Bricks, unrolled.
2018
Co-Partner: Nicole Yi Li
Mairie d’Arles, Jules-Hardouin Mansart
Unlock the secrets of stereotomy.
Winston Alford-Hamburg and Nicole Yi Li began their 2018 architectural project by exploring the ancient art of masonry stereotomy—the precise cutting and assembling of stone. Inspired by the intricate work found in the Mairie d’Arles by Jules-Hardouin Mansart, they embraced the idea of stone “unfolding.” Just as stereotomy transforms rigid stone into flowing, interconnected forms, they sought to bring this concept to life through their architectural model.
The careful craftsmanship of the Mairie d’Arles stonework, with its intricate curvature and detailed assembly, became a foundational influence, illustrating how stone can be shaped and manipulated to create dynamic structures.
Girard Desargues and Pierre Deshayes
Mairie d’Arles, Jules-Hardouin Mansart
Dürer’s Solid
Geometry with meaning.
Building on the principles of stereotomy, the team turned to Dürer’s solid, a mysterious polyhedron from Albrecht Dürer’s 1514 engraving Melencolia I. This enigmatic shape, with its irregular facets and mathematical precision, mirrored the complexity of stereotomy’s stonework. Winston and Nicole saw an opportunity to expand on Dürer’s exploration of form and space, using their model to create not only an architectural object but a tool for artistic expression.
Bricks, unrolled.
Their project took the form of a woodblock stamp—a physical embodiment of unfolding geometry. The model, clad in a laser-cut brick pattern, could be inked and used to create prints. Like the stonework in Arles, the model’s geometry “unrolled” to produce unique prints with each variation in angle and scale. The result? A fusion of stereotomy’s stone-cutting precision with the fluidity of fine art.
Winston and Nicole’s work bridges architecture and printmaking. Their exploration of stereotomy’s influence on form, combined with the enigmatic geometry of Dürer’s solid, created a model that defies static interpretation. Each print is a new perspective, inviting the viewer to experience how form can unfold into art.
