Proceedings of the 11th International Conference of Ar.Tec. (Scientific Society of Architectural Engineering)

Construction History is an area that has grown in the last twenty years across the world. This lecture looks at the questions it can ask and the role it can play, not only in understanding the past, but also informing future design for architectural engineers. It looks specifically at Christopher Wren and how he developed the designs for St Paul’s Cathedral in London. It starts with how the project demonstrates that designers in the past were often closer to architectural engineers than to architects. This leads to a discussion of the various approaches to construction history and its uses and how the survival of the original documents (in the form of contracts, letters, drawings and building accounts) allows us to trace processes in the past. It looks at the way the site at St Paul’s was organised and how the demolition of the previous building was carried out. It looks at the problems of finance and construction supervision. It then discusses the lessons from St Paul’s about geotechnics, particularly the necessity of monitoring, with a brief excursion into the issues of historic buildings and earthquake design. It then explores the construction of the masonry walls, the materials used, the problems of the weathering of walls and the necessity of sacrificial materials. The roofs are then discussed, both as examples of the architectural engineer at work and of the transfer of technology across cultures. The lecture will discuss the extraordinary staircases and their place in the history of staircase design, how the windows relate to modern structural glazing and how it uses an ingenious drainage system to ensure the structure is not damaged. Finally, it looks at the problems of designing, the doors, finishing the dome and deciding when a building is complete. In this way the lecture seeks to use St Paul’s to give a very brief overview of what construction history can bring not only to the understanding of one particular building but also to the modern world.

Architectural design and construction always reflect the conformity with technical standards regarding specific technologies, which makes their knowledge highly relevant for comprehending the evolution of the building’s arrangement and appearance over time. In this perspective, the use of metal construction in Italy is a unique instance as it was characterized for a considerable period during the twentieth century by the lack of mandatory technical regulations. Indeed, the first law that established compulsory procedures for the structural calculation of steel frames was only introduced in the Seventies.This framework, largely due to the backwardness of the national steel industry and the lack of affirmation of metal structures in the building sector, gave to designers the possibility to choose different operational addresses for structural verifications and also to follow provisions developed by foreign experts and regulations. The understanding of the evolution of technical standards is not only crucial for elucidating all the elements of an old architectural design, but it’s also relevant today, especially for building circularity, for which it’s crucial to know the features and procedures applied to structural components of the past, to know how they could be reused and to unleash all their current potential.The article examines the development of national technical guidelines for the use of iron and steel in construction and identifies critical issues regarding steel classification and structural calculation procedures in the twentieth century.

In the period from the II World War to the mid-1980s, Italy witnessed growing attention towards the industrialization of the construction sector with different territorial specificities.The paper analyses some 70s and 80s public housing districts in Palermo, retracing the history of industrialization in Sicily. The contribution of prof. Benedetto Colajanni and his disciples studying the typological, structural and figurative aspects of these buildings, is highlighted.These are mainly systems for the industrialization of concrete casting with couffrage-tunnels or banches et tables developed in Sicily, thanks to the design contest and the activities carried out by the building cooperatives adhering to the Ravennate Consortium which, at the end of the 1960s, had acquired the patents and machinery for the industrialization of concrete casting of load-bearing structures.The first example of the application of industrialization in Palermo was the Sperone district, a testing ground for both the companies and the design group, headed by Benedetto Colajanni. It was necessary to wait about a decade, with the PEEP districts and the law 25/80, to test the completion on site with modular and standardized elements, both for the closures of the facades and the internal partitions.The paper provides a contribution to the knowledge of a specific construction typology that has characterized a wide range of residential buildings both in Palermo and in the rest of Italy and which requires maintenance and recovery interventions that can guarantee the performance standards required by current regulations, maintaining the original identity.

The research falls within the context of the refurbishment and regeneration of the predominantly residential building tissue in consolidated urban contexts which, subject to a continuous process of modification, are characterized in terms of a palimpsest. The goal is to re-read this transformative process and identify the codes that have regulated it in order to ensure its continuity through active conservation interventions on the building tissue that ensure its protection on the one hand and regenerative recovery on the other. The relationship between type, technique and project is assumed as the operational key of a methodology that seeks the definition not only of the qualitative parameters attributable to the recognition of the peculiarities and the complex of values of the historical building heritage and to their translation in a critical-interpretative key in the levels of transformability, but also of those of a quantitative type, referable to the performance levels connected to a necessary adaptation to new needs. The paper intends to report the results of the experimentation of the research work, conducted in the framework of collaborative relationships between the University of L'Aquila and the University of Seville, on an old traditional Andalusian patio house located in the historic center of Seville. The building is the subject of various interventions up to that of 1952 by the Regionalist architect Antonio Delgado y Roig. The project experimentation seeks a model of use compatible with the characteristics of the type, investigated in the complex of its functional, formal and constructive aspects and defines congruent intervention strategies. The design intentions are finally translated into technical-construction choices that find precise and punctual detailed solutions within the building schedule according to technical codes referable to a form of advanced craftsmanship, both in the use of traditional and innovative materials.

The city of Matera has an ancient connection with the calcarenitic rock, a fundamental material for understanding its architectural history. This limestone rock is easily workable but vulnerable to various types of degradation so it has often been subjected to conservative interventions that have not always achieved the desired results. Instead, they have sometimes worsened the initial conditions by altering the building’s surfaces.Starting from the 1990s, the ancient district named “Sassi” has been undergoing restoration works and on-site experimentations of new products and techniques. Configuring itself as a laboratory of experimental restoration practices, it is well suited for an analysis aimed at identifying the best practices currently available in the field of architectural heritage conservation.Despite all the interventions were carried out in a uncoordinated manner by intervening “for emergencies” or on individual issues, the analysis of the interventions, products and techniques used to counteract different types of degradation and preserve the conservation status of the building has made it possible to gather valuable information to identify a broader standard for planned and preventive maintenance of the architectural heritage.The paper is focused on the critical analysis of interventions carried out on the Church of San Pietro Barisano, an important historical and architectural landmark of the city, founded in the 12th century and characterized by several construction phases. After a long period of abandonment, it has suffered significant surface deterioration due to environmental and construction factors, as well as the presence of rising damp in the walls. This analysis is part of a research project that aims at developing a digital protocol of good practices for architectural heritage conservation by promoting preventive and predictive maintenance. The results of the investigation underlines the key-role of pre and post intervention diagnostics.

The paper presents the results of an ongoing research relating to the application of HBIM for the knowledge and management of industrialized buildings of the second half of the Twentieth century (1950–1980). The main aim of the study is to advance the HBIM approaches dedicated to the heritage of contemporary buildings, setting up a methodological framework that supports the technical knowledge and the management of the existing building stock, focusing on the novel use of the BIM model as a tool to collect, organize, classify, and access, the archival documents and the historical survey-derived data. The methodology concerns three phases, following the different HBIM roles as a knowledge, systematization, and representation tool, within the historical-technical analyses: (1) design of the CDE and classification of the documentary sources; (2) 3D cross-reference and verifications of the documents-derived data; (3) production of open-data and interactive visualizations. The workflow relied on modelling strategies for an effective exploitation of the native functionalities of the BIM Authoring commercial platforms and the IFC open standards, with the aim to extend the proposed approach to the professional communities for the management of the Twentieth century building heritage. The methodological framework is applied to the digitalization of the noteworthy Camus system, a French patent used in the Gratosoglio district (Milan) in the 1960s. Such system is a benchmark of reinforced concrete large panels prefab systems and it has a large-scale and world-wide diffusion.

