F. Augelli

IL LEGNO: ARTE NELLA QUALE FA BISOGNO HAVERE DI MOLTE CONSIDERAZIONI. PRECETTI DI  LEONARDO FIORAVANTI NELLO SPECCHIO DI SCIENTIA UNIVERSALE (1564)

 Leonardo Fioravanti (Bologna 1517-1588) medical and surgeon multifaceted, carried out its activity in Italy (apart Bologna also Palermo, Messina and Naples) and abroad (in Spain and Africa) and published numerous texts on medicine. Very particular is the first part of the treaty Dello specchio di scientia universale published in Venice in 1564, in which the author deals with the liberal and mechanics arts, and may be considered an encyclopaedic dictionary ante litteram. The first book in fact contains, and described, the professions and the crafts of the time. Of special interest is, in particular, the VIIth section dedicated to the art of working wood and its effects. The brief contribution aims to examine and disseminate opinions about the wood of a cultured "not engaged in the work” of the Sixteenth century.

KEY-WORD: treatise, wood, XVI century, joiner, carpenter, crafting, crafts, encyclopedia.

 

P. Gelfi, I. Giustina

I solai a travi corte e la soluzione “alla serlio”

 This paper deals with historical short-beam timber floors. As testified by many written sources, especially by architectural treaties, those structures were often used in the past because of the shortage of woods long and strong enough for huge carpentry works. This study is particularly concerned with floors sustained by four short beams, well known in France since the medieval age and brought to large spread by Serlio’s architectural treaty before the half of the XVI century. Though they were probably used until the first XX century, no material evidence of those floors seems to be left or acknowledged nowadays. Its highly interesting technical solution is deepened as well, investigating its structural behavior and the statics of its suspended junctions.

KEY-WORDS: Timber floor; “Serlio’s” timber floor; four beams floor; short-beam timber floor.

 

M. Forni

Un manuale alle soglie della modernità:  F. Pizzagalli G. Aluisetti, Dell¹arte pratica del carpentiere,1827 – 1834

The authors make available to architects, engineers and craftsmen a compilation of carpentry works illustrated with many engraved plates containing details of assemblages. The main sources for this plates are J.K.Krafft’s and J.B. Rondelet’s very expensive editions as well as unedited or less known drawings which also give an account of local architects’ projects showing the in building mastery of Carlo Amati, Luigi Cagnola,  Luigi Bovara and Felice Pizzagalli itself.

KEY-WORDS books, building practice, carpentry,19th century.

 

R. Bugini, M. Caroselli

Delle differenti qualità e nature degli alberi.  L’impiego del legno in architettura secondo la trattatistica (XV-XVIII sec.)

The use of timber in architecture was widespread starting from the earliest times and it is reported by a great number of authors. The architecture treatises are the counterpart of the scientific investigation on buildings, but the comparison between the hard facts and the treatise rules must consider the replacement of decayed timbers. Different italian treatises were examined from 15th to early 19th century: Alberti, Palladio, Serlio, Scamozzi, Branca, Milizia e Rondelet (italian translation). The translation of Vitruvius’ De Architectura were also considered for the same period. The trees cited in the treatises, starting from the group of 18 trees reported by Vitruvius, were listed together with some directions about their use in architecture. The sources, a part from the Vitruvius’ book, were the Greek Authors on botany, as Theophrastus or the Latin Authors on agriculture and the Pliny’s Naturalis Historia.

Key-words: tree, wood, timber, architecture treatise, Vitruvius

 

P. Bensi,  M. Casaburo,  D. De Rosa

Gli aspetti della conservazione dei soffitti lignei delle chiese della Campania

The contribution draws the attention to the serious conservative problems of wooden ceilings of the XVI-XVII century churches in Campania. These ceilings are engraved and painted, and include panels and paintings. They have been damaged by dampness, insects, earthquakes, wars and improper restorations. Three churches in Neaples have been chosen; their artistic and conservative history will be outlined

KEY-WORDS: Naples, history of restoration, wooden ceilings

 

A. Boato, A.Decri

Tetti e solai genovesi dal XV al XVIII Secolo

  It is possible to delineate which kind of wooden structures were made in ancient buildings in Genoa by the means of studies on written sources and material objects. Many of these structures has been hidden for centuries by false-ceilings, and has been discovered in recent times. This is one of reasons why these structures are not well known. The way we choose to present the results of the research is in form of a glossary made from words collected in documents.

KEY-WORD: Roofs, ceilings, wooden structures,  written sources.

