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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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.
Maderno faced the facade and the great colonnades in travertine, the same stone used across Romes major monuments.
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Wikipedia
Wikimedia FoundationWikipedia: Travertine, introductory paragraph, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travertine
Travertine 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.
View the Source Getty Center, Wikipedia
Seen In: Getty Center, Wikipedia articleQuote, Seen In: Getty Center, Wikipedia article
The buildings at the Getty Center are made from concrete and steel with either travertine or aluminium cladding.
30th Street Station (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationSeen In: 30th Street Station, Wikipedia articleQuote, 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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