The paper delves into the relationship between modern architecture and climate issues, with a specific focus on a bioclimatic reinterpretation of the architectural endeavors of Eileen Gray (1879–1976), an Irish designer active in early 20th-century France. In contrast to the prevalent architectural research of the early 1900s, marked by the pursuit of universally applicable codes and driven by the futuristic enthusiasm for the Machine Age, Gray establishes an original design trajectory notable for both its theoretical thinking and practical application. Considering the contextual conditions in which she operates, Gray develops a design philosophy grounded in environmental principles that incorporates external natural elements as integral components of her architectural identity. Light and air, conceptualized by Gray as construction “materials”, harmonize with her architectures through meticulously designed systems of solar shading and natural ventilation. Despite the significance of the designer’s interest in environmental factors and climatic mediation devices, this aspect remains relatively underexplored in the literature, which is surprising given its clear role as a generative element for various technological and morphological design choices. Building upon the premise that attention to climatic issues is a constant in Gray’s research, the study extends its exploration to her lesser-known second villa, Tempe à Pailla in Castellar (1931–1935). After providing essential context about the intervention site and architectural conception, the paper delves into the environmental and typological principles governing the villa’s design, enriched by a critical examination of archival documentation. The considerations presented, partially derived from the outcomes of a doctoral research, aim to contribute an additional dimension to the diverse array of studies on Gray’s work, proposing a new interpretive framework with a focus on climatic aspects.

The contemporary rehabilitation of historical buildings, characterized by a high monumental value, with particular reference to those in the historical center of an urban area, represents a significant instrument for urban renewal, revitalization, and economic development of an entire city. Within the framework of such interventions, this paper examines an ongoing building restoration project in the historical center of Palermo, aimed at highlighting the pivotal role of knowledge in the design of these interventions. More particularly, the considered restoration site is fully described in its technical and operational aspects, strictly linked to the discipline of the technical architect, to show the higher scientific value that knowledge acquires while transposing research into a concrete engineering/architectural action that could be reproduced in similar cases.The objective of the described site is preserving and enhancing the building while adhering to the materials and construction techniques characteristic of the local architecture. The comprehensive examination of this structure, grounded in the principles of applied research on rehabilitation interventions, in compliance with historical architectural norms and technical regulations, is not merely focused on the original intervention but is contextualized within a broader vision of rehabilitation. This vision, albeit perhaps progressing at a slow pace, is crucial for the growth of the entire city, fostering continuous engagement and repopulation by the residents of Palermo and beyond.The historical center, once neglected for many years, now represents an urban space housing an artistic and cultural heritage of significant international importance, with substantial growth potential for the entire metropolitan area.

This paper expands on the study of the relationship between the construction and architecture of Torre Velasca in Milan, concerning the solutions adopted for the supporting structure. It evaluates records from the BBPR architects, presently kept at Rome’s MAXXI Museo Nazionale delle Arti del XXI secolo, loaned by the Belgiojoso family in 2022 and now accessible to researchers for the first time. The research delves into unpublished documents related to the project’s execution, particularly emphasizing the interactions between various participants involved in the building’s construction. This study scrutinizes BBPR’s drawings, project papers, meeting reports, and communication with the SGI - Società Generale Immobiliare technical office. The paper elucidates the key factors influencing structural decisions by comparing the new data with information from previous research. Furthermore, it sheds light on the underlying rationale behind the design choices implemented throughout the tower’s construction. It illustrates how the structural framework was strategically utilized to redefine its architectural identity, distinct from the conventional North American skyscraper model. Additionally, the study uncovered the unique contributions of individuals who played pivotal roles in shaping this globally acclaimed architectural masterpiece.

The restoration of the interior spaces of a house and their transformation into a museum allows us to observe themes related to the culture of living and to study the relationships between society, people, objects and spaces.Although rooted in Western culture, opening interiors to the public has only gained attention from international bodies and institutions, such as ICOM, and national bodies, such as the French Ministère de la Culture, in the last two decades. This has contributed to establishing the scientific foundations for this topic, gaining increasing interest. Thus, the institutionalisation of the domestic space allows the monument to be reused and experienced through dialogue with the public.Conserving the fragility of modern interiors seems like an impossible challenge. However, the selected case study takes exciting reflections regarding protecting, restoring, and conserving the material and immaterial values that its opening to the public has allowed the contemporary world to learn.As a space intended for daily life, the cultural value of Le Corbusier’s appartement-atelier does not only concern issues linked to the legislative national context but is profoundly determined by its ability to place itself in continuity with the contemporaneity through its narrative capacity tells us about its author, an illustrious man as an architect of evident fame; of his substance, an architecture child of the Modern Movement; and the social context in which it was generated.An iconic architectural work par excellence, this example describes how modern architecture has radically transformed spaces in response to the new lifestyles of the 20th century. These changes, which concern aesthetic and functional aspects, are the direct consequence of the political and social transformations of the time and a new conception of internal space governed mainly by attention to the user’s needs.

Since ancient times, Italian ports served as fundamental landing places for travellers and played a crucial role in trade and tourist routes. Between the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, industrial development caused progressive physical and functional obsolescence of port areas, due to the overcoming of the production models, which they were conceived for. While some structures and infrastructures were upgraded to support the new maritime traffic, others were inadequate for the modern requirements and, thus, dismissed and abandoned, resulting nowadays in assets with a poor state of conservation. From recognizing the value of such built environments related to the maritime culture and processes of cultural stratification, the definition of methods and tools to support recovery and reuse plans is paramount. The present work proposes a cognitive framework to define heritage features of port environments and set up a systematic categorisation process.To this aim, a cataloguing card was proposed and validated on 63 Italian port areas, including their relationship with the territorial surroundings, particularly the urban context, and the functions hosted within. The most recurrent types of heritage assets (over 300 items) were then evaluated, with the support of two national platforms, following a classification among modern, historical, industrial, archaeological, infrastructural and artistic heritage. At the end of the survey, it was found that the available platforms are lacking in data and non-properly meeting the specific research goals. In fact, even when heritage structures and infrastructures are catalogued, relevant information, such as the chronology of historical evolution and graphic descriptive contents, are missed. The results of this work provide some preliminary insights and a starting point for detailed analysis aimed at developing systematic cataloguing systems for the benefit of technicians, administrators and safeguard entities.

The RI.P.R.O.VA.RE Project, winner of the national competitive call promoted by the former Ministry of Environment, Land and Sea Protection, involved professors and researchers from three Departments, belonging to three different Southern Italian Universities. The shared goal was to deepen the issue of inland areas and their sustainable and resilient development. Starting from the analysis of the state of the art—based on several studies and researches at national and international level—the Project provided support tools for the construction of integrated policies in order to improve and increase the territories’ resilience. This is very important since inland areas—which are distinguished from cities by a greater capacity to react to shocks and sudden events—while experiencing a strong demographic and settlement disadvantage, are also highly significant for their environmental and cultural heritage.With these premises, the paper presents the work carried out during the RI.P.R.O.VA.RE Project, in its main and general aspects, first describing its goals and methodological steps and then, with the application to a focus area, presenting its results. These results, translated into research products, summarise what was achieved at the end of the project, i.e.: the setting up of criteria and methods for the delimitation of inland areas, the assessment of their resilience degree and the definition of integrated area strategies through participative and co-planning approaches. Finally, the strategy drawn up for one of the investigated focus areas, the Ufita Valley in Campania, is concisely outlined.

