News

Stone included in Polytechnic study programmes
Teaching is no longer optional and will be implemented in the Autumn also in Milan

Stone materials obtain new recognition from the academic world. As of this year, the “Design elements in stone architecture” course definitively joins the study programme at the Faculty of Architecture at Milan Polytechnic University Teaching began this academic year at the Mantua centre and will also be implemented in Milan in the Autumn.
"This is a very important decision," said Professor Massimiliano Caviasca of Milan Polytechnic University, "because until today teaching was optional. Deciding that training of architects must include design and construction with stone is a fundamental step forwards in providing all professionals with the right knowledge of a natural material that is too often ignored in contemporary design. Understanding materials is also fundamental, and knowing how they must be processed from quarrying through to installation methods to obtain the best in every application."
The optional course ensuring extracurricular credits was launched in Mantua in 2005 and attracted good interest. "On average we have seen around thirty students enrol every year," said Caviasca, "and this year we have already improved to 48."
In parallel, the Department of Design in Architecture of Milan Polytechnic University, with the economic support of VeronaFiere and Marmomacc, has launched another important initiative.
"We have launched a public competition for the attribution of a research grant worth 10 thousand euro, which may be renewed over time, focusing on the study and classification of quarries in order to define a restoration project for abandoned sites. More specifically, the project and grant cover Research projects and environmental-landscape recovery of historic stone quarries. Something already achieved, for example, for gravel quarries but never for stone quarries. The first stage of the project envisages mapping existing sites along Italy from south to north. We will then also map quarries abroad."
Lastly, a preview: "We are working on a book about the history of stone architecture," Caviasca whispered, "but it is still early days to talk about this project." Undoubtedly, stone has never aroused so much interest as in recent years. The merit perhaps arises from its intrinsically natural status, therefore ideal for architecture that at last looks at nature and its values with closer attention.



Verona, 15 / 4 / 2010