If you ever wondered how ancient civilizations moved large and heavy stone structures like the Moai statues on Easter Island, take a look at this project by Matter Studio:
Walking Assembly re-introduces the potentials of that ancient knowledge to better inform the transportation and assembly of future architectures.
Using the theory of weight and balance, the researchers wanted to create large-scale stone objects that could be moved, assembled, and disassembled — without cranes, heavy equipment, or much effort from humans at all.
By using variable density concrete, the center of mass of the object is calibrated precisely to control the stable, but easy motion of the elements.
Watch on Matter Design and see how two men moved gigantic structures by hand.
Via Curbed.
(Image Credits: Screenshot from Matter Studio)
Did the people on Easter Island have variable density concrete? More to the point, I thought there were many possible explanations of how those statues could be moved - the problem is finding the archeological evidence to support a specific approach, or indicate some other alternative.
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