 

M. Li Castri, T. Campisi, G. Fatta, G. Costa

Le strutture lignee della Cappella Palatina di Palermo. Conoscenza e conservazione

The Palatina Chapel into the Royal Palace of Palermo is one of the more known medieval monument; built between the years 1130 and 1163, besides its mosaic decoration has a muqarnas wooden ceiling that summarizes the symbiosis between the Arab and Norman culture.

The restoration of complex allows to investigate the materials and the constructive techniques of ancient structures, also documenting the state of conservation, the interventions and modifications during the time.

The study analyses the geometric and volumetric characters and the constructive systems of wooden ceiling and wooden or iron structures connected to it, the degradations and failures and the interventions effected for limit damages related to deformation or water infiltration: we examine the restorations of XIX century and the actual intervention that consolidate the monument and contribute to rediscover the marvellous constructive workmanship, and also the more known decorative richness.

KEY-WORDS: Palatina Chapel, Palermo, wooden ceiling, muqarnas

 

D.Pittaluga

Stratificazioni lignee: problemi di lettura, interpretazione e conservazione

the substitution of small and big parts o wood structures is a common practice easily adopted nowadays as it was in the past.

Wooden elements are usually subsidiary and secondary parts of architectures, organized in serial repetitions of elements. This situation allows for such replacements. The need rises for a global comprehension of wooden structures and their history, with phases assessment and dates characterization. What tools do we have? Which are the limits of these tools? Which are the problems while studying a loft, a covering layer, flooring or an inlaid unit? while intervening on richly painted wooden ceilings? Important to notice, there are two types of layering in structures: a structure layering and a coating layering superimposed on the structure itself. A recent case of this second layering practice puts some more questions: Carlo Scarpa in villa Palazzetto railing (Monselice, PD, Italy) chose an untreated wood material that would migrate over time from an original brown colour to silver, due to material aging process. How many times are we able to control this factor? Can we understand when the natural colour change of a wooden artefact was “by-design”? This is even more interesting on highly figurative art works. This is the case of wood multi-essence marquetry , like in the Savona’s Duomo choir. This paper through a set of examples contains reflections on previous questions.

Key words: wood roof, beam manufacture, stratigraphic sequence, units or archaeological stratifications

 

M. Aresi

Incavallature lignee nei manufatti rurali della Val Taleggio

the article examines the traditionally constructional system used to realized the cover wood structures and the stone roofings of Val Taleggio’s rural minor constructions. To study in depth their structural behaviour and the real pattern of loads, can be a first step to guarantee the conservation and a conscious transformation of this particoular cultural heritage. At the end, the contribution provides some proposals for the preservation of the considered constructional system.

KEY-WORDS: rural minor construction, wooden truss, knowledge, empirical  method, compatible interventions.

 

T. Basiricò, A. Cottone

Le coperture lignee nella tradizione costruttiva rurale

 The paper analyzes the wooden structures used in the coverages of the rural suburbs constructed in Sicily between the ‘20es and the ‘40es. The Sicilian suburbs, similar in urban plant, differ in the used constructive techniques and particularly in the use of wood in horizontal structures and coverages. The paper compares the constructive practice of wooden coverages of suburbs buildings with the techniques of the local constructive tradition. The study besides the retrieval of unpublished sources and the geometric and material relief, deepens the maintenance aspects of wooden elements in state of advanced decay.

KEY-WORD: structure, coverage, wood, rehabilitation

 

C. Benocci

Dalla decorazione all’uso funzionale: il legno nella Villa Doria Pamphilj a Roma nel Settecento e nell’Ottocento ed  i problemi di restauro

In the Villa Doria Pamphilj at Rome the use of wood in the XVIIIth century is very important.. In the building called Villa Vecchia a ceiling of wood decorated “a guazzo” and with colours “a sughi d’erba”, by vegetable subjects, bears witness to the renewal of the building inspired at Illuminism theories, like the elegant doors of wood with mirrors. The restorations of 1986 and 1997-99 recovered the original arrangement, in harmony  with the stuccos “color di perla”. In the XIXth century the wood was used for boiseries covering technological plants for heating the monumental greenhouses. In the recent restoration, the new plants necessary for museal destination of greenhouses needed higher boiseries. The few rests of ancient boiseries were studied and maden in similar design but higher, for the new use. 

