Search Results (19)

Rural settlement in Central Italy represents one of the most original heritages for understanding the link between architectural principles and the environmental, economic, and social aspects of the cultivated land. The scattered farmhouses are the basis of a particular land management strategy, the Mezzadria (sharecropping), a contract between a landowner and a farmer. The structure of the architecture is always the same, with slight variations, and is characterized by an external staircase that is the prevailing distinctive element. However, the isolated buildings developed a complex system of relations in the territory, a cultural landscape process made up of physical and visual connections. This paper investigates the rural architecture of Central Italy, particularly in the mid-Adriatic area of southern Marche, renewing the knowledge of this peculiar heritage. The exploratory method considers different scales and is based both on the interpretation of hilly geography and on architectonic comparison between artifacts. Ruins in situ visual exploration, valuation of historical maps, and transcription of signs elaborated in drawings and photographs allow us for better identification of the open space relations and building characters. It is concluded that farmhouses are not only architectural objects with ‘honest functional logic’ but real devices for the creation of the hillside landscape, so they need broad investigations that start from solid scientific references to direct future trajectories. Full article

Our cultural society has made remarkable advancements in creating digital models that depict the built environment, landscape, and reality. The advent of technologies such as terrestrial laser scanning and drone-based photogrammetry, coupled with sophisticated software capable of processing hundreds of photographs to generate point clouds, has elevated the significance of three-dimensional surveying in documentation and restoration. Point cloud processing and modeling software enable the creation of precise digital replicas of the investigated architecture, which can be scaled down and transformed into physically identical models. Through the export of STL files and the utilization of both subtractive and additive 3D printing technologies, tactile models resembling traditional manually crafted plastics can be obtained. An exemplary study focuses on the Gothic church of Santa Maria Alemanna in Messina, Italy, where laser scanner surveys and 3D prints using various technologies were applied to different parts of the building. The models were produced using a CNC milling machine and a 3D printer for fused deposition modeling. The sustainability of these production technologies was assessed through a Life Cycle Assessment, demonstrating the environmental advantages of additive manufacturing, including the use of materials with high recyclability and lower energy consumption. Additionally, the additive approach helps reduce processing waste. Full article

This article introduces how, even if in a context refractory to the Gospel, the evangelization of the Dominicans started a kind of dialogue between the symbols embodied in the Catholic cosmology and the ones belonging to the traditional Taiwanese culture. The opposition of the local population to the presence of Westerners, and the fact that the Dominicans, being Spaniards, did not benefit from the protection of France, as happened for other religious orders working in China, are all factors that impacted the evangelization carried out by the Dominicans, and they have prevented the Christian message from taking a hegemonic position in Taiwanese culture. By observing better, however, the places and buildings affected by the missionaries’ evangelization, one can read the traces of a fruitful dialogue between the teaching of the missionaries, and therefore of the Catholic cosmology that they were bringing, and the artistic and architectonic cultural heritage of the Taiwanese tradition. Both public places, such as churches, and private places, such as houses of converts, show signs of the adaptation of Catholicism to local tradition, and likewise signs that local culture began to accept Christian symbols and cosmology. Full article

The assessment of the ‘quality’ of built heritage is a complex transdisciplinary issue, which both public administrations and real estate developers need to carefully consider when making any interventions. Recent international climate regulations underline that currently around 75% of buildings in the EU are not energy efficient. In Italy, those inefficient buildings are more than 50 years old and, if subjected to retrofit interventions, risk being totally transformed and losing their historical value in favor of a more contemporary use. This work aimed to study the residential heritage of the second half of the 20th century in the real estate market and to understand if, how, and in what measure the building and architectonical qualities are recognized and monetized by buyers. The city of Turin was chosen as a study area, and residential building qualities were analyzed using two quality indicators to perform a GWR on market POIs. The results highlighted that housing historical qualities are not homogeneously recognized by the real estate market, in favor of green ones. This work can help both public and private bodies to identify which ‘invisible’ quality residential buildings are immediately exploitable for enhancement strategies, with more respectful retrofitting interventions and a modern protection policy. Full article

Abandoned on the coast as skeletons, bunkers are the last theatrical gesture in the history of Western military architecture (Virilio, 1975). Technically obsolete, this military territory has fallen into extinction and is now generally forgotten. We present the Plan Barron of Defense of Lisbon and Setubal case study, a mid-twentieth-century set of bunkers, recently declassified, as a case study to discuss the future of this heritage facing the climate crisis. Can oblivious historical war heritage be an opportunity to fight climate emergencies? We present four theoretical concepts to fundament this environmental positioning: (i) Heritage Management and Climate Governance, (ii) Techno-aesthetic (Simondon, 1992): panopticon territorial cluster; (iii) Military: camouflage as design, and (iv) Civil: inheritance as future potential. The results allow us to look at military architecture in the form of a bunker, as a set of territorial, architectonic, cultural, and social interests. We demonstrate that the counterpoint of its invisibility is a singular naturalized “milieu”, a place where the memory of war can be transformed as a buffer zone that combines characteristics of climate and coastal resilience with cultural and social interest as a “common good”. Full article