The growing interest in sustainability, also for existing buildings, has focused on the objectives of sustainable reuse, but the application of its principles to restoration and recovery is still evolving and requires methodological consistency and operational expertise, involving civil society, institutions and academia in a continuous process of reflection.Agenda 2030, with its targets on clean water, sustainable energy, cities and communities, highlights the importance of conscious action on the existing built environment.The practice of urban recycling, adding architectural elements to existing spaces to limit urban expansion and enhance brownfield sites, is growing as a response to over-consumption of land.Similar to ‘grafting’, the practice aims to densify cities by rethinking the use of existing spaces and experimenting with innovative solutions. Successful examples can be found in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain, but in Italy the parasitic approach is limited and there is still a tendency to choose between conservative restoration and demolition and new construction.Since the 1980s, the term ‘parasitic’ has been used in architecture to describe projects and installations that reuse existing structures to create new urban and architectural spaces. This practice, based on a symbiotic relationship between host and guest, offers new possibilities for urban densification and encourages reflection on the value of the territory and the city. Parasite's taxonomy categorises projects based on their relationship to the existing system, distinguishing between system reconfiguration, subversion of the host body and alteration.The research presents an application to an international case study, in Madrid, where the evolution of the recovery concept towards sustainability and urban recycling offers new perspectives for the conservation of cultural heritage and the creation of more resilient and sustainable cities and communities.

Semantic web technologies are today widely used across the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) sector for different scopes and activities during the building life cycle and the operation and maintenance phase. In the heritage field, the development of several methods to facilitate information exchange and interoperability between stakeholders represents a crucial issue in the current research scenario. Building information modelling and related technologies can address some of these challenges and limitations through relational database structure. However, there are still some open questions related to knowledge representation and management of complex heritage sites. This paper outlines the use of semantic web technologies and standards, such as Web Ontology Language and existing domain ontologies, to digitalize the knowledge path from data collection to interpretation for the documentation of heritage assets. Firstly, it briefly defines the methodologies, data structure, exchange formats, and relations of the different technology databases with their application in the digital interpretative processes. Then, the proposed framework is evaluated through an example of industrial archaeology application in a multi-layered historical site. The aim is to propose a framework to manage different information classes, inconsistencies and uncertainties, from preliminary data gathering and structuring to ontologies instantiation activity by representing the logical levels of connection. The final intent is to highlight the possibility of overcoming the limitations in the different heritage study and management approaches to give proper support during the decision-making process performed by multiple stakeholders.

This study addresses a relevant topic for Italy: protecting 20th-century football stadiums. Italian art. 55bis of D.L. 76/2020, the “sblocca-stadi” amendment, allows sports facilities to be exempt from cultural asset protection protocols. Dealing with this type of heritage is complicated. Sports stadiums are especially vulnerable to Modern architecture’s fragility. Their fragility makes integrating them into cultural heritage difficult because their constant need for regulatory and performance changes conflicts with the building’s history. Functional adaptation and conservation require communicating these architectural structures’ cultural, technical, and scientific significance. This is essential to create interventions that balance architectural innovation and heritage preservation.The analysis focuses on three football stadiums in Italy that were designed and constructed by Pier Luigi Nervi during the 1950s and 1960s. These architectures embody the essence of Italian architectural culture and are distinguished by the unique “Nervi style”. However, each structure also possesses distinct characteristics influenced by the context in which it was constructed. The study centres on the Taormina stadium, by conducting research in the archives and carrying out field investigations, we have identified the distinctive features of this architecture and assessed its current state of conservation. This has revealed additional vulnerabilities that are specific to the case study. Intervening in the conservation project requires a thorough understanding of the asset and the reconstruction of its history, which serves as a valuable tool. The scientific community in this sector plays a crucial role by possessing a wide range of skills that can collectively contribute to safeguarding these heritages.

In Architectural Engineering, thin shells represent two-dimensional structures in which the third dimension, the thickness, is significantly smaller than the others, which are thus prevailing. The thin-shell construction technique has its roots in Spanish bóvedas tabicadas (dating back to at least the 12th century), the construction of which has continued to the present day. The Spanish technique, in the different countries of the Mediterranean area where it was exported (Portugal, France, Italy) has remained almost unchanged over time. However, the introduction of new building materials such as cement and steel at the end of the 19th century inevitably led to the experimentation of thin-shell structures characterised by greater slenderness and more complex shapes. Starting with Rafael Guastavino Moreno -who began to make improvements to the traditional technique-, and moving on to Eladio Dieste -who succeeded in fusing the qualities of bricks with those of reinforced concrete-, and Heinz Isler and Felix Candela -who, working in two different contexts, managed to improve the use of reinforced concrete-, we arrive to current constructions and experiments, in which the economy and ecological compatibility of the process are essential factors to be taken into account in the construction of thin shells.After a general overview on thin shells, the aim of the paper is to provide an analysis of some of the ribbing and formwork technologies used over time to build them. Similarities and differences among the various types of shells will be highlighted, having been used shape, size, and materials as variables for the analyses. A brief description of the current experiments carried out to determine alternative formwork systems to those usually used also is described at the end of the paper.

Exploring the transformative potential of large-scale public housing complexes stands as a pivotal issue in formulating sustainable regenerative initiatives. The research introduces the concept of transformability, defined as the inherent capacity of buildings and apartments to undergo changes in their original layout while respecting their typological and constructive setup. This concept is instrumental in defining the regenerative potential of buildings. The paper delves into the multifaced challenges faced by existing public residential buildings, including outdated design choices, management shortcomings, and a lack of responsiveness to contemporary needs. It underscores the imperative to develop well-suited regeneration projects to address these challenges effectively. The methodology involves the development of indicators at various scales, from individual apartments to the entire building, aiming to comprehensively assess the transformability. The study focuses on the Italian context and, specifically, on the large-scale case study of the “Palazzoni” complex in Latina. Here a detailed analysis on the residential complex's features that own potential for transformation is conducted, the research substantially contributes to bridging the existing gap in the literature regarding evaluation tools for assessing building readiness for transformation, providing insights that can inform the development of effective regeneration strategies tailored to the challenges presented by large-scale public housing.

The use of Descriptive Geometry constituted the modus operandi referred to the scientific unit for the development of the representation of multiscale building models relating to the investigation concerning the theme of the recovery of listed and unlisted historic buildings. The procedure used and necessary to implement the comparison useful for digitally reconstructing the artefacts involved the different classes of manuals, treatises and professional practice also inherent to the organization for the descriptions of the techniques essential to the recognisability of the building. With the definition of sine glossa we intend to consider the codified drawing as a regulated practice; that is, without alterations and ambiguities for the purpose of understanding models drawn according to graphic and geometric rules aimed at the recovery of a building organism. At the same time, a specific and qualified observation report was introduced on a part of the architectural, building and engineering heritage considered to be very complex and articulated in both its diachronic and synchronic phases. In fact, the research study exposed in this essay is articulated through the technical aid of the Integrad Project Database, the acronym for BIM, and a comparison with building recovery. These aspects investigate, together with the exercise of redesigning the morphological models of the codified representation, the theme that concerns the housing of the Bolognese villa in the garden city between the years 1920‒1950.

The contribution concerns the development of methods and protocols for the monitoring of historical built Cultural Heritage with an integrated multidisciplinary approach consisting of documentation activities and analysis procedures. In particular, the latter concern the state of the art, morphology, construction technologies, and the conservation state of materials and construction packages, to structure the corpus of knowledge of the asset under examination. The analysis procedures aim to understand the spatial components of the structure in relation to construction, technological, and material aspects, and to define the digitization actions to be activated on the artifact based on the observed condition. Understanding and monitoring of the cultural asset is achieved through the construction of synthesis frameworks, functional for describing its complexity, which culminate in the use of semi-automated and automated censusing systems of Information Systems for the formulation of monitoring protocols and programmatic frameworks for management. The methodology for automating the monitoring and the architectural census using Object Detection algorithms on georeferenced orthoimages is tested on the follow-up of the AICS co-funded cooperation and research project “Management and control of urban growth for the development of Heritage and improvement of life in the city of Bethlehem” (3D Bethlehem), in which the University of Pavia had scientific responsibility and the research laboratories STEP and PLAY of the Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture were involved.

