Stone in Architecture

Beschreibung

This book surveys important stone properties, both physical and chemical, pertinent to the needs of architects, engineers and stone producers. Emphasis is placed on the chemical characteristics of the pollutants in air and water and their interaction with stone, which accelerates the process of stone decay, often many times faster than in rural locations in quarries or rock cuts. Graphs and diagrams, the scientist's language, analyze and quantify the natural processes which lead to stone decay: simplification of the graphs enhances their legibility not only for the student of geology, environmental science, engineering, but also for the museum curator and conservator who deal with stone monuments. Only thorough knowledge of stone properties and processes can lessen their frequent misuse and the present decay of urban stone, thus enabling its prevention with preservatives. The book also provides information for the stone producer and consumer for a better understanding of the product stone.
The readers of the first two editions of Stone: Properties, Durabi lity in Man's Environment, were mostly architects, restoration architects of buildings and monuments in natural stone, profes sionals who sought basic technical information for non-geologists. The increasing awareness of rapidly decaying monuments and their rescue from loss to future generations have urged this writer to update the 1973 and 1975 editions, now unavailable and out of print. Due to the 20-year-Iong interval, extensive updating was necessary to produce this new book. The present edition concentrates on the natural material stone, as building stone, dimension stone, architectural stone, and decorative field stones. Recently, the use of stone for thin curtain walls on buildings has become fashionable. The thin slabs exposed to anew, unknown complexity of stresses, resulting in bowing of crystalline marble, has attracted much negative pUblicity. The costs of replacing white slabs of marble on entire buildings with its legal implications have led construction com panies into bankruptcy. We blame many environmental problems on acid rain. Does acid rain really accelerate stone decay that much? Stone preservation is being attempted with an ever-increasing number of chemicals applied by as many specialists to save crumbling stone. Chemists filled this need during a time of temporary job scarcity, while the general geologist missed this opportunity; he was too deeply involved in the search for fossil fuels and metals.
contains informative artwork including 21 full color halftones practical approach of the subject
The growing need for this book is demonstrated by activities going on to protect not only cultural monuments but more and more modern buildings cladded with stone. Architects and restorers of buildings as well as geologists and mineralogists will find a wealth of information.

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Erhard Winkler

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Conservation Konservierung Natursteine Stone Properties Verwitterung Weathering architecture environment

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