4D Drawing in Funicular masonry
As far as the 4-Dimensional drawing goes, there is a tremendous precedent of such a concept in the history of the design of funicular masonry structures. Graphical analysis itself is a drawing system which is scalable to describe the surface of a built structure, and is further materialized through its foundational principles in Hooke’s Second Law:
“As hangs the flexible line, so but inverted will stand the rigid arch.”
So, the funicular form itself – a hyperbolic cosine function delineating the most efficient and minimal form under self-weight – is not easily described by geometrical drawing, but derived instantaneously with a chain – a material proficiency! The word catenary means “relating to a chain”. The German term “Kettenlinie” means literally “chain-line”. So, this formative structural logic for minimal forms in masonry is approximated by a drawing convention – graphical analysis – which may translate between design and construction, yet is most wholly represented by a material line under self-load – a chain.
Thus, the 4-Dimensional Masonry Construction is the relationship and the act of translation between design drawing and material drawing.
Guastavino, Cathedral of St. John the Divine.