Roman architecture is one of the most advanced forms of historical architectures because of the several innovations that have contributed to the progress of the art of construction. The ability of the Romans consisted in creating monumental architectures by experimenting with innovative materials and construction techniques, and combining traditional building elements in an effective way, thus achieving formal and technological solutions of great relevance. Therefore, research activities on Roman buildings are essential for the reconstruction of their historical development, and for their protection, conservation and promotion, with the aim to preserve the cultural memory of the ancient cities. In this framework, this paper reports the preliminary results of an ongoing research activity on the Roman thermal complex “Terme della Rotonda” in the city of Catania. This activity aims at achieving a three-dimensional digital model of the thermal complex and characterizing it at architectural and construction level to provide information on the mutual connections between the architectural solutions and the adopted materials and construction techniques. The study here reported is part of the interdisciplinary research project SAMOTHRACE that aims at bridging the knowledge gap on the dating and diachronic development of the thermal complex.

Investigating the complexity of a historical urban context, the evolution of its forms and the role of its tangible and intangible heritage requires an analysis of the architectural, artistic and constructional events strongly linked to cultural, social and environmental dynamics.This study proposes a key that considers the relationship between the built environmental and water resources, to recognize the evolutionary phases of the urban environment and the role of the historical hydraulic heritage in the current contemporary context, through the architectural vicissitude of an artefact symbolic of the complex city-patrimony-water relationship in the city of Salerno: the eighteenth-century don Tullio’s fountain.The paper focuses on the role of water-related works and highlights the strategic importance of the conservation and recovery of hydraulic architectures in the context of sustainable development, promoting a holistic approach that integrates environmental, historical and social aspects. Using the city of Salerno as a case study, the paper analyses fountains as examples of engineering and architectural works that bear witness to the history and culture of a place and proposes strategies for their enhancement and protection.

Since the 1960s, prefabrication has become an increasingly popular technique for building construction. Prefabricated building components are preferred because they can save costs, expedite construction schedules, increase quality control, and provide safer working environments. Despite the initial extensive use of prefabricated buildings for residential purposes, the acknowledged advantages were also applied to the construction of new schools. The urgent need to quickly establish a network of new schools at all levels led the main manufacturers of prefabricated components to file numerous patents for prefabricated panels and floors. These were widely used in all regions until the early 1980s. Today, most of these buildings, constructed using compositional schemes that involved the assembly of prefabricated cells, require energy and functional retrofit interventions. Understanding the patents and technologies used is essential for optimizing the redevelopment intervention in terms of costs and fully leveraging the replicability of the project to be applied to schools of the same historical era and prefabrication type. Regarding prefabricated school buildings, particularly nursery schools, there are several opportunities to support energy and environmental retrofit projects and optimize the inherent opportunities in prefabricated panels. The paper aims to present a retrofit project workflow for single-story prefab nursery schools. The case studies are in Carpi, in northern Italy.

The analysis of the heritage of the second half of the twentieth century offers useful lines of study to understand the evolution of building industrialization in Italy, both in the more advanced areas of Northern Italy, and in the Central and Southern regions. This paper presents the first results of the analysis conducted on a portion of the University of Calabria campus, located in Arcavacata, near Cosenza. This study is part of the research project “Light prefabrication: knowledge, monitoring and requalification of the architectural heritage of the second half of the twentieth century in the regions of Calabria and Lazio”, funded by the European Union Next Generation EU, concerning the requalification of buildings of the second half of the twentieth century, built with prefabricated components, also in combination with structures realised on site. The ongoing research aims to associate the historical investigation with the survey of the actual building to develop a digital model of the complex in which to summarize the results of the archival analysis with the data concerning the state of conservation and any technological criticalities observed. The archival analysis carried out to date has highlighted some features of the case study useful to relate the local experience to the national Italian construction context. The transfer from the national framework to the Calabrian case of industrialization faced difficulties and delays. The presence and possible effects of these contextual inertias will be verified, in the subsequent phases of the ongoing research, through other Calabrian realizations of the period.

The Italian architectural heritage, in particular that linked to education, learning and research, is rather dated since in some cases schools and universities are set up into historical buildings that have been adapted and reused (mostly former convents and barracks) or new buildings specially created, that largely date back to the last century, according to typology distribution and construction technologies that are difficult suitable with the needs of digital and computerized teaching and with the dynamism of research activities.It follows that spaces for education and research often demonstrate poor functionality compared to current requirements and inadequacy with respect to the needs of both energy-environmental and economic-management sustainability. Fortunately, since 2019 a season of modernization of university structures has opened thanks to two MUR tenders which have made over 1,900 million euros available to universities for redevelopment, modernization and renewal projects of spaces to be allocated to institutional activities.This contribution aims to underline the role that universities can play as drivers of urban regeneration and building redevelopment thanks to the projects that these fundings (absent for too long) will guarantee in the coming years. New buildings for learning and research can be the starting point for a new sustainable future because they can support the establishment of a sustainable culture due to their impact on next generation.Referring to a specific case study (the urban regeneration of the Scientific Institutes area of the University of Pavia) the paper highlights approaches and methods that can also be exported to other similar contexts (in terms of size, functions and organization) through a cognitive analysis, sustainability-oriented planning and programming followed by participatory and multidisciplinary planning, essential to achieve the objectives of quality education (SDG 4) and sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11) as also required by the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development.

The former Eridania complex in Forlì is part of a series of disused sugar factories of the same company, comparable from a typological point of view, which characterize the Po Valley. The recovery of this complex, which like its peers maintains a certain architectural value, has received great interest over the years from private investors, local cultural associations, the Municipality, owner of the buildings since 2023, and from the Universities. There are many ideas proposed to date, but all are limited to hypothesizing the uses of the industrial area, without ever investigating the consistency and real state of conservation of the site. An accurate and in-depth study of them is of fundamental importance for the implementation of a good recovery project, or at least for the purposes of maintaining an acceptable state of maintenance. A step to take is that of the architectural survey and the critical study of the history and consequently of the construction phases, in order to fully understand the characteristics of the object of study. Only by following this process will it be possible to conceive adequate maintenance interventions with a view to recovery, avoiding unwanted demolitions. The first phases of this study involved the systematization of archive documents and a first geometrical survey and building evaluation. The preliminary analysis of the metal roofing includes a proposal for making the conditions safe.

At a time when environmental awareness and the need to preserve our planet are at the centre of global debates, it is crucial to explore innovative approaches that can combine our social and economic growth with respect for the environment. Often, when talking about sustainability in construction, we turn to advanced technologies and cutting-edge solutions, sometimes forgetting that the answer may lie in our culture and history. Vernacular architecture, with its deep roots in local traditions and intelligent adaptation to the surrounding environment, offers us a good example in this context, as it was born as a direct response to people's needs and perfectly combines the needs of a community with the available environmental resources. The following work, a synthesis of an international research project that is still in progress, aims to analyse, from a typological-functional point of view, two rural architectural typologies in comparison: the eighteenth-century Tuscan rural farmhouse and the typical Moroccan rural dwelling known as the douar. The main goal is to highlight how two realities, although geographically distant, shared the vision of integrating the building with the environment and the needs of the community and how, even today, these buildings, which have remained intact over time, continue to fulfil their function perfectly, projected into the future.