There is a new described antifungal system (GALVI) involving the moving of bioactive ions of Zn, Cu and Bi for the protection of cultural heritage objects such as buildings, sculptures and stretchers. There were two kinds of galvanic cells that were used: the first composed of a two-electrodes system, Zn, Cu, and second one composed of a three-electrodes system, Zn, Bi and Cu. Moreover, two-phase media are proposed with various kinds of rocks used in architectonical objects. Microorganisms inhabit the boundaries of two liquid and solid phases. This enables the investigation of the process of rock colonization. Possible applications of the suggested GALVI system are mentioned. Full article

Corvo is the smallest island of the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores and an unexplored territory, with one single village. Scarce studies have been conducted regarding its built heritage, and deep knowledge of the constructions is necessary for conservation actions to be carried out. This article presents the architectonic and constructive characterization of housing building features that compose Corvo village’s historical center, focusing on its characteristics, dissonances, and conservation state. A case study regarding one housing building is presented. This research intends to contribute to a deeper knowledge of these buildings’ identity, constituting the first step towards future rehabilitation processes that can improve the inhabitants’ quality of life and simultaneously value the territory’s singularity. Full article

The vernacular architectural style is on the verge of disappearing in Transylvania because of the depopulation of the Saxon villages of German origin as a result of massive migration to Germany. The nomination of Hărman cultural property on the UNESCO list is part of an international legal framework, and the Convention on the Vernacular Architectural Heritage protects this architectonic style because it represents the expression of a community’s culture, as well as its relations with the territory and cultural diversity. The proposed area includes a 63.47 ha perimeter of the historic centre of Hărman, consisting of a compact group of 260 houses and the entire fortified Evangelical Church. A buffer zone of 290.09 ha is included alongside this area. Thus, we propose that Hărman be nominated for the Cultural Evolutive Landscape Category under cultural criteria ii, iii, and v. The assessment of the authenticity and conservation status of Hărman cultural property was carried out by applying the following criteria: form and design, materials and substances, use and functions, and location and positioning, which apply to the tangible features of the landscape. Furthermore, the evaluation of intangible heritage was achieved by applying the following criteria: traditions, techniques and management system, language and other forms of intangible heritage, spirit, and feelings. Full article

Recent seismic events that hit the central part of Italy have highlighted again the high vulnerability of the historical and architectonical heritage of Italy and the importance of preserving it. However, the seismic assessment of monumental buildings is particularly complex because each historical construction is a singular case realized by specific techniques. Therefore, the first step should be the knowledge of the building even if it is a difficult task. In the present paper, the seismic behavior of an important nineteenth century astronomical observatory, constructed between 1816 and 1819, was investigated. The building, located in Naples, in the southern part of Italy, and classified by the Italian code as an area of medium seismic hazard, was analyzed in the elastic and inelastic range under seismic actions. In this study, the results of two different models were proposed and critically compared. The first one was implemented by shell elements for walls and vaults developing a linear dynamic analysis, while the second one simulates the building through “equivalent frames” applying a nonlinear static analysis. Full article

Awareness regarding conservation of industrial heritage is recent. Several policies have been adopted to start protecting these buildings because of their historic, artistic and scientific values. Wine cellars are an important example of industrial heritage in Catalonia due to the tradition of this product in the territory and the influence of Art Nouveau and Catalan ‘Noucentisme’ in their construction and style. The wine cellar in Falset, built by Cèsar Martinell in 1919, has recently been restored and still maintains its original function. This article analyses its history, its architectonic and construction characteristics, as well as the restoration process carried out in 2009, which consisted of recovering its original appearance and allowed to emphasize the architectural value of the building. This restoration is a prototypical example whose experience can be applied in other cases of restoration of wine cellars both for the characteristics of the building and for its good restoration practices. This restoration enabled the wine cellar to continue carrying out its original industrial function, providing suitable conditions to add a new cultural use as well. Full article

Biodeterioration is a serious threat to cultural heritage objects and buildings. The deterioration of a given material often incurs irreparable losses in terms of uniqueness and historical value. Hence preventive actions should be taken. One important challenge is to identify microbes involved in the biodeterioration process. In this study, we analyzed the microbial diversity of an ancient architectonical structure of the Rotunda of Sts. Felix and Adauctus, which is a part of the Wawel Royal Castle located in Krakow, Poland. The Rotunda is unavailable to tourists and could be treated as an extreme habitat due to the low content of nutrients coming either from sandstone plates bound with lime mortar or air movement. Microbial diversity was analyzed with the use of the high-throughput sequencing of marker genes corresponding to fragments of 16S rDNA (for Bacteria) and ITS2 (internal transcribed spacer 2) (for Fungi). The results showed that the microbial community adhered to wall surfaces is, to a large extent, endemic. Furthermore, alongside many microorganisms that could be destructive to masonry and mortar (e.g., Pseudomonas, Aspergillus), there were also bacteria, such as species of genera Bacillus, Paenisporosarcina, and Amycolatopsis, that can positively affect wall surface properties by reducing the damage caused by the presence of other microorganisms. We also showed that airborne microorganisms probably have little impact on the biodeterioration process as their abundance in the microbial community adhered to the ancient walls was very low. Full article

