Echoes of Innovation and Craftmanship: Unveiling the Timbrel Vault

mesura, resources: Echoes of Innovation and Craftmanship: Unveiling the Timbrel Vault (Fig. 3) — (Fig. 3)
The Ante-Chamber of the Old Palace of Justice, Paris, Charles Meryon, 1855

mesura, resources: Echoes of Innovation and Craftmanship: Unveiling the Timbrel Vault (Fig. 4) — (Fig. 4)
Combination of radial and pitched bricks. Vault of the colateral nave of Hagia Eirene Istanbul. Choisy's analytical drawing, 1883

mesura, resources: Echoes of Innovation and Craftmanship: Unveiling the Timbrel Vault (Fig. 5) — (Fig. 5)
Terrassa - Lluis Muncunill, Vapor Aymerich, Amat i Jover, (1907) Image by Serge Brison

mesura, resources: Echoes of Innovation and Craftmanship: Unveiling the Timbrel Vault (Fig. 6) — (Fig. 6)
Guastavino Company, Drawing describing the construction of a dome

mesura, resources: Echoes of Innovation and Craftmanship: Unveiling the Timbrel Vault (Fig. 7) — (Fig. 7)
Guastavino partitioned vaults on an iron structure. Library of New York State Education Building, Mecánica de las bóvedas tabicadas, Santiago Huerta

mesura, resources: Echoes of Innovation and Craftmanship: Unveiling the Timbrel Vault (Fig. 8) — (Fig. 8)
Interior view of Batlló Factory, at Mecánica de las bóvedas tabicadas, Santiago Huerta

mesura, resources: Echoes of Innovation and Craftmanship: Unveiling the Timbrel Vault (Fig. 9) — (Fig. 9)
The Guastavino Vault inside the Tiffany & Co. Building, New York City

mesura, resources: Echoes of Innovation and Craftmanship: Unveiling the Timbrel Vault (Fig. 10) — (Fig. 10)
Construction process of an Aymerich Steam vault,, Amat i Jover. El vapor Aymerich, Amat i Jover. Museu Nacional de la Ciència i de la Técnica

mesura, resources: Echoes of Innovation and Craftmanship: Unveiling the Timbrel Vault (Fig. 11) — (Fig. 11)
Barcelona, Monastery of Santa María de Pedralbes; sala capitular (c. 1418-1419). Section drawing by the architects Claudia Sanmartí and Olga Correa

mesura, resources: Echoes of Innovation and Craftmanship: Unveiling the Timbrel Vault (Fig. 12) — (Fig. 12)
Fire-proof tenement house, New York City. Longitudinal section showing tile arch ceilings from cellar to roof, Guastavino

mesura, resources: Echoes of Innovation and Craftmanship: Unveiling the Timbrel Vault (Fig. 13) — (Fig. 13)
Model of La Ricarda (Casa Gomis). Antonio Bonet Castellana, 1949

mesura, resources: Echoes of Innovation and Craftmanship: Unveiling the Timbrel Vault (Fig. 14) — (Fig. 14)
Movement that occurs due to a slight yield of the supports in a lowered arch, that is, for the line of minimum thrust (Heyman 1969)

mesura, resources: Echoes of Innovation and Craftmanship: Unveiling the Timbrel Vault (Fig. 15) — (Fig. 15)
Loading test on a very lowered partition arch. (Archive Guastavino/Collins, University of Columbia)

(Fig. 1)

The Great Arch of Ctesiphon, the largest brick vault in the world, built by the Sassanid Persians in the 6th century, Kurz, Otto, “The Date of the Ṭāq i Kisrā.” Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland

(Fig. 2)

Plan of the Great Mosque of Isfahan, Iran, 8th to 17th century

(Fig. 3)

The Ante-Chamber of the Old Palace of Justice, Paris, Charles Meryon, 1855

(Fig. 4)

Combination of radial and pitched bricks. Vault of the colateral nave of Hagia Eirene Istanbul. Choisy's analytical drawing, 1883

(Fig. 5)

Terrassa - Lluis Muncunill, Vapor Aymerich, Amat i Jover, (1907) Image by Serge Brison

(Fig. 6)

Guastavino Company, Drawing describing the construction of a dome

(Fig. 7)

Guastavino partitioned vaults on an iron structure. Library of New York State Education Building, Mecánica de las bóvedas tabicadas, Santiago Huerta

(Fig. 8)

Interior view of Batlló Factory, at Mecánica de las bóvedas tabicadas, Santiago Huerta

(Fig. 9)

The Guastavino Vault inside the Tiffany & Co. Building, New York City

(Fig. 10)

Construction process of an Aymerich Steam vault,, Amat i Jover. El vapor Aymerich, Amat i Jover. Museu Nacional de la Ciència i de la Técnica

(Fig. 11)

Barcelona, Monastery of Santa María de Pedralbes; sala capitular (c. 1418-1419). Section drawing by the architects Claudia Sanmartí and Olga Correa

(Fig. 12)

Fire-proof tenement house, New York City. Longitudinal section showing tile arch ceilings from cellar to roof, Guastavino

(Fig. 13)

Model of La Ricarda (Casa Gomis). Antonio Bonet Castellana, 1949

(Fig. 14)

Movement that occurs due to a slight yield of the supports in a lowered arch, that is, for the line of minimum thrust (Heyman 1969)

(Fig. 15)

Loading test on a very lowered partition arch. (Archive Guastavino/Collins, University of Columbia)

(Fig. 16)

Architect Satprem Maini testing the structure of an arch

(Fig. 17)

Ricardo Porro's school of modern dance, part of Cuba's National Art Schools. Image by John Loomis

The Timbrel Vault, original from Islamic architecture, is a remarkable structural technique known for its elegance and efficiency. It involves constructing vaults using a series of interlocking bricks or tiles, forming a self-supporting structure without the need for additional support systems. This method, developed to optimize material usage and reduce costs, made its way to Europe, where it faced initial skepticism in Italy.

However, its fortunes changed when a visionary Fray Lorenzo de San Nicolás reintroduced it to the Spanish court, sparking renewed interest. From Spain, it spread to the Valencian Community and Catalonia, where architect Guastavino refined and elevated its application.

Today, this technique stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of architectural innovation and cultural exchange. This research belongs to Roca: Mediterranean Perspectives.