Giambattista Pedrini’s Post

In Rome, a thousand-year-old city, built mostly with #travertine , stands an important national monument, made between the XIX and XX centuries with Botticino marble from the area of Brescia. The processing of #marble used for this monument is a testimony of the transition of the cutting technology, from the abrasion system to cutting with #diamondtools . Infact, it’s at the beginning of the 20th century that diamond tools for #stoneprocessing began to spread, changing the speed and precision of #cutting . This evolution has led to the realization of increasingly sophisticated, complex and innovative works and structures. The technology for working #naturalstone has then evolved rapidly during the XX century, in line with industrial progress, infrastructure and the opening of quarries all over the world. #stonehistory2

Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the strongest foundation and you are done ! Venice was built on a foundation of about 10,000,000 underwater wooden logs or 8 to 10 tree logs per sq meter. Trunks function as roots. 1200 years later, those same trunks still support almost all of central Venice. Before starting to build the palazzi that line the canals, the Venetians drove wooden piles into the ground to make it more solid. As we can read in the Atlante storico della Serenessima ,”The foundations of all of the buildings are made of very strong oak piles, which last eternally under water… These are driven firmly into the ground in dense groups, then blocked with large crosspieces and the space between them is filled with fragments of stone and cement, which solidify them into firm, stable foundations.” The Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan was built the same way. And so was most of Boston.

The Italian city of Venice was built on a foundation of about 10,000,000 underwater wooden oak logs, or 8 to 10 tree logs per sq meter. This was in the 9th century. 1200 years later, those same trunks still support almost all of central Venice. Before starting to build the palazzi that line the canals, the Venetians drove wooden piles into the ground to make it more solid. As we can read in the Atlante storico della Serenessima, “The foundations of all of the buildings are made of very strong oak piles, which last eternally under water… These are driven firmly into the ground in dense groups, then blocked with large crosspieces and the space between them is filled with fragments of stone and cement, which solidify them into firm, stable foundations.” Imagine the entire forests that were cut down to harvest ten million oak logs…..

THINK about it- 1200 years ago, these 10,000,000 logs stored over 11 million tons of Co2 and still do.   100% of the annual Co2 released in the United States can be sequestered into the structures that are built in the United States. THINK about it- Wood Works

💎 Friday Rocks: Unveil the Majesty of Granite 💫 This week, let's explore the strength and beauty of Granite, a rock that embodies durability and resilience. ✨ Symbol of Strength: Granite is known for its incredible strength and durability, symbolizing the inner fortitude we all possess. Just like Granite withstands the test of time, so can we overcome our challenges with unwavering resilience. 🏛️ Architectural Marvel: Granite has been used for centuries in architecture and monuments, showcasing its timeless beauty. From ancient temples to modern skyscrapers, Granite stands as a testament to human ingenuity and creativity. 🔍 Hidden Beauty: The intricate patterns and colors within Granite reveal a hidden beauty that emerges from the slow crystallization of magma. This reminds us to appreciate the gradual, often unseen progress we make in our own lives. 🌐 Universal Presence: Found all over the world, Granite connects us to the Earth's deep history and geological processes. Embrace the global connection Granite offers and feel grounded in your journey. Embrace the steadfast nature of Granite and draw strength from its enduring presence. Let it remind you of your own inner resilience and the beauty that lies within. #FridayRocks #Granite #Strength #WhiteDiamondConsulting

