ABSTRACT
In Switzerland, the Italian influence is evident since the 16th century, mostly through characteristic style features like rusticated facades and arcade courtyards, while churches kept a Late Gothic character. Are there stone working techniques and tools that are specifically related to an architectural style or is the processing dependent on the material? Building in a certain style or implementing stylistic elements is certainly decided by the architect or client. The material used for the buildings, on the other hand, is usually tied to the local stone deposits. It therefore seems plausible that stonemasons used techniques which depend on the type of stone rather than on the style of the building. This survey investigates this correlation between style and stone using specific examples of sandstone and limestone.