Guéliz is a district of Marrakech built during the French Protectorate in Morocco. It was designed with a focus on tourism, enhancing the landscape features and the architecture of the Medina. Characterized by a blend of architectural styles—Rationalism, Art Decò, Art Nouveau, and Academia—Guéliz's buildings are emerging as a part of the city's recent heritage alongside those in the Medina. However, recent years have seen substantial changes altering the district's form and many of its buildings. Some heritage sites are abandoned or in dire need of renovation, while others have been refurbished without consideration for their historical significance. In response, local authorities are striving to raise awareness of Guéliz's recent heritage importance. This effort involves establishing design guidelines to regulate renovations and conservation pursuing sustainable development. This paper seeks to address this context by developing a comprehensive repository of information about Guéliz's recent heritage using a multi-scale, multi-level methodology. The multi-scale approach delves into the history and urban design of the district to understand the relevance of each building. Meanwhile, the multi-level analysis entails examining cadastral sheets, floor plans, and documents while conducting historical, architectural, structural, and decay analyses. Digital technologies are used to conduct the analysis, in particular photogrammetry and HBIM. The first supports the survey of buildings and the decay analysis. HBIM models of the buildings are used as a repository of the results of the different analyses. The methodology was tested on many Guéliz buildings, with three presented in this paper. As a result, the methodology showcases the relevance of providing local administration with a digital repository, aiding informed interventions for preserving Guéliz's recent heritage. Some important topics to consider in the drafting of intervention guidelines were addressed.

The inner rural areas of Sicily face depopulation and unemployment, particularly evident in the Madonie region, centrally located on the island and comprising 21 interconnected municipalities. Within this area, numerous abandoned residential structures accentuate the prevailing challenges. The objective of this study is to demonstrate how technological and sustainable design, and a compatible architectural rehabilitation through eco-design, especially focusing on mountain hotels such as the Milocca Hotel in Castelbuono, can serve as a key catalyst in revitalizing the area. Emphasis is placed on utilizing these spaces for social housing, along with adaptive reuse and rehabilitation of existing structures, following the principles of green building. Contrary to perceiving tourism solely as a stimulus, a paradigm shift is proposed, considering ecovillages as catalysts for repopulating these rural areas with new residents. The strategy involves offering new services, as well as promoting community value and the rehabilitation of housing structures. A comprehensive exploration of ecovillage models globally, in Europe and Italy, underscores the relevance of this innovative approach to communal living. Moreover, the potential to align with global trends makes these villages intelligent hubs, exploring and experimenting with new forms of habitation to stimulate local economies and facilitate repopulation. Through the implementation of sustainable technological solutions and the rehabilitation/reuse of existing structures, socially competitive housing structures can be developed, even in comparison to modern dwellings in major cities. The widespread adoption of technological innovation across the Madonie district generate a network of “smart villages,” transforming vulnerabilities into strengths. This approach not only introduces a series of best practices but also preserves the rich tradition and culture embedded in the material and immaterial heritage of Sicily.

The regeneration of abandoned industrial warehouses within modern urban landscapes is of considerable scientific interest. These structures document the productive history of cities and the architectural and technological innovation. The Tabarca Building in Genoa is a prime example of industrial archaeological significance, embodying the commercial heritage of an area within the historic urban fabric. In particular, it was the first site in Italy to use refrigeration technology to preserve goods. The introduction of cold storage was a revolutionary development at the beginning of the 20th century that transformed world trade and led to the creation of new building typologies. Despite its historical importance, the potential of the Tabarca building remains underestimated today. Its conservation requires a multifaceted approach that addresses different aspects of the building, i.e., archaeological, functional, stratigraphic, conservation and geometric considerations. An interdisciplinary strategy, including a broad overview and a detailed focus on the individual building, is essential to delineate its temporal evolution.This paper aims to reconstruct the historical and technical context of the Tabarca building and its surroundings through a multidisciplinary lens. Here, the authors integrate the analysis of the current state of the building with its historical, typological, and urban features. The initial results presented lay the groundwork for future rehabilitation and valorisation efforts for similar structures, demonstrating the need for an integrated approach to understanding and preserving industrial heritage in contemporary urban environments.

In the context of the ongoing debate on the sustainable development of cities, the theme of the recovery and reuse of disused assets is inserted. The presence of large disused building containers unites many Italian cities, affecting buildings with different uses.Within the urban fabric of the city of Catania, there are numerous cinemas that are no longer in operation and in a state of abandonment. This paper documents the recovery and reuse of the Minerva cinema, located near the historic center of the city, and decommissioned since 1984. The analysis of the urban context in which it is inserted has suggested its conversion into a multipurpose center that can act as a driving force for the redevelopment of the entire area.After carrying out an in-depth analysis of the historical events and the morphological, distributive and technological characteristics of the building, as well as its state of conservation, the required performance in terms of safety, use, comfort and accessibility was identified. All the design choices adopted aimed at the minimum impact on the external perception of the building, which maintains its morphological-compositional characteristics. Using the box-within-a-box strategy makes it possible to adopt interventions capable of determining the least impact on the structure, in terms of transformations and acting loads. The use of reversible technological solutions and maximum functional flexibility were the guiding principles in the definition of the project. The study also focuses on the energy performance of the building and the economic evaluation of the intervention.

Among the cultural assets there are some considered “minor” due to their typological, formal, material and construction characteristics. Among these can be included the “Casa Cantoniera”, the home of the ‘Cantoniere’, i.e. the roadman, the road inspector, person who had to look after his own canton (3–4 km stretch of road). A service architecture typical of the Italian territorial context of which it constitutes a peculiar element and distinctive of the landscape. Iconic architecture, easily recognizable by typology and Pompeian red colour, network of small infrastructures serving large and structured road infrastructures, capable of designing the anthropized landscape and ensuring that it dialogues with the natural landscape, characterizing it and making it somehow unique. As a result of the redefinition of the tasks assigned to the operators in charge of the surveillance and maintenance of roads throughout the country, as well as new methods and practices of intervention, the roadmen's houses are almost completely disused and for several decades have been undergoing a process of slow abandonment resulting in inexorable degradation. At the end of 2015, an agreement was signed between ANAS, the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport and the State Property Agency, in order to define the Guidelines for the sustainable reuse of roadman's houses, which was followed in 2016 by a call for tender for realization of a pilot project for their recovery and valorization; and, in 2021, by a new call for tenders aimed at promoting concession requests. Within this context, the objective of this work, still in progress, is to contribute to the historical knowledge of these small buildings and to provide typical intervention solutions for their recovery and valorization, so as to be able to insert them into a new circuit of tourist use and slow mobility.

In the context of the culture of recovery, conservation and maintenance of buildings, the study of techniques, materials, color and surface finishes of historic buildings plays an important role. The conservation of these elements is important for both architectural and environmental aspects. The color of the wall surfaces depend on the use of sands and peculiar pigments, mostly local ones used in plasters, as well as on the use of stones or other covering materials deriving from a consolidated historical and technical tradition. The Italian vernacular architecture of historic centers has always been characterized by peculiar shapes and colors in the different regional areas, in the same way the courtly or monumental architecture is characterized by colors deriving from the use of specific materials present in the places. Even the signs and patinas found on the surfaces allow us to better understand the construction events of the artefact over time. It is therefore of extreme interest to preserve the surfaces of historical artefacts as much as possible, respecting their authenticity and avoiding altering, with inappropriate repair interventions, the perception of the image of the building in its environmental context. What and how to preserve the integrity of architectural surfaces, due to their material value and evidence of a consolidated construction tradition, requires adequate cultural and technical tools. Among the latter, color plans can allow to monitor and control interventions on the surfaces of historic buildings. On the other hand, however, there is a risk of considering the color plans as projects finalized in themselves, thus losing sight of the transformations linked to the life history of the buildings, the vicissitudes and mutations engraved in the skin and color of their surfaces in search of an ideal original philological identity.

