13TH INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH SCHOOL
Rocks in the Architecture of Different Countries

Geology, Architecture, History, Urban studies
The ability to notice the details is not only a useful professional quality - it also makes your life more interesting showing it from different angles, just as the bouquet and taste of tea, coffee or good wine gradually unfolds.

It so happened that I have been studying geology for 9 years now. And what is more important – I love geology. And what I realized while the last 9 years were passing is that there is much more of my favorite science in our daily life than it seems.
Many people are fascinated by the Egyptian pyramids: pharaohs, riddles, treasures, traps. But what are these pyramids made of? What are these giant blocks, perfectly fitted to each other? These are granite blocks. Blocks of igneous rock. But where were they transported from to the place of the construction?
For example, a lot of materials that surrounding objects are made of (various alloys, glass or bricks) were created with the participation of geologists. But quite a few rocks undergo minimal processing before becoming a building or decorative material.
Cappadocia is a mysterious and amazing territory in central Turkey. The region is especially interesting for being formed as a result of volcanic activity. And an extensive network of underground cities is located exactly in those volcanic rocks.
So I suggest that we have a bit closer look at those minimally processed rocks. That means that I invite you to walk with me through our cities and to find a little hidden geological charm by looking at the cities from a different viewpoint.

I invite you to see and understand the general patterns in choosing certain rocks as facing and building materials, as well as the reasons why these patterns are used, to immerse yourself in the history of construction, reconstruction and other transformations in the lives of buildings in your city.
The Moscow Metro is worthily considered one of the most beautiful underground public transport networks in the world. In this picture you can see the Park Pobedy station. You can find various rocks in its cladding, but the most interesting, of course, is Ammonitika rossa or Ammonium red (orange in the photo). This type of rock is mined in Italy and despite its color it is valued because it contains a lot of fossil fauna - belemnites and ammonites, which are easily distinguishable from polished slabs facing the station.
Tutors
Technical requirements:
- Сomputer with an Internet connection
- Google account
- Camera (like Sony Alpha A6000 Kit 16-50) or a phone-camera that is at least 16 MPix

Maria Shchekleina

Moscow, Russia
Maria was born and grew up in Moscow, Russia. She studied at V.I. Vernadsky Lyceum 1553 from 2012 till 2016, wrote geological research papers and participated in geological educational programs in Russia and abroad. Then she also studied at the Geological School of the Moscow State University and took part in the Science 0+ festival. Now she is a student at the Geological Faculty of the Moscow State University at the Department of Petrology and Volcanology, and also has been working at A.E. Fersman Mineralogical Museum for 2 years now. Talking about her scientific interests, she is studying the volcanic systems of Kamchatka, the Kuril Islands and the Magadan region.

Andrea Dalí Gómez Orozco


Puebla, Mexico
Andrea is an architect and a stained glass artist from Puebla, Mexico. She has always been interested in many topics such as history, geology, paleontology and different kinds of handcraft techniques. That is why she's been involved in different construction and restoration projects, expeditions and her own projects in different areas. Andrea loves to participate in such kind of projects, because she learns more thanks meeting great people from different countries. She says that everything that gives you knowledge is exciting.
Made on
Tilda