Preserving Cultural Heritage by Integrating Modern Materials and Technologies: From the Nano to Building Scale

Dear Colleagues,

The preservation of cultural heritage is currently an important topic, but some critical aspects and perspectives are missing in regard to how it should be approached. Heritage buildings and assets (e.g., chapels and statues) are not just creations of the past but are also part of our future. Continuing to design and build within a proper construction culture is fundamental for the preservation of tangible heritage and people’s cultural identity.

The incorporation of new materials and structural improvements, as well as the application of new technologies and modern design approaches to buildings, allows for the preservation of our existing heritage and for new creations, even when faced with emerging hazards. In particular, nanotechnology has enhanced the development of construction and restoration, and new treatments based on nanoparticles have been developed for material conservation.

The use of modern materials and technologies for the structural retrofitting and restoration of heritage assets, with a view to improving their performance with respect to both conservation and functional requirements, is a much-discussed topic. Today’s creations also require the use of modern materials, technologies, and design methods. There is great potential to introduce innovative concepts in the construction and conservation sectors, such as bio-based design, digital tools (such as sensors and AI), additive construction, and BIM, as well as nanotechnology.

This Topic is intended to be a forum for the presentation and discussion of measures and possibilities for the preservation of existing and “newborn” heritage constructions.

Dr. Rui Marques
Dr. Claudia Mondelli
Dr. Maria Giovanna Masciotta
Topic Editors