At the end of the 1920s, the affirmation of sound and the advent of the rationalist lexicon favoured the evolution of cinema from a traditional typology to a functional typology, heralding avant-garde constructive experiments. This evolution coincides with a simplification process already in place in the architectural language that will result in the gradual disappearance of ornamental elements leaving room for elementary surfaces, increasingly clear and enhanced using new materials. The rationalist code will set, for this type, a new architectural and regulatory standard, reaching almost unchanged to the present day. The designers, called to confront the new typology, will refer extensively to theatrical models, not only because the questions to be solved are similar, but because in most cases the construction of multi-purpose halls continues, in which animated projections will alternate with theatrical performances. The definition of the typological and functional evolution of cinema-theatre is analysed in the case study “Mastrogiacomo” in Gravina in Puglia (Bari), avant-garde cinema-theatre, made by architect Francesco De Martino. Cinema-theatre is part of a series of works that from the beginning of the 1930s will be subject to a constant process of upheaval, involving a substantial transformation of both compositional and technological character. The economic sanctions of 1936 and the autarchic economic model, will involve the introduction of new materials and components within the building, improving the conditions of well-being, safety, and liveability. Through examination of this study, highlights the need to recover and enhance the architecture and technological systems of cinema through a multi-scale approach capable of analysing a plurality of information, to preserve the identity of this heritage.

The experimentation of technological systems, developed during the 20th century, emancipated the characteristic ingenuity of the professionals of the time, engineers and architects, sometimes challenging the landscape context they were confronted with. High-altitude architecture, although of recent conception, has represented a dilemma in the design debate. Not identifiable with Alpine architecture, but from which it draws its essential aspects (relationship with nature, boundary-space, extreme environment), high-altitude architecture is part of the extensive built heritage of the last century. Of particular artistic relevance, this particular way of ‘making architecture’ fully embraced the ‘sentiment’ of innovation and experimentation initiated at the turn of the century, leading to the birth of architectural masterpieces in an ‘uncontaminated’ place. The arrival station of the Fürggen cableway, designed by the Turinese architect Carlo Mollino, has become an emblem of modern architecture at high altitudes. The use of traditional materials, such as stone and wood, relate harmoniously with innovative materials for the Alpine environment. The building, constructed on the crest of the mountain like a continuation of it, conceals a pumice concrete skeleton in its inner core according to an all-Italian construction solution: the Eliobeton-Pinottini system. Formulated with perforated pumice concrete blocks and stiffened with steel reinforcement, this system, patented in 1948, has a multifaceted use thanks to its technical and technological characteristics. The objective of the research is the knowledge of the elements that make up the artefact, through a methodological process that systematises all the useful information by means of archive and bibliographic analyses, with the aim of outlining a line of intervention for the conservation of the modern architectural heritage, which is not adequately valued.

The Rotunda of San Tomè in Almenno San Bartolomeo (Bergamo, Italy) is an example of Lombard Romanesque architecture. Built during the mid-12th century, it appears as a cylindrical structure with an apse that extends in the northeast direction, surmounted by two smaller cylindrical volumes. Inside, a double-level row of eight columns surrounds the central space, concluding with a hemispherical dome topped with an oculus. Starting in the 19th century, the growing interest in the unique configuration of the temple led to a series of restoration efforts. These efforts resulted in a well-preserved building, with overlay of materials, making the interpretation of the palimpsest a challenge. On the other hand, this left room for new research to clarify the evolution of architecture. The most recent intervention involved inserting metal hoops to contain cracks in the vaults and walls of the church. To combine advancements in historical and archaeological knowledge with safety monitoring, an integrated survey campaign was conducted. The results shed light on several issues, including the lantern. Drawings from the 18th and 19th centuries depict the lantern as not being connected to the hall, and F. de Dartein, an engineer and expert on medieval architecture, did not even report it. It was likely reconstructed during the 19th century renovation by E. Fornoni. This project may have involved opening the summit oculus, which appears eccentric with respect to the dome axis in the current survey. The surveys also allowed the detection of the slight deformation of the dome, whose deviations from a supposed perfectly hemispherical geometry can be taken as indicators of the displacements suffered by the walls. These findings demonstrate how the information provided by an accurate survey can be used to understand the structural behavior of a historical building and its deformations over time, becoming essential for a coherent and effective consolidation project.

The paper proposes a reflection on the theme of residences for university students in Italy, with a focus on recovery, enhancement and reuse of existing buildings. Sustainable development has assumed a key role in current and future projects due, among the other factors, to the significant mobility flows generated within a territorial area by the presence of a university. Among the critical issues that currently characterize this subject are the under-sizing of residential services for students and the territorial asymmetry of the educational offer, both in the private and public sector. This problem is thus leading to the creation of flows from south to north: 36% of the structures for university education are in the north, 31.5% in the center and 32.5% in the south. Furthermore, at regional level there is the highest concentration in Lombardy, Lazio and Campania due mainly to the presence of private universities. Another critical factor is the maintenance condition of the Italian building stock, as a quarter of its total consists of buildings realized before 1949, with 4.1% of them in poor condition. According to the latest ISTAT census, in Italy there are more than 7 million unused, abandoned or confiscated buildings among residences, factories, industrial sheds, schools etc. The WWF, at the same time reports that in the last 50 years the urbanized area has increased by 600 thousand hectares compared to a population growth of only 27%. The comparison of these data shows how the business of student housing can be an opportunity for urban regeneration for the “student cities” that today face the problem of high rents due to high demand. The research aims to demonstrate the opportunity of the recovery of buildings to accommodate university students.

The 1949 exhibition at MoMA “The Architecture of Bridges” curated by Elizabeth Mock inaugurated a fresh view to the field of collaboration between engineers and architects. Among other reasons, the appearance of new technologies and materials as steel in XIXth century and concrete in XXth provoked a gap that the architects of modern movement detected without really solving the distance between the beauty of honesty and the “intellectual swindle” of certain architectures. Second half of last century deployed technology for massive reconstruction and exponential urban growth and therefore a context of obliged reunion of the two disciplines. The MoMA’s exhibition followed by others in Pompidou centre illustrated the new collaboration between engineers and architects, from Utzon and Arup to Ishigami and Sato, from the mechanical to the green paradigm.This paper aims to analyse those contributions in both directions through an analysis of the history of the construction of bridges as a specific and pure example of the positive interaction between architects and engineers, beyond any kind of controversy. First, by a prospection of engineering technology transferred to architecture that silently by with no interruption has taken place from the construction of bridges to edification with brilliant examples from Freyssinet to Vierendeel. Secondly putting an eye to their architecture where we will describe some of the most relevant examples designed by architects, from Palladio to Plecnick. Both views, with central examples as Peter Rice or Jean Prouvé, show how those collaborations go beyond the specific to build an intermediate field that today is central for a balanced a sustainable development.

Digital technologies are transforming the way how people interact with our cultural past, proposing new and current ways of exploring, understanding and preserving the historical-architectural cultural heritage. The research is part of a segment that connects the history of the city of Matera with contemporary trends. The blend of existing architectural heritage, digitalisation and new and innovative digital tools, finds a primordial application in the present research, because of a shortage in the state of the art of validated research in the scientific field, in order to define an innovative smart prevention approach on the UNESCO heritage. A fundamental step is the creation of a semantic model, developed according to HBIM methodology, including the components of the historical architecture of the Sassi of Matera, designed from the complex phase of technological decomposition of the elements and subsequent digital reconstruction, in order to define a process that includes the modelling of the first elements of the architecture of the Sassi historicized in the research. The creation of a catalogue and thus a computerised digital library of components characterised by non-regular geometries is followed by the creation of a new manual that can become a reference point in the design phase, for interventions and good practices on the UNESCO heritage of the Sassi of Matera. The research aims to convey the concept that HBIM is considered, as defined by the UNI 11337:2017 standard, an essential support, control and management tool useful for understanding and interpreting the complexity of the existing architectural heritage.

