Stereotomy is the art and science of cutting and assembling solid materials—traditionally stone—into precise, interlocking blocks to form arches, vaults, and other compressive structures. Historically associated with pre-industrial construction, stereotomy takes advantage of the natural compressive strength of geo-materials, creating stable structures without the need for tensile reinforcement.

With the rise of industrialized materials like reinforced concrete and steel, stereotomic techniques were largely abandoned. However, this shift came at a significant environmental cost: the production of cement and steel requires immense energy and emits large quantities of CO₂, making reinforced concrete one of the most carbon-intensive materials in construction today.

This research proposes a revival of stereotomy as a low-carbon alternative to conventional building systems. By leveraging contemporary digital design tools—especially within Building Information Modeling (BIM) environments—stereotomic techniques can now be applied in a modern, industrialized context. Advanced modeling and fabrication technologies allow architects and engineers to design and build efficient, prefabricated compressive systems such as arches, domes, and vaults with high precision and low material waste.

Stereotomic structures, often funicular in nature, follow the ideal path of compression. This means they can span wide spaces using minimal material and without reinforcement, offering a sustainable and structurally efficient alternative to flat concrete slabs. Inspired by both historical figures (like Gaudí and Guastavino) and contemporary research (Block, Fallacara, Hebel), stereotomy is being reimagined not as a relic of the past, but as a climate-conscious design strategy.

Crucially, the integration of stereotomic logic into BIM workflows is key to making these solutions accessible to the broader design community. Embedding stereotomy directly into digital design platforms allows architects to incorporate low-carbon vaults and arches into their projects as intuitively as they would with walls or slabs.

By advocating for the digital revival and industrial application of stereotomic construction, this research contributes to the decarbonization of the built environment, aiming for a more circular and resilient construction culture.