After successful completion of the course, students are able to present an overview of the Persian arches, vaults and domes, with a particular focus on the geometry and construction.
In the context of ‘climate change’, the ability to build great structures with little more than a nail and a ball of string and of course the easily available building material, that is earth, can change one’s vision.
This course is led this semester by Prof. Dr. techn. Eisar Esfandjary, our visiting professor from the Art University of Isfahan (Iran)
This two-day workshop will explain by practical demonstration the geometry and the simple but satisfying techniques devised by the Persians for the setting out and building of arches, vaults and domes. The key to this is the ‘compass’, which on the building site means a nail, string and a piece of chalk.
The subject will be introduced, explaining the principles and demonstrating with a ruler and a small compass on paper, then moving up to full size on the ground with a nail, string and a piece of chalk. After setting up the geometry for the dimensions required, the way in which the formwork and the arches, vaults or domes are made, will be discussed.
During the workshop, the students will each exercise a particular type of arc and its geometric pattern. No actual vault will be built, but the whole process will be simulated from start to finish.