Museums are major energy consumers amongst buildings, especially if they are housed in historical constructions. Museums usually present high energy demand for the air-conditioning due to their architectonical and structural characteristics, such as the presence of large exhibition rooms and open spaces. At the same time, temperature and humidity have to be strictly controlled in order to assure proper microclimate conditions for the conservation of the housed collections and adequate thermal comfort for visitors and personnel. Moreover, despite being subjected to architectural protection that limits most structural refurbishment interventions, these buildings must be adequate from an energy point of view to allow their reuse or continuity of use according to current quality standards, while retaining their heritage significance. In this awkward context, ground source heat pump working with high temperature terminals is proposed as a viable refurbishment solution. The use of shallow geothermal systems can improve the energy efficiency of the heating ventilation air-conditioning systems and, at the same time, increases the renewable energy source exploitation without affecting the indoor environmental conditions. However, after the interventions, the expected benefits and the sought-after limitation of energy consumption/cost may not occur for different reasons. In fact, even if the installed solution is working perfectly and properly designed, every effort will be in vain if adequate attention is not paid to the management of the plants during the operational phase. This document is meant to evaluate and compare the magnitude that invasive (i.e., technical interventions) and not invasive (i.e., energy management policies) actions respectively and their combined interaction, have on a museum. Through energy simulations it has been possible to quantify the effects that different interventions and energy management strategies had on an existing museum housed in an historical building, from energy consumption, energy costs and CO₂ emission standpoints. Full article

Hagia Sophia and Süleymaniye Mosque, built in the 6th and 16th centuries, respectively, are the two major monuments of the İstanbul World Heritage Site. Within the context of this study, sound fields of these two sacred multi-domed monumental structures are analyzed with a focus on their architectonic and material attributes and applied alterations in basic restoration works. A comprehensive study is undertaken by a comparative analysis over acoustical field tests held in different years and over an extensive literature review on their material and architectural characteristics. Initially, the major features of Hagia Sophia and Süleymaniye Mosque are presented, and later, basic alterations in regard to function and materials are provided. The methodology includes the field tests carried both within the scope of this research as well as the published test results by other researchers. Acoustical simulations are utilized for comparison of unoccupied versus occupied conditions and also for discussion on original materials. The impact of historical plasters on the acoustics of domed spaces is highlighted. Common room acoustics parameters as of reverberation time and clarity are utilized in comparisons. The formation of multi-slope sound energy decay is discussed in light of different spiritual and acoustical needs expected from such monumental sacred spaces. Full article

Serpentinites are characterized by highly variable mineralogical, physical, and mechanical properties. Serpentinites from Moeche (North Western Spain) have been studied to establish their mineralogical, petrographic, and textural characteristics, as well as their physical and mechanical parameters and the factors influencing rock failure, to evaluate the possible use of these rocks either for new construction or for conservation-restoration of the architectonic heritage of the region. In this paper, we highlight the importance of a detailed mineralogical and petrographic characterization in the fracture zones, which will determine the viability of quarrying the stone. A strong correlation between the petrographic features and the uniaxial compression strength values has been observed. The most important aspects were found to be the rock texture, the mineralogical composition of the fracture area and foliation, although mineralogy was also found to be involved (% of carbonates) in the strength of the stone. An important preliminary result of the study was the low asbestos content of these serpentinites, which will help in the potential re-opening of the quarries. Full article

Vernacular architecture has great historical, cultural and architectonic value, but also much potential for reducing energy demand. However, the eco-refurbishment of heritage buildings within Mediterranean countries poses particular challenges. The research presented in this paper is part of a wider study aiming to develop an effective framework for the sustainable regeneration of heritage buildings in Malta, using the 17th-century Presidential Palace of San Anton, Attard, as a case study. This paper focuses on the role of education in this field. Through qualitative research, including workshops with stakeholders, a stakeholders focus group and a public questionnaire, the awareness levels, educational background and attitudes of key stakeholders were analysed and assessed, as was the policy framework within which they operate. Interventions were found to be required at all levels. Increased awareness and education, a supportive policy framework, and a shift in the perceptions and attitudes of several key stakeholders were identified as crucial in ensuring that interventions on heritage buildings do not negatively affect their environmental performance, and/or impact their architectural and cultural value. This paper features recommendations outlining a supportive strategy for improving the knowledge base of stakeholders, including students, professionals, the public, policy-makers and operators. Full article