DIDACTIC UNIT OF ARCHITECTURE
Master's Degree in Architecture
Academic Year 2020/2021 - 4° Year

LABORATORIO DI RESTAURO A - L

Teaching Staff

Learning Objectives

• Restauro
  

  The Laboratory wants to provide students with the tools to face the project of a building that presents problems of conservation. Therefore, the proposed method aimed at the elaboration of a restoration project is based on "a knowledge that is historical, but also geometric, dimensional, physical, technological". The main goal of the Laboratory is the acquisition of a project procedure organized in three phases (knowledge, interpretation, the definition of the intervention). it is presented through lectures and a design exercise. In particular, through the design exercise - shared between the modules of Restoration and Strengthening - the students are leaded to develop technical, interpretative, and design skills in the field of historical building heritage and to improve their basic skills (understanding, communication, use of literature, problem solving). Within the module of Restoration, in particular, the steps of the design process aimed at the restoration project and compatible reuse are illustrated through lectures. Starting from the knowledge of the geometric and material consistency of the aggregates, we proceed with the interpretation of the mechanisms of deterioration and the transformations that occurred over time and conclude with the formulation of the most appropriate interventions for conservation. The theme of the Laboratory is the study of two masonry blocks in the Granfonte district of Leonforte (EN); the condition of degradation and abandonment that characterizes them allows to carry out a direct analysis, finalizing the elaboration of a restoration project with residential reuse. The course aims to enhance the students’ ability in integrating their historical, technological, and structural competencies and applying them in the preservation of the architectural heritage.

• Consolidamento degli edifici
  

  The Laboratory wants to provide students with the tools to face the project of a building that presents problems of conservation. Therefore, the proposed method aimed at the elaboration of a restoration project is based on "a knowledge that is historical, but also geometric, dimensional, physical, technological". The main goal of the Laboratory is the acquisition of a project procedure organized in three phases (knowledge, interpretation, the definition of the intervention). it is presented through lectures and a design exercise. In particular, through the design exercise - shared between the modules of Restoration and Strengthening - the students are leaded to develop technical, interpretative, and design skills in the field of historical building heritage and to improve their basic skills (understanding, communication, use of literature, problem-solving). Within the Strengthening module, in particular, the steps for the individuation of structural intervention and seismic improvement criteria are illustrated through some lectures. The purpose is to provide the student the ability to formulate a judgment on the constructive and structural quality of masonry buildings starting from the critical interpretation of cognitive data. In this way, the student will achieve the awareness of the complexity of the design process that requires the application of expertise and skills from other disciplines, from architectural surveys to statics and history of architecture. The theme of the Laboratory is the study of two masonry blocks in the Granfonte district of Leonforte (EN); the condition of degradation and abandonment that characterizes them allows to carry out a direct analysis, finalizing the elaboration of a restoration project with residential reuse. The course aims to enhance the students’ ability in integrating their historical, technological, and structural competencies and applying them in the preservation of the architectural heritage.

Course Structure

• Restauro
  

  The class includes:

  1) the lectures aimed to further the methodological and general questions.

  2) the seminar exercise, which implies to carry out the following activities under the coordination of teachers: on field observation and surveys; analyses and synthesis of the known historical data; examination of the construction materials and building systems; analysis of the current condition of the building or of a part of it; proposals for restoration.

  Should teaching be carried out in mixed mode or remotely, it may be necessary to introduce changes with respect to previous statements, in line with the program planned and outlined in the syllabus.

  Learning assessment may also be carried out on line, should the conditions require it.

• Consolidamento degli edifici
  

  The class includes:

  1) the lectures aimed to further the methodological and general questions.

  2) the seminar exercise, which implies to carry out the following activities under the coordination of teachers: on field observation and surveys; analyses and synthesis of the known historical data; examination of the construction materials and building systems; analysis of the current condition of the building or of a part of it; proposals for restoration.

  Should teaching be carried out in blended mode or remotely, it may be necessary to introduce changes with respect to previous statements, in line with the program planned and outlined in the syllabus.

  Learning assessment may also be carried out online, should the conditions require it.

Detailed Course Content

• Restauro
  

  1. The graphic survey and historical research as a fundamentals for restoration. The knowledge of the building using the direct sources (graphic survey; photographic survey) and indirect sources (bibliographical, archival, iconographic sources)

  2. Knowledge of traditional buildings: typological and architectural features. building types, materials and finishing elements.

  3. Analysis of the state of conservation; analysis of the traces from the constructive and transformation phases: time, matter and degradation; stratifications and their conservation.

  4. Architecture, Restoration and Reuse: Main theoretical positions in the current debate, operational practices and examples; the historical centres between abandonment and redevelopment; methodological approaches to the historical heritage, categories and examples.

  5. The restoration project. minimum intervention criterion; principle of reversibility. The reorganization of architectural space; the compatible reuse of the architectural heritage.

• Consolidamento degli edifici
  

  1. Materials and traditional building techniques. Stone, bricks, mortars, wood: processing and building systems. The historic masonry textures: analysis and interpretation. Structural elements and overall configuration of the historic buildings.

  2. Analysis of the state of conservation. main causes of collapse, interpretation of the evidence on the factory, prefiguration of the damage in progress or predictable (cracking framework, collapse mechanisms, damage scenarios).

  3. Definition of structural restoration criteria. Reversibility, compatibility and minimal intervention.

  4. The structural restoration project. Local and global interventions; conservation intervention techniques: seismic strengthening and improvement.

Textbook Information

• Restauro
  

  1. CAROCCI, C.F. (a cura di). Conoscere per abitare. Un seminario di studio a Motta Camastra, Siracusa, Icosaedro, 2008.

  2. VARAGNOLI C., La materia degli antichi edifici, in Trattato di restauro architettonico, diretto da G. Carbonara, Torino, Utet, 1996, vol. I (pp. 303-470)

  3. FIORANI, D., Rilievo del degrado e diagnostica, in Trattato di restauro architettonico, diretto da G. Carbonara, Torino, Utet, 1996, vol. II (pp. 523-580).

• Consolidamento degli edifici
  

  See Italian version