the ottoman architectural style, situated in a strategic position in the valley of the Drino. Banesa e Skendulate represents not only the typical compositional characteristics of this architecture but also a culture and a lifestyle deeply rooted in its own traditions. As its known, historic roofings are load-bearing structures made of timber according to an empirical and intuitive design, without structural engineering theory support, and Banesa e Skendulates roof is a clear example of the posts and beams system and shows the ability of the local craftsmen to deal with the support of heavy stone roofing. In the following paragraphs, will be presented the non-destructive diagnostic testing performed on the wooden structure of the roofing together with a detailed geometric and technological survey in order to recognize the structural system, its behavior and pathology and then process the analytical 3D model. Furthermore, the paper deals with the problem arose as consequence of the interpretation of the results obtained by the diagnostic tests, concerning the determination of the classes of resistance attached to ancient structural wooden elements that, for obvious reasons, cannot be classified according to the strength classes defined by the regulations for new timber constructions. Applying the reference strength values classified for the new timber elements to the historic ones, can cause a heavy penalty in terms of structural safety verification of the roof; that is why the role of the diagnostic test campaign should guide the reinforcement project applying reference values determined on the real conditions of the wooden elements.

Special Issue on Urban Storm-Water Management in the 21st Century

As the practice of storm-water management evolves, so has our understanding of the tools. As we move away from a myopic flood control perspective, new tools to include what we now call green infrastructure best management practices (BMPs) were developed. Green roofs, rain gardens, and porous pavements appeared, with much of the design elements based on reasonable estimates of performance, thus the term “best.” Now we as a profession are moving toward a more engineered approach, with designs based on scientific knowledge of the processes, from soil physics and chemistry to hydrology and hydraulics. Soon it may be time to retire BMPs and move forward with the term “storm-water control measures,” as recommended by the National Academies authors of Urban Stormwater in the United States (National Research Council 2008). This issue of the Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering is devoted to this evolving field of storm-water sustainability, and the effort to predict performance of our storm-water control measures. The 10 papers in this special issue reflect this evolution. Papers range from evaluating the concentration of effluent scoured from catch basins to cost-estimation tools, plus the inclusion of green-infrastructure tools within the International Stormwater BMP Database. Green and stone roofs are represented as are level spreaders. Bioretention/bioinfiltration rain gardens, however, received the most attention with papers on media depth, phosphorus removal, process modeling, mounding, and fines accumulation. This collection truly demonstrates our increasing knowledge base. This effort is a result of collaboration between the Stormwater Infrastructure Committee and Urban Water Resources Research Council, together with the Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering Publications Committee. Conference proceedings from recent Environmental and Water Resources Institute (EWRI) congresses and low-impact development (LID) conferences were reviewed, and a select group of authors was invited to expand and revise their work. These papers passed through the standard journal peer-review process. We hope that this set of papers is of use to the profession. We would like to thank all the contributing authors, the reviewers, and William Ritter, as editor, for their efforts in this special issue.

Building constructions of stone cladded roofs in contemporary architecture

Stone roof coverings have existed for hundreds of years now, but their application in contemporary representative architecture is quite different than it was in former times, and accordingly the underlying constructional details are much more complicated. The main role of the roof in today's architecture is to emphasize the abstract building volume and its homogeneity. The design (visual appearance) has priority over constructional considerations, while at the same time requirements for thermal insulation and the watertight buildup of the building envelope are rising. This is a big challenge for the design of the constructional details, since traditional methods do not apply anymore: almost all of the water gets under this exterior cladding where a completely waterproof underlayer is needed. Therefore a new type of constructions is borne. In this article I try to present innovative constructional alternatives for stone cladded roofs and try to define guidelines for their planning. These alternatives were created and refined based on analysis of historical and contemporary examples, the examination of the specific conditions and requirements that affect cladded roofs, their expected performance over their life-span, the difficulties that arise under construction and my work experience. I created seven groups, according to the method for fixing the individual stone elements, since this is the detail that most affects the buildup of the underlying structure. A new approach is needed with these unconventional constructions, with a much more detailed inventory of every little feature of the building in question. But since these features vary violently with the architectural conception the exact constructional solutions are usually unique as well.

Effect of Roof Surface Type on Storm-Water Runoff from Full-Scale Roofs in a Temperate Climate

Roof surfaces represent a significant portion of the impervious area associated with urban development. Storm-water runoff from those surfaces causes stream degradation in receiving waters attributable to excess volume of water runoff. This paper investigates the influence of roof surface type on storm-water runoff and specifically considers the benefits of a vegetated roof, or green roof, as a storm-water best management practice (BMP). Runoff data were collected over a 6-month period from three full-scale roofs, which were retrofitted with flow meters and automated water-quality samplers. The roof surfaces included an asphalt roof (for control purposes), a vegetated extensive green roof, and a stone ballasted roof. Both the green roof and stone roof were effective at reducing runoff volume and attenuating peak discharge, with the green roof being more efficient for rainfall events less than 2.54 cm. Overall, the green roof retained 68.25% of rainfall volume and reduced peak discharge by an average of 88...

Belton Boathouse

Belton boathouse (listed Grade II) is an early work of Anthony Salvin and a rare surviving example of a boathouse in the Swiss style. Having suffered severe decay in the twentieth century, it has now been carefully repaired and restored.The design of the building uses all the usual main materials of construction but in a decorative manner. The roof is made of Collyweston stone roof tiles, each hand-shaped into a fish-scale; the plastering on the exterior is in a high relief basket-weave pattern; the joinery is all wood-grained and the leaded-light windows have a decorative latticework of lead cames and both tinted and etched glass.The repair and restoration of the boathouse involved considerable initial study, research and analysis, without which the project would not have been possible. It illustrates how a building in an advanced state of decay can be brought back to life by a well-informed process and skilled craftsmanship.

THE BURIAL CONSTRUCTION OF NOIN ULA MOUND 20, MONGOLIA

In 2006, a joint Russian-Mongolian archaeological expedition excavated one of the last remaining mounds left by the Hunnu elite at Noin Ula, northern Mongolia. Because excavations were conducted by hand, a detailed analysis of the burial structure was possible. Its layout followed one of the most common Chinese (Han) prototypes and included: a rectangular earthen platform with a stone enclosure; a long corridor, with the entrance to the grave being oriented to the south; a deep pit (18.35 m) narrowing to the bottom in a stepwise manner; a Chinese chariot above the burial chamber; charcoal and clay placed between the walls of the chamber and those of the frame; a double frame made of pine blocks; numerous artifacts in corridors; and a laquered coffin. Four stone roofs matching four descending steps secured a dense backfill. A similar technique (multilayered backfill interspersed with stone roofs) was practiced for building foundations during the Hellenistic epoch. A distinctive feature of the Noin Ula burial rite is the presence of numerous artifacts made from organic substances.