KEY-WORD: Ceiling painted “a guazzo” and “a sughi d’erba”, boiseries, greenhouses, doors with mirrors, Villa Doria Pamphilj at Rome

 

P. Bernardi, A. Boato, É.Bouticourt, T. Conejo, A. Decri, J. Domenge

Storia di un dettaglio: il coprigiunto

The paper concerns a seemingly minor detail of the horizontal timber structures visible from below, the “coprigiunto”. In the form of planking, board or thin moulding, the “coprigiunto” is actually the element that most characterizes these structures, having both a technical and decorative function. Not only. The methods the “coprigiunto” is manufactured and set varies according to the regions and give rise to very different constructive solutions.

Therefore, the study of the detail is fundamental to understand the whole and it is a means to highlight the regional and sub-regional differences, those diachronic or synchronic ones, which make the ancient constructive artefacts unique. It also provides an essential knowledge for the interventions, during which the importance of the detail cannot and must not be ignored.

KEY-WORD: “coprigiunto”, carpentry, ceiling, decoration, Mediterranean basin, history, lexicon

 

S. Carillo, A.Decri

 Gli antichi controsoffitti dell’edilizia storica Campana e la loro conservazione: il caso dell’intempiatura a lacunari dell’“Aula delle bifore normanne” del Palazzo Arcivescovile di Capua

The study of a singular wooden artefact placed inside the Archiepiscopal palace in Capua, in one of the most layered place of this prestigious and not so much studied ecclesiastical residence, led to play historical and methodological considerations on existence of substantial material evidence qualifying the idea of housing in the construction culture context of Campania.

Due to historical and formal references, this experience also documents many similarities with residential cases that, in the Medieval and modern period, have concerned the construction making of Amalfi for the unique circumstances in which many vaulted roof places, through the centuries, were subsequently modernised and adapted to new requirements with the construction of false ceilings, that the local technical culture calls "intempiature".

KEY-WORD False ceilings, extrados-vaulted roof house, Medieval architecture, Renaissance architecture.

 

G. Costa, G.Fatta, G. La Bua

La carpenteria lignea della piramide di copertura della Porta Nuova a Palermo

Hidden parts of ancient wooden structures usually reveal poor technologies and lack of maintenance. As known, old wooden elements are often replaced with “modern” materials, even in construction of high value. In other cases, it is yet possible to observe original conformation, despite inevitable interventions of consolidation.

The sixteenth century covering pyramid of Porta Nuova was reconstructed after an explosion, together with a substantial part of whole building. It presents a little tampered carpentry, which is of big interest, as evidence of good technical culture of the period. The essay analyzes whole constructive system, with regards to single wooden elements, iron parts, connections between beams, but also with the masonry. It also identifies past interventions, and analyzes actual and ancient degradations and damages. Direct inspections and archival documents are needful to this study, together with treatises about wooden structures and pyramid covering system.

KEY-WORD: pyramid, wood, carpentry, Palermo, Porta Nuova.

 

A. Cottone, S. Bertorotta., C. Clauss

Il recupero delle strutture lignee del portico principale  del duomo di Monreale

The paper illustrates the measures carried out in 1990 during the restoration of the western portico of the Monreale Cathedral.

The focus is on the structural configuration of the wooden roofing, whose deterioration, due to the presence of termite colonies, had required its replacement in consideration of the historic site. The solution adopted with wooden girder on stainless steel supports and metallic tie-rods has respected the previous structural scheme and induced a static improvement of the whole structure.

KEY-WORD: rehabilitation, structure, roofing, wood, tie-rods, Monreale

 

S. Dandria

Una tecnologia per le travi nei solai a doppia orditura, tra XIV e XV Sec., a Verona

Historically double framework wooden floors have covered broad/wide rooms or loggias; frequently to reach considerable length the principal beams were made up of more wooden elements assembled together. This tecnology spread over a large area in northern Italy between XV and XVI centuries, and there are a lot of examples expecially in Trento,Verona, Mantova and Ferrara, that were cities linked by the same  commercial area of timber. In contrast to Ferrara's composite beams, which have already been fully studied, in Verona we find older cases in XIV century buildings that prove  this carpentry was optimized in later medieval times in important government buildings or mansions, and was then used throughout Reinassance.

KEY-WORDS: carpentry, composite beam, wooden floor, Verona

 

M.Angeli, M. Blonda, P. Dellavedova, M.L.Laddago, M. Poletti, S. Teruggi

Un nuovo approccio per lo studio e la conservazione di un padiglione ligneo del Novecento. Solarium est Ex Sanatorio Regina Elena di Savoia – Legnano (MI)

The project aims to develop the restoration of an early 1900s wooden Pavilion within a Sanatorium in Legnano. This building, relevant for its original typology and technology, is nowadays in a dreadful status due to increasing situation of abandon. Study approaches to the sites involved traditional surveys and investigation methods to estimate degradation levels, linked with a 3D model detail drawings to map technical heritage. The restoration project for a multifunctional pavilion tries to hand down material physical aspects, but also typical elements of traditional techniques, substituting all those pattern-type elements with similar ones to replicate simplifying the native forma, using the same materia as the original one.

