The UNM School of Architecture and Planning presents a porphyry seminar and hands-on workshop Wednesday, Oct. 22 from 9:30 a.m. to noon on the north side of Pearl Hall under the overhang. Italian stone setters Ettorie Fagoni and Carlos Gamba, brought in by Miles Chaffee, president and owner of Milestone, Inc., craftsmen at the art of laying the stone will demonstrate traditional patterns and the art of stone setting.
Photo: Master stone setters Luis Dominguez and Ettorie Fagoni demonstrate the art of porphyry stone work at the School of Architecture and Planning.
Alf Simon, director, landscape architecture, School of Architecture and Planning, said, “The demonstration gives students and faculty the opportunity to see the potential of the material, how it differs from standard paving materials and how it can be used as a design element.”
The Italian stone setters’ visit coincides with the American Institute of Architect’s Western Mountain Regional Conference, Simon said. In addition to UNM students and faculty, members of the local chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects have been invited.
Chaffee serves on the fundraising committee for the School of Architecture and Planning’s landscape architecture program and saw the demonstration as a way to bring attention to the school in part because “Ettorie Fagoni is a natural instructor,” he said.
Both functional and decorative, porphyry suits a variety of different environments.
“Romans discovered a quarry in Egypt in the early years of the first century. It is such an important stone they sent it back to Rome for use in art, sculpture and paving,” Chaffee said, adding that roads in Paris have 600 year old porphyry.
It is specified by architects and town-planners for cottages and country houses, modern and refined homes, or for public and hospitality projects. Porphyry’s technical advantages remain unequalled, and it has become one of the world’s most sought-after materials.
Chaffee said that porphyry can be mined easier than other granites because of its fissured nature.
“It can be mined by separating the thicknesses and can be scored and broken like glass,” he said.Chaffee notes that porphyry is one of the original sustainable materials. “Porphyry roads have been dug up and replaced because of the stone’s durability,” he said, making it a good product to use in New Mexico.
In addition to Chaffee, other participants include Rob Kean, Milestone, Inc. general manager, and Louis Dominguez, Santa Fe master installer.“Hosting this event showcases use of a historic material installed by a European master using classic, timeless designs with participation from landscape architecture and architecture students. The discussion also links historic sustainable materials and designs with today’s LEEDS requirements and green building initiatives using permeable pavers in modern architecture,” Simon said.
Media Contact: Carolyn Gonzales, (505) 277-5920; e-mail: cgonzal@unm.edu
Posted by kwentworth at October 16, 2008 05:10 PM