Materials+Review

 -Gaudy: Hello Carolina, how are you? -Carolina: Hi, Gaudy I’m fine thanks! -Gaudy: Well Carolina, thanks for being here with me to discuss about construction materials. The first is stone. This material has been really important through time. Can you tell me why? -Carolina: Yes, that is because stone has some peculiar properties and characteristics. Stones are strong, heavy and useful in construction. And like any other material, stone has advantages and disadvantages. Do you know some of them? -Gaudy: Well, I know that stones can last through big periods of times, they can get any shape by sculptural treatment and they are found in nature, so, they never get over. On the other hand, stones are difficult to quarry, transport and cut; they can't resist tension, so they can't be used as lintels or as floors. -Carolina: That’s right! And nowadays some types of stones are truly expensive. However, in the 15th century, the price didn’t care that much because, for instance, Machu Picchu, one of the seven wonders of the world, is principally made of stones, and we can see this in the pictures. -Gaudy: Exactly! Many old castles are made of stones. In our times we can still see some structures made of stones. For example, the skyscraper in this picture, the Smurfit-Stone building, designed by Epstein and Sons; made with stones and glass. -Carolina: Stones are used in many ways. We can make ashlar masonry, rubble, little walls, arches, façades, and we can make decorative objects. -Gaudy: Wow, the stonework is really interesting! Stones can be used in many ways! -Carolina: Well, we already know about stones, but there is another important construction material that we haven't talked about, and that is the brick. You're an expert on that topic! Tell me something about it. -Gaudy: What can I say? Bricks may be made from clay, shale, slate, calcium silicate or shaped from quarried stone and is very useful in construction and pavement. Do you know about the types of bricks? -Carolina: I know the brick masonry, the building brick, the fire brick, the glazed brick and the clinker brick. But there are a few more, right? -Gaudy: Yes, those are the basics. -Carolina: Which are the good parts of working with bricks? -Gaudy: Brick is flexible, fire-resistant, has no maintenance cost, isn't too expensive and resist almost any climate condition. -Carolina: I really don't like working with bricks because the construction process with them is slower and they are weak in tension. -Gaudy: Every material has disadvantages, but, just as stones, bricks have been used in many famous constructions, like in Piazza del Campo, Italy, where we can see in the picture that the pavement, the main building and the sourrounding places are all made of bricks, creating a beautiful uniformity. -Carolina: I haven't see it that way. In my opinion, it doesn't matter the period of time, bricks and stones offer old fashion looks or modern looks, they are versatile and we can even use them together. -Gaudy: Well Carolina, thank you very much for being here with me discussing about these topics. -Carolina: You’re welcome Gaudy, thanks for having me! We’ll meet each other some other time. media type="custom" key="3961555"
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