The Art of Structural Tile

MIT architecture professor and 2008 MacArthur Fellow John Ochsendorf discusses the engineering genius and architectural legacy of the Rafael Guastavino family. Ochsendorf is the author of "Guastavino Vaulting: The Art of Structural Tile" and the project director for the exhibition, Palaces for the People. Learn more at go.nbm.org/guastavino.

[@R.E.A.L.I.T.Y]

Quite a revelation. Thank you for your research. He was undoubtedly an American genius. The integrated mosaic work is of global heritage significance.

[@southothehighway]

I saw the NY exhibition and as a New Yorker, always look up. The entrance to the City Hall Subway Station is an undecorated Guastavino ceiling.

[@PaddleDogC5]

mind boggling system I have been interested in for years.

[@PhilVerryChannel]

He is such a pleasure to listen to, such a great speaker and well read. He seems like a very genuine person.

[@guilhermesgarcias]

I watch this every six months.

[@spudluver47]

Looks like you’re due for another watch

[@guilhermesgarcias]

@@spudluver47 thanks for the reminding

[@NancyBruning]

I'm going to watch every six months!

[@lewisdoherty7621]

One way to mitigate earthquakes might be to have the base of the angled iron tension ring for the dome gravity-set and resting on a layer of talc to help isolate it from the structure's walls. It has perfect basal cleavage, not water soluble, not toxic and inexpensive. The dome would float on a ring of talc. If the talc is sandwiched in a slightly "V" - shaped channel, the dome would tend to reposition itself after the shaking. The only problem would be the deeper the angle of the channel, the more the possibility of transferring shaking to the dome.

[@trevorcharlesmorgan]

Hi there, I'm a British Architect with a practice in Sri Lanka, this system would be perfect for Sri Lanka in terms of the climate, building regulations and local skills, would you be interested in putting together a project in Sri Lanka?

[@jereisluke]

At 52:51 I about had a cow. 1" thick structure?! Great talk, very interesting.

[@PaddleDogC5]

I want to be their in NYC in 2014 being a union masonry contractor

[@PaddleDogC5]

to bad all that did this originally are dead.