KEY-WORD: Restoration, Degradation, Sanatorium, Wood, Traditional technology

 

I. Bergamasco, M. Bernabei , N. Macchioni

L’inquadramento storico di antiche strutture in legno: l’esempio della copertura della chiesa di San Barbaziano a Bologna

During 2008 a diagnostic campaign was organised on the trusses of the timber structure of the roof of San Barbaziano church, built in Bologna during the first decades of the XVII century. The analysis of the archives showed that the church underwent during the centuries many variations in use, interventions and reworking. In order to better situate the timber structure, a dendrochronological analysis was performed. The results showed that the utilised timber is dated at the final decades of the XIX century; they allow a better understanding of some building singularities and correctly placing from the historical point of view the present timber roof.

KEY-WORDS: San Barbaziano church, trusses, dendrochronology, diagnosis.

 

M. Mattone

Il sistema de l’orme nelle strutture di copertura: variazioni sul tema

The maintenance and the preservation of the wooden structures, that characterize a remarkable part of the historical building patrimony, asks for a suitable knowledge both of the material on which we intend "to set hand", both of the constructive techniques with which it has been realizad. The understanding of the structural conception, of the characteristics and of the constructive specificities is essential to proceed, in correct way, to the safeguard of this aesthetical/cultural patrimony of knowledges and values that, unfortunately, in some cases has irremediably gone lost.

The present contribution intends to analyze some examples of wooden structures realized adopting the system conceived by Philibert de l’Orme in 1561. The three cases examined, even making all reference to the Nouvelles Inventions pour bien bâtir à petits frais, decline in different way the constructive system proposed by de l’Orme.

KEY-WORD: restoration, reinterpretation, critical analysis, complexity.

 

C. Pastor,  S. Vassallo

Il soffitto ligneo decorato in piazza dei Greci a Genova, espressione di un’epoca di transizione fra medioevo e rinascimento

This article deals with the use of wood as a building material of remarkable importance in the historical centre of Genoa. The wooden floor doesn’t only have a structural function, but also a decorative and artistic one. These formal pecularities characterize the historical building and determine its preserving criteria. The ceiling we are talking about was distempered, probably at the beginning of the fifteenth century, drawing on a decorative inventory of medieval tradition, then it underwent a later partial reconstruction always with tempera, dating between the end of the fifteenth century and the beginning of the sixteenth century. The restoration and all analytical checks that will be described further on, allowed to identify the two present periods, as far as their characteristics and their constituent materials were concerned. Such an example, connected with other similar cases, provides a wider knowledge of historical construction techniques.

Key word: Genoa, medieval painting, wood, Regolo di Convento, Piazzetta dei Greci, restauration.

M. R. Vitale, B. Billeci

Henri Deneux e le charpentes della Francia del Nord: una lezione di metodo fra conoscenza e restauro

In 1927 Henri Deneux published a research on L’évolution des charpentes du XIe au XVIIIe siècle, whose aim was to fill a serious gap in the historic architecture studies focused only on masonry construction. The data that Deneux collected year by year (about 500 roofs in the north of France, brought together only in part in his essay of 1927) are mostly unpublished up to now and nowadays they represent the unique valuable evidence of constructions destroyed during the World War I bombing raids. The knowledge developed through his surveys was at the root of Deneux’s reconstruction projects suggested for the monuments in Reims where the study of historic technologies combined with the use of more modern techniques. A lesson which merges together history, knowledge and project in an inseparable way.

KEY-WORD: Deneux, charpente, survey, knowledge, restoration

 

E. Zullo

Uso e manutenzione del legno nella pratica costruttiva tradizionale del Molise

The traditional building trade in Molise uses wood elements as reinforcement for stonework in foundation and inserted between blocks. The use of wood for attic is ascertained in important examples but in simple buildings, too. In these cases there are sticks on the beams. It is used for roofs, fixtures, partition walls and as support for finishing touch as false vaults

KEY-WORD: reinforcement, attic, roof, fixtures, partition walls, false vaults

 

M.G. Vinardi

Le centine lignee di cuspidi e campanili: tipi e consistenze

: The essay investigates the wooden ribs supporting spires and onion-like roofing of bell-towers, since they are structurally complex and difficultly reachable and checkable because of their location. These structures testify, for their consistency and skill, high technical abilities and a compactness that has ensured their durability over time beyond what might be expected.