Today, available water resources are under severe pressure on a global scale due to demographic, economic, and social demands, environmental and climate changes, and technological challenges. It is well known that rainwater harvesting (RWH), a simple and ancient method, has the potential to integrate surface and groundwater resources in areas with inadequate water supplies. Since their inception, the temporal and partial availability of water resources, particularly in southern regions, has triggered the development of various water systems for RWH and storage. Since then, technologies for the construction and operation of multiple types of cisterns and other relevant hydraulic structures have evolved. Significant achievements in RWH and use from the dawn of humankind to the present are analyzed. The Indo-European and Roman periods are highlighted as examples of outstanding achievements. The primary need for water justifies not only the innovations found throughout history but also the most advanced level of engineering of each era used in these constructions. In addition, the significance of this hydraulic technology and understanding the value of water conservation in the present and future are considered. Hygienic precautions to ensure the purity of the water collected and stored is another aspect that deserves further study. This preliminary research will provide a systematic overview of the state of the art. In recent decades, many countries have supported the updated implementation of this practice to cope with increasing water demand and to reduce the frequency, peak, and volume of urban runoff. These considerations motivate an interest in examining the current situation and prospects for further development of this method worldwide. This paper aims to analyze the current situation of RWH as an alternative water source to address water scarcity in various countries.

The paper shows the results of the analyses carried out on the roofs of Pontifical Basilica of San Francesco d’Assisi in Palermo, within the framework of a Scientific and didactic collaboration agreement with the Ministry of Infrastructures and Sustainable Mobility (MISM)-Interregional Superintendency of Public Works for Sicily and Calabria. The typological, morphological, material and construction analyses have been carried out to allow the provision of appropriate maintenance and restoration actions on the different roofs, able to eliminate the causes of the decay due to the frequent infiltration of water inside the building. In particular, the analyses illustrated in the paper are focused on the decay and possible instability of the wooden roof of the apsidal area and the flat roofs reconstructed after the war damage due to the bombs of the Second World War, along the sides of the Tribune and the nave of the Basilica. The apse of the Basilica is defined by a masonry vault overlaid with a double-pitched wooden roof with trusses. After a brief description of the evolution of the building, the results of the geometric and textural survey carried out to identify the crack pattern and the areas most affected by damage will be presented. The mechanical characterization of the materials and the analysis of the load-bearing structure under the loads provided by the current Italian legislation for existing buildings are presented with a finite element modelling of the section of the Tribune as well as the results of the safety checks. After having identified the main structural problems affecting the building, the possible interventions accompanied by an associated monitoring plan are proposed.

This article describes the tests carried out to assess the structural strength of traditional thin brick vaults in the Alentejo region of Portugal, commonly known as “abobadilhas alentejanas”. This type of traditional construction extends throughout the Mediterranean basin, where it takes on different names depending on the country and region. For example, this particular type of vault in Spain is called bóveda tabicada (volta catalana in Catalonia and bóveda extremeña in Extremadura), and in Italy it is called volta in folio (realina in folio in Sicily).The slenderness of these vaults and the fact that they can be built without centering, using gypsum mortar and taking advantage of the arch effect, are characteristics that distinguish them from other masonry vault solutions.One of the ways that ancient builders used to increase the strength of Alentejo tile vaults was by superimposing a second layer of brick over the intradorso layer, thus doubling the thickness of the tile vault. Typically, the intradorso layer was made without centering, using gypsum mortars, and the supplementary layer was built on top of it, sometimes with lime mortars, without the use of gypsum.However, despite the interest that this solution continues to arouse, the structural study of this solution is still scarce and the particularities of its operation have not yet been fully reproduced in structural models. In order to provide more information on this issue, a campaign of experimental tests was carried out on prototypes of single-leaf and lined tile vaults, replicating traditional construction. This article presents the experimental work carried out, describing its procedures, results and main conclusions. Other experimental campaigns were carried out as part of ongoing research, the results of which will be presented in upcoming publications.

Pier Luigi Nervi, renowned for his groundbreaking contributions to engineering and architecture, left an enduring legacy in the realm of structural innovation and design. Among his remarkable achievements are the underground tanks that Nervi conceptualized for the Royal Italian Navy and the Royal Italian Air Force, which stand as testaments to his ingenuity and technical prowess. These tanks, conceived between 1936 and 1940, represent a convergence of Nervi's engineering expertise and his commitment to addressing practical challenges in construction and infrastructure. With a focus on durability, functionality, and aesthetic appeal, Nervi’s underground tanks epitomize his visionary approach to structural engineering. This paper aims to delve into the intricate design principles, construction techniques, and historical significance of these remarkable structures, shedding light on their enduring relevance in contemporary engineering discourse.

The contribution summarizes the preliminary results of a training and research project Italy-Argentina, stemming from the collaboration between the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Salerno and the Faculty of Arquitectura, Planeamiento y Diseño of the National University of Rosario, on the knowledge, protection, and recovery of Argentine heritage linked to the presence of Italian immigrants in South America in the early Twentieth century. Starting from an understanding of the construction and evolution of the concept of “heritage”, strongly linked in recent years to the construction of the social identity of a nation, the contribution focuses on the issue of the conservation and enhancement of Argentine cultural heritage and its role in relation to the definition of the national cultural identity. This is done through the case study of the Italian Club in Rosario, an emblematic work in the construction of the city’s identity in relation to Italian influences.

The abstract should summarize the contents of the paper in short This research paper delves into the multifaceted significance of preserving railway heritage, most precisely railway lines, expanding beyond traditional considerations of material and architectural heritage. Those networks stand as historical witnesses to crucial events like the industrial revolution, colonization, and globalization, contributing to the shaping of historical landscapes, global demography, and communities.The study explores the history of the Rails-to-Trails movement, originally aimed at promoting a healthy lifestyle but evolving into a global phenomenon that preserves historical landscapes, reconnects rail towns, and fosters slow tourism. Examining the reuse of abandoned urban rails into linear parks, the paper focuses on well-known examples like New York's High Line, addressing both its successes and limitations. Alternative ideas, such as those along the Petite Ceinture, highlight diverse approaches to repurposing urban rails and emphasize the importance of community involvement in decision-making processes. The paper underscores the challenge of balancing conservation, sustainability, and economical interests, emphasizing that well-integrated greenways present an eclectic solution for the future of railway heritage, harmonizing history, landscape, and contemporary needs.

During the Twentieth Century, the industrial buildings represented an “ideal laboratory” for the development of architectural techniques and languages of Modernity. For the study, conservation, and valorization of the industrial building heritage, advanced digital tools and processes can play a crucial role. This paper presents a workflow based on data acquisition – documental analysis – parametric and informative modeling, and interactive visualization of the building details and the related documental sources. The workflow is conceived to support the study of buildings featuring non-standard structures and construction solutions, based on complex geometries. Specifically, an Application Programming Interface (API) has been defined combining the use of the parametric modeling platform Grasshopper©, enriched by the Geometry Gym© tool kit, the structural analysis software FEM Sap 2000©, the open standard IFC 4, and the cloud-based Shape Diver© platform for AR. The workflow is presented via the case study of the so-called “Silberkuhl system” – consisting of hyperbolic paraboloid (HP) thin shell elements – which was worldwide applied for industrial building roofing between the 1960s and 1970s.

