Additionally supported

Voussoirs with synclastic contact surfaces cannot prevent slippage of juxtaposed voussoirs based solely on the geometry of the contact surfaces. Therefore, while these should exhibit mutual fitting as to inform the exact resting position, the voussoirs ought to have a temporary support in the form of scaffolding or ropes while a tensioned fixation is applied. Such is the case in the casting of fixation dovetails in Robotic Fabrication of Stone Assembly Details (Ariza et al., 2017) or a composite system such as Flux Vault which relies on a metal bolt fixation which, when fastened, secures a tight contact between the voussoirs’ contact faces (Fallacara and Barberio, 2018a).

This signifier deals with the technology employed in designing the stereotomic project. Solving the geometry necessary to cut a voussoir in its precise dimensions does not ever need careful drawn planning. The nature of gothic rib vaults allows them to be built using basic schematic of axes in a horizontal plane and simple elevations (Rabasa Díaz, 2000). Moreover, Joel Sakarovitch (2003, p. 71) adds:

More complex ashlars like ornamental elements were frequently traced on walls or floors, often hidden from sight (Calvo López, Molina-Gaitán, et al., 2013). These techniques were eventually transferred to renaissance masons who used it to design the voussoirs to the ever more complex vaults. The history of stereotomy is narrowly entwined to that of the geometry of representation and, thus, with the technical drawing method employed in its design. The following classification departs from separating the two dimensional space realm to design from the three dimensional, immersive and less virtual paradigm.