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Opus Craticium

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Platner - Methods of Roman Construction

Platner - Methods of Roman Construction, from Maps and Illustrations from Samuel Ball Platner's The Topography and Monuments of Ancient Rome (Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1904)

PD Courtesy of Ancient Rome: Images and Pictures
Definition: Opus Craticium is a low-cost, Roman wall construction method. Onto a lattice framework, a mixture of whatever is at hand -- pebbles and rocks is added. Herculaneum has the only surviving building made entirely of Opus Craticium. The 2-story half-timber building is sometimes called The House in Opus Craticium. The construction was described by Vitruvius as Craticii or Opus Craticium. This construction may have been used for the insulae cheap apartment houses in Rome.

Main source: [ www.conservationtech.com/RL's%20resume&%20pub's/RL-publications/Eq-pubs/2006-India-SAHC/sm2LANGENBACH-SAHCplenary.pdf ] PDF of From "opus craticium" to the “Chicago frame" Earthquake resistant traditional construction

Also Known As: infill-frame construction

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