Local stone, local skills, contemporary look
28 June 2010
Our museum has always been a glorious display of local geology with six different types of stone from the Southwest incorporated into the building. It is the external stonework that gives the building its distinctive character and RAMM’s new extension follows this tradition: using local stone to give a distinctive contemporary look.
The extension
A major part of the current development project, the extension incorporates a new gallery and a new garden entrance. The extra gallery space will expand the range of major touring exhibitions that RAMM can bring to the south west. The new entrance will give visitors panoramic views from city’s Roman wall and allow entry from the Rougemont and Northernhay gardens.
This new extension will be clad with a combination of Bath stone and oak. Specialists are currently fitting the stone using traditional techniques.
A stonemason’s view
Robert from Bath loves working with Bath stone:
“I’ve been working with stone for over 10 years and we use many different types of stone. Bath stone is a wonderful material to work with and using traditional techniques gives it a great finish. It leaves the stone looking at its best; machines just can’t match them. It’s very hard work, though - if you don’t use both arms you end up with on like Popeye’s and the other like Olive’s.”
Bath stone
Bath stone is a limestone – formed during the Jurassic period. It is a relatively soft stone that can be sawn in any direction and uniform blocks with sharp corners can easily be made. Light when freshly cut, it weathers to give a warm honey colouring.
Image: Stonemasons, Robert and Dave, French dragging and sanding to give the perfect finish.