Their lightness, their shape and their traditions have defined architectures of strong environmental connotation and a type that characterizes their time.

This work intends to value some issues of conservation through some exemplary studies and through the settlement of this typology in the territory around Novara and Turin.

KEY-WORDS: Wooden ribs, spires, bell-towers

 

L. Balboni, P. Corradini

Volte incannicciate nei palazzi modenesi tra XVII e XVIII Secolo.  Il caso della Rocca Rangoni

the research moves from the careful investigation of a specific application of plaster and reeds vaults, the wide vaulted complex which covers the rooms in the piano nobile in Rocca Rangoni in Spilamberto, built around the 1660. The investigation, also connected to the geometry of the rooms as well as to the periods they date back to, tries to examinate closely the ways of construction and the reasons of this technique, pointing out its possibilities and limits also linked to the conservation topics. Looking for comparisons, the study has been spread to contruction treatises and to other examples in the territory of Modena between the 17th and the 18th c., and offers some topics for a wider research about peculiar applications in this area of this widespread technique.

KEY-WORD: “plaster and reeds” vault, wooden centring, Modena, Rocca Rangoni.

 

K. Ambrogio, A. Conforti

I “parapetti” lignei dei giardini d’agrumi marchigiani: tradizione costruttiva e problematiche conservative di un sistema a secco per la protezione invernale degli agrumi

By the term "garden" is meant a highly-specialized productive place, which developed into an architectural structure that is particularly meaningful within the rural context of Marche region. 

With the evaluation of the existing gardens and their comparison with the archive documentation and the other Italian gardens, the study highlighted and reconstructed the typologies and functions of the various architectural elements which characterize these walled-in gardens. Among the characterizing elements, the temporary structures (called parapetti, parapets, by the local inhabitants), which were used to protect citruses in winter, are particularly worth noticing. Given the short-term durability of wood structures when used outdoors, a complete instance of these parapets is not available. However, with the evaluation of the wall junctions, i.e. the intersection between the wall and the wood structure, and the survey of the remains pertaining to a peculiar urban orangery, it has been possible to reconstruct the structure and the methods of assembly. This essay contains a summary regarding the use of wood in these structures (reconstruction schemes, surveys and pictures of the best-preserved instance) and an in-depth analysis of the related conservation issues, aimed to a proper reintegration of the deteriorated elements within the overall restoration of the citrus gardens.

KEY-WORD: citrus gardens, greenhouse, terracing, landscape conservation, Adriatic coast, Marca fermana

 

P. Copani, D.Sparacino

Il tetto siciliano: recupero del valore figurativo e problemi di conservazione

The wooden floors and roofs in Sicily, built from XII to XVIII century, seem to be unique and derived from a peculiar model, used in Sicily after the Normans’ conquest. During XIV-XVI centuries, the way of building roofs in Sicily seems to become a phenomenon; we can find the same features in lots of wooden structures spread all over the island, from both structural and decorative point of view. In some cases all the surfaces of the wooden members are covered by paintings; in some others the decoration in focused on the carved ancones. Two of these roofs, both sited in the main church in Taormina, were recently restored; the two different restorations were directed to the conservation of the most part of the original members, using also steel slabs and FRP stripes in order to connect the ancient wooden parts to the added new ones.

KEY-WORD: Sicily, restoration, wooden structures, Taormina

 

N.La Rosa, G. M. Ventimiglia 

I soffitti lignei dipinti e le strutture di copertura nella architettura religiosa della Sicilia barocca. Conoscenza e diagnosi per il progetto di restauro

Wooden ceilings characterize many baroque churches in Sicily and they have a particular meaning in the spatial conception of the architecture because of the false dome prospective painted on. For such a reason they are able to dominate the baroque architectural spatiality being a planar surface. Often forgotten and difficult to reach, the wooden painted ceilings represent an meaningful testimony of history and art but they are know asking for a conservation and maintenance attitude to start. The essay explain a method to design a conservation project without scaffolding and presents the software processing phases to develop in order to point out the degradation conditions through thermography and other diagnostic tools.           

