Sustainable Conservation of Architectural Heritage—Advancements in Natural Stone Characterization and Preservation Methods, Materials and Management

A special issue of Heritage (ISSN 2571-9408).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2025 | Viewed by 2944

Special Issue Editors


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HERCULES Laboratory and IN2PAST, Associate Laboratory for Research and Innovation in Heritage, Arts, Sustainability and Territory, Institute for Advanced Studies and Research, University of Évora, Largo Marquês de Marialva 8, 7000-809 Évora, Portugal
Interests: limestone; built heritage; physical-mechanical characterization; facade engineering; aging

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DER/CERENA, Técnico Lisboa, ULisboa, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal
Interests: exploration geophysics; cultural heritage; environment; geochemistry; environmental microbiology; minerals; heritage; sedimentology; culture; cloning
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GEOBIOTEC and Earth Sciences Department, NOVA School of Science & Technology, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
Interests: mineralogy; petrology; geochemistry; rocks; building heritage
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

“Sustainable Conservation of Architectural Heritage—Advancements in Natural Stone Characterization and Preservation Methods, Materials and Management" aims to delve into the intersection of sustainable practices and the conservation of architectural heritage, with a specific focus on natural stone materials. This Special Issue seeks to explore innovative approaches and recent advancements in the characterization, preservation, and management of architectural heritage built using natural stone and natural-stone-based materials. The scope of this Special Issue encompasses various aspects related to sustainable conservation practices, including the following:

  • Advanced characterization techniques: highlighting novel methods for the characterization of natural stone and natural-stone-based materials, such as non-destructive testing, imaging, and digital technologies; spectroscopic and microscopic analysis; and digital documentation, to enhance our understanding of their composition, deterioration mechanisms, and structural integrity.
  • Innovative preservation methods: investigating new preservation methodologies and treatments for natural stone and natural-stone-based materials, including consolidants, protective coatings, cleaning techniques, and repair materials, with a focus on their efficacy, durability, compatibility, and environmental sustainability.
  • Sustainable materials for conservation: exploring the use of eco-friendly and renewable materials for the conservation and restoration of architectural heritage, including lime-based mortars, bio-based polymers, recycled aggregates, and innovative composites, aiming to reduce environmental impact and promote long-term sustainability.
  • Management strategies for sustainable conservation: examining holistic approaches to heritage management, encompassing site monitoring, risk assessment, preventive conservation measures, adaptive reuse strategies, and community engagement initiatives, to ensure the sustainable preservation and utilization of natural stone heritage assets.
  • Case studies and best practices: Showcasing exemplary conservation projects, case studies, and best practices from around the world, highlighting successful applications of sustainable conservation principles and innovative preservation techniques in real-world contexts. 

Overall, this Special Issue aims to serve as a platform for researchers, architects, engineers, conservation practitioners, heritage professionals, and policymakers to exchange knowledge, share experiences, and advance the field of sustainable conservation of architectural heritage, particularly focusing on the unique challenges and opportunities associated with natural stone materials.

Dr. Vera de Almeida Ribeiro Pires
Dr. Amélia Dionísio
Dr. Joaquim Simão
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Heritage is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • architectural heritage preservation
  • conservation methodologies
  • emerging materials
  • natural stone materials
  • characterization methodologies
  • sustainability in preservation
  • digital technologies
  • heritage interpretation
  • sustainable development

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

33 pages, 17093 KiB  
Article
High Temperature Effects on Global Heritage Stone Resources: A Systematic Review
by Roberta Lobarinhas, Amélia Dionísio and Gustavo Paneiro
Heritage 2024, 7(11), 6310-6342; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage7110296 - 9 Nov 2024
Viewed by 728
Abstract
Throughout history, natural stone has been a crucial building material due to its strength, durability, and aesthetic qualities. Today, it continues to be a valuable resource, representing both a cultural heritage asset and a significant economic material. However, the increasing frequency of heat [...] Read more.
Throughout history, natural stone has been a crucial building material due to its strength, durability, and aesthetic qualities. Today, it continues to be a valuable resource, representing both a cultural heritage asset and a significant economic material. However, the increasing frequency of heat waves and fires driven by climate change poses a growing threat to stone building materials. This paper reviews the scientific attention given to the effects of high temperatures on Global Heritage Stone Resources (GHSRs), an international classification designed to enhance the recognition and status of building stones. Through a systematic SCOPUS search with refined filtering criteria, the study aims to quantify the existing research on these heritage stones. The search applied the standardized lithotype terms from GHSR publications to ensure consistency, followed by the exclusion of irrelevant terms when identified. Additionally, a relevance filter was applied to restrict the number of articles per lithotype and ensure that only the most pertinent studies were considered. Key findings from the literature reveal that exposure to high temperatures (ranging from 200 °C to 900 °C) significantly affected the studied GHSRs, leading to thermal micro-fissuring, increased porosity, and changes in water absorption, which compromise the mechanical properties of the stones. Moreover, these conditions can result in irreversible chemical transformations, exacerbating the deterioration of cultural heritage assets. The study emphasizes the critical need for research to better understand how these stone materials behave when exposed to high temperatures. It also provides a relevant framework for future investigations aimed at predicting and mitigating the effects of external threats such as fires. Full article
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19 pages, 14494 KiB  
Article
Preserving Cultural Heritage: Enhancing Limestone Durability with Nano-TiO2 Coating
by Dorina Camelia Ilieș, Andrei-Ionuț Apopei, Alexandru Ilieș, Tudor Caciora, Berdenov Zharas, Nicolaie Hodor, Alexandru Turza, Thowayeb H. Hassan, Lucian Barbu-Tudoran, Ana Cornelia Pereș, Mariana Ratiu, Bahodirhon Safarov, Bahadur Bilalov and Emil-Traian Gligor
Heritage 2024, 7(9), 4914-4932; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage7090232 - 8 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1552
Abstract
External and internal microclimatic conditions, biodeterioration, anthropogenic factors, etc, influence the natural stone support for artifacts and built heritage. Based on this fact, the present study explores the effectiveness of nano-TiO2 in preserving and enhancing the durability of natural stone used in [...] Read more.
External and internal microclimatic conditions, biodeterioration, anthropogenic factors, etc, influence the natural stone support for artifacts and built heritage. Based on this fact, the present study explores the effectiveness of nano-TiO2 in preserving and enhancing the durability of natural stone used in the façades of heritage buildings, focusing on the Markovits-Mathéser House in Oradea Municipality, Romania. The investigation involved treating rock samples (fossiliferous limestone) with 2% and 5% nano-TiO2 solutions and subjecting them to simulated extreme climatic conditions for the analyzed area in a controlled climatic chamber for six months. The treated samples demonstrated a significantly higher compressive strength than untreated benchmarks. SEM analyses confirmed that nano-TiO2 formed a protective layer, filling micro-cracks and pores, thereby enhancing the stone’s resistance to environmental stressors. The study also found that the nanoparticle coating maintained its integrity under extreme temperature and humidity variations, with only a slight decrease in surface coverage. These findings suggest that nano-TiO2 coatings significantly improve heritage building materials’ mechanical properties and longevity. However, the study highlights the importance of careful application and long-term evaluation to ensure environmental and health safety. Overall, nano-TiO2 presents a promising solution for the conservation of cultural heritage, offering enhanced durability and protection against climatic and environmental challenges. Further research is recommended to optimize application workflow and formulations for broader and more effective use in heritage conservation. Full article
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