Hypar Vault

Hypar Vault is an experimental vaulted stone structure fabricated with near zero waste of material. This is possible using a new type of block, based on a known ruled surface, the hyperbolic paraboloid, fabricated by means of wire cutting technology using a robotic arm. The structure, designed by architects of the Italian New Fundamentals Research Group, is an unique barrel built using just two types of stone blocks, which are the mirror images of each other. The blocks have trapezoidal forms and they are axially perforated to allow the passage of the stainless steel cables inside.

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The prestressing of the structure occurs due to post-tensioning of steel cables which are fixed to the base of the barrel vault. The first full scale prototype has been recently built at S.N.B.R., a French company specialized in cutting-edge stone construction using the state of the art technologies in this field. This prototype is the last of a great number of experimental experiences carried out between the research group and the company.

Hypar Vault, Troyes, France
Program: stone structure
Design: New Fundamentals Research Group
Principal investigator: Giuseppe Fallacara
CNC fabrication and construction: S.N.B.R., Troyes, France
Computational design: Maurizio Barberio
Computational engineering: Daniele Malomo
3D printing: Giuseppe Scaltrito (Apulia Makers 3D)
Drawings: Giuliano Pugliese, Michele Ardito
Photographs: Maurizio Barberio, Giuseppe Scaltrito, Giuliano Pugliese
Completion: 2017

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Hypar Vault

The New Fundamentals Research Group realised the Hypar Vault in Troyes, France, an experimental vaulted stone structure fabricated with near zero waste of material.

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