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Around 100 porcelain objects of the 18th century Rossetti, Vische and Vinovo manufactures (Piedmont, Italy) from the Palazzo Madama Museum collection were analysed by means of an X-ray fluorescence portable detector. The present study represents the first chemical characterization of these early (1737-1825) European porcelains. Chemical composition data were submitted to multivariate clustering techniques that underscored a complete classification of the three manufactures and the presence of three subgroups for the Vinovo production. These resulting subgroups did not mirror the classification expected on the basis of the historiographic literature. The overall data pointed to technological continuity not only through all the Vinovo phases but even continuing from the earlier Vische manufacture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Completing a building on time at a high quality is an age-old challenge for design and construction professionals. But what happens when everything speeds up exponentially? Jonathan Mallie is an expert in integrating design innovation with technologically advanced construction solutions. The founder of JLM | design & construction consultancy, he was previously a principal at SHoP in New York. Here he describes how 4D and 5D building information modelling (BIM) technologies allow architects to build quickly in response to clients' needs for speed, but also benefit the design-and-build process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]