KEY-WORD: wooden painted ceiling, truss, thermography, resistograph drill, conservation project    

 

G. Battaglia, S. Caramanna , B. Guarino, M. Labriola 

Il soffitto ligneo policromo della chiesa Madre di Comiso. Dal crollo alla ricomposizione e messa in opera

The following article discusses the restauration of the wooden ceiling of Santa Maria delle Stelle church in Comiso, Sicily, carried out in 2005. The ceiling partially collapsed in a lightning storm in 1994. The slats have been  strengthened and restored  to their original setting with a new and safer system of suspension.

KEYWORD: restauration, wooden ceiling, Santa Maria delle Stelle church.

 

N. Lombardini,  P.Focaccia

Le strutture lignee della copertura della cupola della basilica di San Vitale a Ravenna: considerazioni critiche sul comportamento strutturale

The present study of the behavior of the wooden structures of the dome roof of the basilica of St. Vitale in Ravenna, wants to analyze a structure, not so well known differently from other structures of this byzantine monument built in the VIth Cent.. This necessity requires a very deep knowledge to guarantee, in case of interventions on structures, their conservation and their load bearing capacity. For all these structures, it is necessary to investigate each element, and the weakness and the strength inherent the structural design. The comparative study of classical empirical models, adopted for the design of timber structures in the first half of Nineteenth Century, is useful for the actual interpretation of the behaviour of structures to be repaired and/or structures whose carrying capacity has to be quantified in view of modern design methodologies.

KEY-WORD: cultural heritage, conservation, timber structures, ultimate limit state, historical design.

 

P. Petillo

Il soffitto cassettonato della cattedrale di Nola. Metodiche esecutive tradizionali e procedure di conservazione

The rebuilding of Nola’s cathedral, that was destroyed by an arson fire in the 1861, represents, for the period of its rebuilding, one of the most important intervention on religious background after the unity of Italy.

In the ambit of the whole event of the rebuilding, this study wants to illustrate the distinctive character that the splendid realization of the wooden caisson, truss and cloth for the greatest nave of Episcopal chair of Bruno’s city puts on.

The event changes many research works, also in relation to the technical ability of the local building industry. The intricate equipment has employed a self-sufficient structure that is independent from the cover truss.

All of the building and realization side is important, in particular way for the problems that are connected with the inside microclimate, with the executive technique of the papier-màché and with the methodical of preservation.

KEY-WORD: Caisson, truss, papier-màché, ornaments, carving, girder ligneous.

 

P. Dellavedova, C. Dusi, M. Fasser, A Pianazza

I sistemi di copertura in legno in ambito lombardo in eta’ moderna. Studio dei processi di produzione e delle tecniche costruttive per una corretta conservazione e valorizzazione

 Too often roofing of historic buildings is understood as a sacrificial element: the common way to operate on covering systems of historical constructions does not preview neither valorization, neither conservation, but partial or total substitution for insufficient acquaintance on the argument. The research wants therefore to deepen the knowledge of constructive practice in modern age, recurrent typologies and particulars or anomalous ones, especially studying historic building site. The historical carpentry for centuries based oneself upon a patrimony of empirical knowledge transmitted orally; in a vision of historical roofing as results of empirical knowledge, that slip and doesn’t follow codes and written rules, the analysis of concrete and local studies has a fundamental importance for an acknowledgment like evidencies of  technological culture that cannot be confined in the past, but introduces resources and valences in the present context.

KEY-WORDS: Roofings, wooden structures, historical restoration yard, building maintenance.

 

V. Proietti

La documentazione ed il recupero delle carpenterie lignee di copertura della serra e della torre Moresca di villa Torlonia a Roma

The restoration of wooden materials can be made using different techniques linked to: the conditions of the material,  the technique of construction, the architectural features of the monument they are connected to.

A particular case is represented by the Moresque greenhouse, by the minarete tower,by the ruins of the artificial cave  where the restoration has been made after seventy years of abandonment and after the “mummification” of the wooden parts :in fact they still have their forms but they have lost their substance. The restoration has been made recovering the structural technique, keeping the  ironmongery and replacing the wood.

KEY WORD. Moresque style, Villa Torlonia, Moorish greenhouse, Moresque tower, artificial cave, building technique,  work of carpentry, Giuseppe Jappelli 

 

J. Badalini, S.Barbò, D. Del Curto

La prova resistografica per l’analisi e la diagostica di strutture lignee in opera: letteratura, normativa, applicazioni sul costruito storico

the resistograph drilling test is a quiet non-destructive evaluation method for the in situ analysis and the diagnosis of wooden structures. This paper presents the results of several applications on wooden structures in historical contexts where its features of non-destructivity are very useful. Nowadays the employment of the resistograph is recommended during the inspection of wooden roof and floor structures, beside the direct visual inspection and the employment of other simple evaluation methods to survey the general conditions of decay.

