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Travertine

Stone and Masonry Materials

Travertine is a form of limestone deposited by mineral springs, notable for the natural pitting and banding left by gas bubbles and organic matter as it forms; porosity in freshly formed travertine ranges from about ten to seventy percent, and architects either fill the voids for a smooth finish or leave them exposed for texture. The ancient Romans quarried it extensively near Tivoli for major structures including the Colosseum, and its warm cream to tan coloring and relative ease of working have kept it in continuous use since, including cladding the lobby walls of Chicago Willis Tower, completed in 1970 as the Sears Tower.

Travertine
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Seen In

Source 30th Street Station (Wikipedia)

The outer wall and main structural piers are built of travertine limestone blocks quarried near Tivoli.

Source Getty Center, Wikipedia

Louis Kahn faced the museum in warm travertine both outside and in, paired with his signature vaulted concrete roof.

Source Palazzo Montecitorio, Wikipedia
Source Roma Termini railway station, Wikipedia
Source Sacré-Cœur, Paris (Wikipedia)

Maderno faced the facade and the great colonnades in travertine, the same stone used across Romes major monuments.

Sources
Wikipedia
Wikimedia Foundation
  • Wikipedia: Travertine, Lead section
    Travertine ( TRAV-ər-teen) is a form of fresh water limestone deposited around mineral springs, especially hot springs.
  • Wikipedia: Travertine, Uses section, on Roman construction
    The Romans mined deposits of travertine for building temples, monuments, aqueducts, bath complexes, and amphitheaters such as the Colosseum.
  • Wikipedia: Travertine, Definition section, on porosity range
    Fresh travertines vary widely in their porosity, from about 10% to 70%.
  • Wikipedia: Travertine, Uses section, on Willis Tower
    The lobby walls of the modernist Willis Tower (1970) (formerly Sears Tower) in Chicago are made of travertine.
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Getty Center, Wikipedia
Seen In: Getty Center, Wikipedia article
Quote, Seen In: Getty Center, Wikipedia article
The buildings at the Getty Center are made from concrete and steel with either travertine or aluminium cladding.
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30th Street Station (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationSeen In: 30th Street Station, Wikipedia article
Quote, Seen In: 30th Street Station, Wikipedia article
The vast waiting room is faced with travertine and the coffered ceiling is painted gold, red and cream.
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Palazzo Montecitorio, Wikipedia
Seen In: Palazzo Montecitorio, Article text
Quote, Seen In: Palazzo Montecitorio, Article text
He reduced the courtyard, demolished the wings and rear of the palace, constructing a new structure dominated by four red-brick and travertine towers at the corners.
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Roma Termini railway station, Wikipedia
Seen In: Roma Termini, Article text
Quote, Seen In: Roma Termini, Article text
The back of the hall leads to a transition space of ticketing functions and shops before reaching the train shed, and is topped by an even longer building block that houses a 10-story hotel, clad with travertine.
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Sacré-Cœur, Paris (Wikipedia)
Seen In: Sacré-Cœur Basilica, Infobox: materials
Quote, Seen In: Sacré-Cœur Basilica, Infobox: materials
Travertine stone
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