This workshop was lectured at Istanbul Technical University. A collaboration between FAUP’s DFL and ITU’s ArfLab, the vault was built with stereotomic rammed earth voussoirs.
We live today in a world with extreme energetical and environmental challenges. Recognizing the irresponsible usage of reinforced concrete is one of the first steps to solving this problem, and tackling alternative solutions is the second. Here, we propose structural stone slabs. This functional model is a prototype for a (re)new(ed) kind of slab. Taking […]
This paper describes the theory and practical experiments on the development of a system for the deployment of stereotomic voussoirs. The recent availability of digital design and fabrication tools has enabled architects to embrace stereotomic thinking, allowing for the efficient spanning of spaces with low tensile capable materials such as stone. The proposed fabrication system […]
Lecture in the APROGED annual encounter about the Gauss Curvature and new ways of communicating it through Grasshoppper visualization. Lecture in April 2013
Stone Translucent Verticalities is an architectural sculpture that highlights the potentialities of stone/marble digital design and fabrication combined with artificial lighting. The main theme of the design is the relationship between sculpted lithic materials and translucency: in fact, by reducing thethickness of the stone at certain points, light can pass through the matter and allows […]
Architecture project by Pedro de Azambuja Varela A carport was in demand. The connection between the polygonal line of the garage roof and the horizontal site wall created this subtle yet obivous solution. The use of a “half-pipe” roof tile was key in this strangely shaped roof.
Competition entry developed with Ana Costa e Silva, AnnaLisa Meyboom and David Correa. With two projects we want to create a dialogue and, in that sense, a symbolic unity, departing from the same generative design, arriving to two variations adapted to each landscape. The projects set up a dialogue – a friendly exchange between friends, […]
In June 2020 I defended my PhD thesis entitled “Reconstruction of a Stereotomy – for a multi-semantic stereotomic approach”. The PDF document has Open Access and can be download in Universidade do Porto website here. https://sigarra.up.pt/faup/pt/NOTICIAS_GERAL.VER_NOTICIA?p_nr=69842 Abstract: Stereotomy is the classic body of knowledge which deals with stonecutting for building arch like structures. The interest […]
This work was the result of my studies at CEAAD – Curso de Estudos Avançados em Arquitectura Digital – organized by ISCTE-IUL and FAUP, and hosted in ISCTE-IUL and VFABLAB in Lisbon in 2013-2013. When approached with a raw material such as expanded cork agglomerate, materiality is a concept that is present from the very […]
This is the video stream of short talk I gave in Vienna. The talk was about an experience developed at the DFL with José Pedro Sousa, about the possible digital flow in architecture projects that deal with stone heritage. Original video stream here: https://mh-engage.ltcc.tuwien.ac.at/engage/ui/watch.html?id=b1661030-702d-11e5-a8be-2fc2b39fc1bd
All content © Copyright 2026 by Pedro de Azambuja Varela.
Subscribe to RSS Feed