After a brief bibliographical digression, we discuss the results obtained in a couple of in situ campaigns in the North of Italy, at the Palazzo del Podestà (Mantova) and Rocca Rangoni of Spilamberto (Mo), and during a wider-scale application of the resistograph method in the South of Italy, at Borgo Laino Castello (Cs).

The results suggest a few possible improvements of survey procedures and the resistograph itself and claim the necessity of an international survey protocol.

KEY-WORD: resistograph,wooden structures,non-destructive, inspection

 

C. Bertolini Cestari, P. Touliatos, N. Miltiadou, N. Delinikolas, C. Menichelli, A. Crivellaro, T. Marzi, E. Tsakanika, O. Pignatelli, G. Biglione

The timber roof of Hagia Paraskevi Basilica in Chalkida, Greece: multi-disciplinary methodological approaches for the understanding of the structural behaviour. Analysis and diagnosis

The paper illustrates a multidisciplinary activity involving architects, civil engineers, architecture historians, wood technologists, dendrochronologists to determine the structural behaviour of an extraordinary timber roof structure: the roof of the church of Hagia Paraskevi in Chalkida (Greece).

The activity that has been carried out at international level for the specific characteristics of the structure recalls in its forms, materials, decorations, the Venetian typology.

The work carried out is focused mainly on the diagnosis and assessment of the components and connections of the timber structures.

In particular, the paper describes: the history of the building; the typology and the constructional analysis of the timber structure; the visual inspection on the wooden components and joints for the estimation of the class of resistance; the punctual instrumental diagnosis; the definition of thematic mapping of the decays. The paper concludes with an overall assessment and estimation of the structural efficiency of the elements and connections of the roof timber structure.

KEY-WORDS: timber roof, cultural heritage, structural behaviour, diagnosis, multidisciplinary approach

 

R. Corrao, A. Failla, M. Lucentini, F. Tesè

Indagine sperimentale per la caratterizzazione meccanica di elementi strutturali misti in legno-acciaio e legno-acciaio-calcestruzzo

The paper reports the results of the research activity aimed to define the physical-mechanics characteristics of structural elements made of wood-steel, and/or wood-steel-concrete, jointed by steel connectors. The elements used for the tests are: glulam beams with two different dimensions (110x240x4000 mms and 110x140x4000 mms); steel flats 100x6x4000 mms with holes  20 mms arranged like "quinconce"; steel connectors like: flat with 6 mms thickness;  18; angular; polymeric synthetic binder with epoxy base bicomponent (Xepox 40.3/5). Shear tests have been made to define the capacity for deformation and the resistance of the different steel connectors. Moreover, bending tests have been made with the aim to verify the effectiveness of the structural collaboration among wood-steel beam and concrete slab. The paper shows the different tests cycles and gives useful information about the possibility to use the tested structural systems not only for building new wood-steel-concrete floors but also for the recovery of existing solid wood floors.    

KEY-WORD: steel connector, composite floor, glulam beam, solid wood floor

 

V. Dal Piaz, A. Guarnieri, N. Milan, A. Vettore

Tecniche di misura integrate per il rilevamento ed  il controllo di stabilita’  di una struttura storica lignea

The chance provided by terrestrial laser scanners (TLS) to achieve, in short time, very dense, accurate and detailed 3D data drew in recent years the interest of surveyors, engineers, architects and archaeologists towards the laser scanning technique as an invaluable surveying mean for 3D modeling of sites and artifacts of cultural heritage. Despite several applications have been so far developed in this field, the use of TLS systems for stability control has been not yet well addressed. In the view of insight investigation on this topic, a research project was established in order to evaluate the use of multiple surveying techniques for the stability control of a complex historical structure. To this aim, terrestrial laser scanning (TLS), total station (TS), deflectometers, photogrammetry and termography have being employed to perform a set of surveys of the Anatomy Theatre of the University of Padua, one of the oldest, most important and best-known historical “medical” buildings. The main goal of this work is to verify, through repeated surveys, the stability over the time of this kind of structure, given the inherent organic decay of the wooden parts.

KEY-WORDS. Terrestrial Laser Scanning, 3D modeling, Cultural Heritage, FEM analysis,   Stability Control.