This work is part of a research project conducted by the author on industrial construction in Italy between the 1950s and 1970s. It refers to the contribution made to construction history by building companies through the study of the methods they used. In particular, it explores the topic of so called ‘medium-span roofs’ for factories (within 20 m). Starting from the years of the so-called ‘Italian economic miracle’, factory construction intensified in a large part of the country. Compared to the years preceding the Second World War, this type of building had evolved. The main experiments focused on solutions aimed at limiting the use of columns; consequently, the roof span increased. Construction of particularly prestigious factories – influenced by the so-called Milanese structural design – also pertains to this topic. This study focuses on a serial construction method for industrial building roofs. It was patented by engineer Wilhelm Johannes Silberkuhl in Germany (the Hyperbolit Silberkuhl system, HPV) and it was used by Sogene (the construction company of Società Generale Immobiliare, SGI) for construction of some factories in Italy during the 1960s. The HPV method was based on prefabricated concrete thin vaults with double curvatures: particular geometry and prestressed reinforcement allowed creation of light elements, easy to transport and to assemble. Moreover, this study provides a further contribution to a reconstruction of Sogene's overall enterprises, a construction company particularly involved in industrialization processes in the construction field. Bibliography, technical magazines and original archive sources are taken as a reference.

The conservation of building heritage in danger (BHID) has been a longstanding and intricate matter, garnering widespread global attention. Although there has been much research conducted on monitoring, evaluation, restoration, and management in this subject, there is a lack of studies focusing on the perspective of heritage site communities and their possible negative implications. Thus, this study examines UNESCO and ICOMOS publications on building heritage preservation and Web of Science secondary substances on protecting at-risk heritage. The aim is to identify 24 success factors that significantly impact the protection of BHID. Subsequently, surveys were carried out among residents, merchants, visitors, and architectural specialists in the surrounding community, utilizing the leaning tower of Garisenda in Bologna, Italy, as a case study. The aim was to identify and analyze the crucial aspects that contribute to the success of BHID protection, considering the viewpoint of the community. The research findings identified twelve critical success factors. The community generally agrees that the most important factors for successful BHID protection are financial support, safety and risk assessment, government policy support, project organization and management, as well as the adoption of technologies and methodologies. However, there is also a recognized lack of awareness regarding the importance of community involvement and cooperation in BHID preservation efforts. Therefore, the study proposes enhancing community involvement in the Garisenda tower protection project to promote a balance between public and private interests. This will help minimize the adverse effects of conservation efforts on the community and achieve a more sustainable preservation of building heritage. These research outcomes not only apply to the protection of the Garisenda tower but also provide valuable insights and references for the practice and study of protecting other BHIDs.

Since 2005 the Ile-de-France Region has witnessed an impressive series of Urban Interventions inspired by the Loi Borloo on Urban Regeneration. Thousands of residential units in obsolete buildings have been demolished and new Urban Centres, Urban Neighborhoods and Garden Cities have been built. The most famous examples are the 3 huge building bars at La Courneuve each one accommodating 4.000 inhabitants and demolished in les than 10 s. However, more interventions have been implemented at Maison Alfort, Neuilly sur Seine, Clamart, etc. This paper illustrates 3 Case-Studies: the new 80.000 inhabitants Garden City at Val d’Europe, the new Urban Centre and Garden City at Le Plessis Robinson, and the New Urban Centre for the Garden City at Yerres. These interventions can be regarded as the follow-up of 1970s process of construction of the first 5 Villes Nouvelles around Paris. All these 3 Case-Studies show an important presence of Social Housing integrated into the Mixed-Use Urban Structure for around 35%.

The catastrophic earthquake that hit the area of the Strait of Messina on 28 December 1908 stimulated an immediate re-evaluation of historical anti-seismic construction techniques, the memory of which had been gradually lost following the experiences of the late 18th century. The adoption in seismic contexts of the baraccata system, based on the use of timber framing embedded in the masonry, was in fact already regulated in 1784, but the absence of subsequent major earthquakes disincentivised its use in southern Calabria over the following century.The effects of the earthquakes in Palmi in 1894, southern Calabria in 1905 and, lastly, that of 1908, however, highlighted the vulnerability of masonry buildings in the Reggio Calabria area, thus representing the spur for a reconstruction marked by the extensive use of timber as a structural material. In the fifteen years following the earthquake, there was a constant and diversified use of anti-seismic timber frame construction techniques: from slender intelaiata structures without masonry cladding to baraccata buildings built in accordance with regulatory requirements, including different typological variants depending on the form and position of the frame and the type of masonry used.The survey of the buildings in the settlements along the Gallico and Catona valleys to the north of Reggio Calabria—in particular, an analysis of the numerous ruined buildings scattered throughout the territory and of some recent restoration works—highlights the widespread use of these building systems. Regulated by building codes but resulting from an often spontaneous and emergency constructive practice, it constitutes a cultural heritage of considerable importance; its knowledge, also aimed at a greater understanding of its conservation features, is therefore an essential condition for the valorisation of the entire territory.

Knowledge and preservation of documentation relating to existing architecture are necessary condition for its enhancement. Firstly, through the study of archival material, it is possible to reconstruct the genesis of an architectural project. Consultation of drawings, technical reports, site photographs and other documents provides an excellent opportunity to conduct in-depth historical studies of specific architectural heritage. Bibliographic sources can help to complete the research. Secondly, because through new documentation, the result of research and studies carried out directly on the studied heritage, can initiate practices for the conservation, enhancement and renovation of existing architecture. In this sense, a digital approach facilitates the acquisition of information from the paper and simplifies the link with subsequent dissemination and/or operational stages.This article presents a research experience conducted by the Laboratorio di Studi doCme 1908 - Centro di Documentazione per Messina - of the Department of Engineering of the University of Messina and the work of the Archivio del Moderno of the Accademia di Architettura in Mendrisio (Università della Svizzera Italiana). The article analyses the themes of researching historical sources, filing, and systematizing archival documentation. Reading these two experiences in parallel made it possible to juxtapose research approaches aimed at the protection of historical material and its dissemination. It was also an opportunity to rethink a possible model for the inventory of archival documentation, suitable for the narration of the phenomenon of urban stratification and, at the same time, for the enhancement of the architectural heritage resulting from this slow phenomenon, both in the context of Messina and Ticino.

The large number of studies concerning the small towns mainly focused on the recognition and conservation of their values, especially ranging from morphological and settlement arrangement to typological and construction features: they are indeed representative of a multilayered and widespread heritage which is relevant in the national framework for its quantity and quality. Unfortunately, the strategies and practices applied so far weren’t able to effectively counterbalance the dynamics of depopulation and socio-economic crisis, also connected to disaster events, which are typical of this particular heritage. However, the recent pandemic demonstrated the critical issues of high-density settlement models and that small towns can still represent an available resource: they can trigger regeneration processes whose suitability engages a reflection about the effective implementation of new housing and use models, also related to cultural and production activities. These considerations were reported in the projects of the “Integrated workshop for graduation thesis of the courses Building Reuse and Conservation - Materials and Techniques for Building Reuse”, that especially concerned the settlement models and the architectural heritage that characterize the threshold landscape of the piedmont areas of the Abruzzo region. The hypothesis of recovery of the small town named Tocco da Casauria and of its Caracciolo Castle is included into this framework of experimentation activities, with the aim of proposing the regeneration of the fortified settlement through strategies of cultural improvement and promotion of local resources.