A little bit of Tiello in front of the Colosseum. Some construction fun facts about this ancient Rome wonder... Enjoy! 🚧 Construction of the Colosseum was completed in the year 80 AD, making the building 1,937 years old. Took only 8 years to build! 🚧 It's estimated that 60,000 to 100,000 were employed in the construction of the Colosseum. 🚧 Romans used gigantic cranes to build the stadium. We tend to think of people who roamed the earth before us as simpletons. However, we’re talking about Ancient Rome here! A really cool fact about the Colosseum is that the stones used to build it weighed between 20 to 50 tons. So, with humans alone, it would have been impossible! They used gigantic cranes. 🚧 The Colosseum is oval-shaped. It is 189 meters long, 156 meters wide, and 48,5 meters tall. The entire building has a surface area of 6 acres. 🚧 The Colosseum is as big as our stadiums today. Archeologists put the figure at between 50,000 and 60,000 people. However, according to official records (Roman Regional Catalogues), by the end of the 4th century, a whopping 85,000 people could fit. 🚧 As unbelievable as it might sound, the outer structure of the Colosseum wasn’t put together with concrete and cement. Instead, massive blocks of stone were placed on top of each other, and then iron pins stapled the rock together. This is why when you look at the Colosseum today, it looks like a piece of Swiss cheese. The holes you see are where the iron was removed in the Middle Ages. 🚧 The Colosseum had elevators! I don’t mean elevators for the spectators to get to their seats. All they had were very steep stairs. The elevators were under the Arena Floor and were used to transport animals and gladiators up to the main fighting area in the arena. It's ignorant of us to think technology in construction did not exist in those days. Something to think about... Happy Friday! Follow: Audra Baker Follow: Tiello #recruiting #construction #electrical

Blue Marble… Pacific Ocean View. A view I have not seen… But, illustrates the term Blue Marble.

An Amazing Site.. 🔸The Dolmen de Bagneux is a megalithic tomb located in the town of Bagneux, near Saumur in the Loire Valley of France. It's one of the largest dolmens in Europe, measuring about 18.5 meters (61 feet) in length and over 4 meters (13 feet) in height. Dating back to the Neolithic period, around 4000 to 3000 BC, it was originally constructed as a burial chamber made of massive stone slabs, some weighing several tons. The dolmen's large size and the craftsmanship required to construct it suggest that it was an important burial site, possibly reserved for a high-status individual or a group. The structure is characterized by a long rectangular chamber, covered by large capstones, supported by several upright stones called orthostats. Over time, the covering earth mound that originally encased the dolmen has eroded, leaving the stone skeleton visible. Historically, dolmens like this one were not only burial sites but also served as markers of territorial boundaries or as places of ritual significance. The Dolmen de Bagneux has sparked interest for its impressive scale and the questions it raises about the people who built it, their societal structures, and the religious or cultural significance of such monuments in prehistoric Europe. Today, it stands as a testament to ingenuity and social organization of Neolithic communities.

This is the massif Segovia aqueduct, constructed during the reign of Emperor Trajan between AD 98 and 117, which stands as a testament to the ingenuity of Roman engineering. Remarkably preserved, this monumental structure spans 2,388 feet and rises with 165 arches, each exceeding 30 feet in height. Uniquely, it is assembled from around 24,000 dark Guadarrama granite blocks, laid without any mortar, showcasing the precision and durability of ancient Roman construction techniques. No, this is NOT an AI image.

Stonehenge and Avebury the island possesses the finest prehistoric monuments in Europe. Stonehenge is the more familiar and sensational, often described and painted, as in Turner's and Constable's watercolours. The subtlety and complexity of this extraordinary monument preclude detailed description here. It was being built and reshaped during three distinct periods over several hundred years, longer than was the case with most medieval cathedrals, though during its successive transformations the main axis always remained aligned to midsummer sunrise. The last stage in its shaping seems to have been about 1900 to 1500 BC, when *a pitch of architectural refinement was achieved unparalleled in the prehistoric West'. These huge stones have almost imperceptible swelling like Greek columns, the architrave curves inward to make a circle, the laterals are morticed and tenoned to fit the uprights and shaped to the perspective from the ground. An inner circle was formed of bluestones brought all the way - 200 miles - from Wales. All around are the cemeteries of these people, some three hundred barrows; a long avenue of stones went down to a stream. All this is not only a standing witness to what primitive manpower could shift - that is obvious enough - but a marvel of sophisticated planning and design. #1transcribedtext #1transcribedtextbydinescu #HeritageOfBritainALRowse