A city of Sand...stone

Picture this...the sun sets over an orangish red desert, in the distance you see a town rising from three hills, a river snaking between them. The buildings rise from the hills and spread between them. Atop the highest hill sits a magnificent cathedral that rises above the rest of the city, its red stone walls reflecting the orange of the sun.

I have a concept for a desert city wherein most major buildings are made of sandstone. I am unsure of the utility of sandstone for construction though and have a few questions.

• How strong is sandstone, meaning how many stories tall could a sandstone building be?
• Lumber is available from the river that flows through town, it is floated down-river from the nearest forest. So it is available but is pretty expensive.
• Can sandstone be red or orangish-red?
• How ornately can sand stone be carved?
• Are there any durability concerns if it can be used?

Real world examples (if available) would be appreciated in answers.

posted about 9 years ago

James‭

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