Page 97 - Between light and shade

Shade

Nevertheless, their dimensional tolerances
combine, requiring a joint between them when
they are assembled to create a construction.

Therefore, the latter, which is larger (on a
decametre or a hectometre scale) is less precise. A
joint generally has a constant width (in the order
of cm) and always connects two parallelepiped
or cylindrical volumes, whatever their relative
positions or the form and materials used for their
components.

This joint is central to the art of building. It
needs to be thought about and designed with the
greatest care from the initial drawing stage, so
much can this be decisive in the actual construc-
tion details and materials envisaged. It also
needs to be designed to enable a component to
be replaced without damaging those around it, as
well as the construction to be dismantled.

Where it relates to two components attached
to each other, the joint is the connecting element
or goes hand in hand with it.

In this way, mortar provides three dimensional
connection for blocks and bricks, of stone, earth
or terracotta, whilst forming the joint. It also
guarantees air-tightness and/or water-tightness.
Components must have a minimum thickness
to do this: of around a decimetre. A network of
shadows is always accompanied by projections in
the plane or outside the latter, both of the joint
and the components.

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