SCENES shines a focus on early life world wide which are breaking down obstacles and growing exchange. The character-driven brief movies will encourage and amaze, as those younger change-makers inform their outstanding tales.
The Great Pyramids, the Parthenon, and the Taj Mahal have a couple of issues in not unusual. Aside from being historic wonders of the arena, they’re probably the most maximum notable triumphs of stonemasonry in human historical past. For many, the truth that they nonetheless stay status is a testomony to the stalwartness of stonemasonry as a development craft.
The declining artwork shape is being preserved and revived via a bunch of other people in Greece.
“Building with our own hands, with natural materials, is something which is powerful,” co-founder of the gang, Panos Kostoulas tells SCENES.
They name themselves Boulouki, a reputation impressed via a bunch of travelling stonemasons from the sixteenth century. These stonemasons of the previous had been famend for setting up elaborate buildings all over Greece and the Mediterranean.
In the Nineteen Sixties, trendy construction fabrics like cement and bricks compelled conventional stonemasons to place their chisels apart. One of them used to be Pavlos Vichas’ grandfather.
“Cement became the new craftsman. He said that he could not compete with it,” Pavlos, a stonemason and Boulouki member, recollects.
“We’re trying to rediscover and regenerate.”
Despite their dwindling numbers, some conventional stonemasons are nonetheless energetic in Greece. Panos’ organisation’s challenge is to seek out and collaborate with them, hoping to harness their experience.
“We’re trying to discover the secrets that old ‘bouloukis’ used in their construction projects. There is a lot of knowledge that was lost, and we’re trying to rediscover and regenerate,” he says.
The organisation does this thru recovery works on web site. Much like the standard travelling stonemasons, Boulouki additionally strikes from position to put. They arrange stations in not noted villages with the intention to rebuild derelict constructions. The staff examines what they are able to in regards to the construction tactics and practices of a selected space sooner than embarking on their subsequent restore undertaking in different portions of Greece.
These nice undertakings can take years to finish. During this time, Boulouki organises workshops for an interdisciplinary crew of architects, engineers and different execs from world wide. Many of those fanatics are keen on finding out extra about conventional construction tactics and need hands-on revel in underneath skilled stonemasons’ steerage.
“We are constructing a new entrance with stonemasonry based on some lime and mortar, and also with a traditional timber roof,” Ioanna Ntoutsi, a collaborator, describing Boulouki’s present undertaking.
An age-old intricate artwork
Participants describe the workshop as an unbelievable revel in as they have the benefit of first-hand coaching from seasoned artisanal execs whilst immersing themselves culturally.
“What I love most about traditional building techniques is how you can learn to do something with your body. How you understand materials and their quality, and how this process has evolved for years, from knowledge passed from generation to generation,” says Ioanna, who has a background in chemical engineering.
Beyond sensible recovery tasks, Boulouki additionally initiated cultural mapping, the place locals are interviewed referring to ancient buildings fabricated from stone.
“It’s a way for us to learn more about the heritage here, both tangible and intangible, and connect with the local community,” Panos provides.
Using a virtual map, all constructions and bridges within the space, in addition to details about how those buildings had been used up to now, are documented.
A objective of sustainability set in stonemasonry
“Historical knowledge is a very productive field from which we can extract many teachings about how to use resources in a more sustainable way. How to make modern architecture more environmentally friendly,” Ioanna says.
Ioanna is worried in regards to the results of modern day development at the long term, in particular the dimensions at which sources are extracted from the earth unabatedly.
“I think we have become extremely detached from nature, from the materials that we use. We definitely need a more human-to-nature balanced approach,” she cautions.
Boulouki is hopeful that their analysis and rebuilding efforts will revive the death artwork of stonemasonry and be offering a sustainable selection to modern day development works.