N. Macchioni, M. Mannucci, O. Pignatelli

La copertura della “dogana veneta” di Lazise (VR). Indagine sulle caratteristiche costruttive e datazione

The roof structure of the so called “Dogana Veneta” in Lazise (Verona – Italy) is an important example of the old traditional venetian carpentry. Because of some construction peculiarities emerged during a diagnostic campaign, some technological characteristics such as wood species, assembling marks, surface finishings (broad axe, hand saw, machine saw) and some others were surveyed on the trusses elements. The obtained data along with those coming from dendrochronological analysis enabled to recognize the original elements from those introduced later by substitutions with new timbers or old timbers removed from the structure itself.

KEY-WORD: timber, structures, assembling marks, dendrochronology

 

M. Clausi, G.M. Crisci, M.F. La Russa, M. Malagodi, A.M. Palermo, S.A. Ruffolo

Studio degli effetti prodotti da funghi da carie bianca e bruna su legno trattato con prodotti consolidanti

The present work intends to illustrate problems linked to wood conservation and protection in the case of biological attack. The experimentation regards effects produced by white and brown rot, on White poplar (Populus alba) and Fir spruce (Picea abies), treated with two consolidants, Paraloid B72 and Regalrez 1126, both applied individually as well as together, with the aim of obtaining a different level of penetration in the wood. The aim was to test whether these products, wich are generally applied during restoration, can have biocid actions on healthy wood, evaluating changes both on a morphological and chemical level induced by fungus attack, analysing susceptibility to biological colonisation and testing protective efficacy. The obtained results for Fir spruce showed how different penetration of  the two type of consolidands favoured selective development of only one of the two rots, slowing down, but not blocking, biological growth. On White poplar samples both consolidants showed, over all, a good protective efficacy.

KEY-WORD  wood, white rot, brown rot, consolidants, Paraloid B72, Regalrez 1126, biological growth.

 

G.Genco, A. Lo Monaco, C.Pelosi, R.Picchio,U. Santamaria

La valutazione  sperimentale di consolidanti per il legno

The aim of this work has been to test some commercial products as consolidants of the structure of two wooden species: poplar (Populus sp.) and walnut (Juglans regia L.). The chosen products are acrylic, epoxy and aliphatic compounds available in commerce and often employed for other applications. The wooden samples have been prepared according to the UNI ISO instructions. The wood characteristic parameters have been measured: density, basic density, shrinkage, porosity, colour. The wooden samples have been artificial aged by means of frost/thaw cycles. The consolidants have been applied to the wood samples aged and not by means of under vacuum immersion. At the end the wood characteristic parameters and the FTIR spectra have been measured to evaluate the product effectiveness for the wood treatment.

KEY-WORD: wood, consolidant, colour, FTIR spectrometry

I. Santoni, B. Pizzo, N. Macchioni

Utilizzo dell’aglio nell’incollaggio del legno per il restauro.  Valutazione dell’efficacia nell’utilizzo con colle animali

 The use of garlic to improve the adhesion on wood is a widespread practice among restorers, that often hand down traditions not always documented. In some books, the practice of rubbing garlic on the wood surface or squeeze the juice directly into the glue to improve the adhesion is recommended. The aim of this work is to evaluate and quantify the eventual improvement, if any, of the strength of glued joints due to the use of garlic as adhesion promoter. Tests were carried out on four species: walnut (Juglan regia sp.), poplar (Populus sp.), Alpine stone pine (Pinus cembra L.) and rosewood (Machaerium scleroxilon Tul.). For all the species no relationship was observed between the strengths of surfaces treated with garlic and the untreated ones. A different behaviour was evidenced when the wood percentage failure was taken into account.

KEY-WORD: garlic, bonding, protein glues, animal glues, rosewood, walnut, poplar, cembra pine

G. Biscontin, F.C. Izzo, C. Bini, E.Rinaldi, N. Macchioni,  B. Pizzo, C. Capretti, G. Molon, M. Regini, A. Lionello,  I. Cavaggioni, Z. Morabito

Indagini preliminari sul comportamento delle fondazioni lignee a Venezia

The preliminary study of the state of conservation of Venice wooden foundations is here presented. From ancient times, waterlogged wood has been considered to be strongly resistant, due to the fact that the conditions are not favourable for the degradation processes. Nevertheless, recent studies on historical building foundations in Venice and in Amsterdam show a very different situation, underlining the necessity of an in-depth and accurate research.

This research was supported by CORILA (Consorzio per il coordinamento delle ricerche sul sistema lagunare di Venezia).

KEY-WORD: waterlogged wood, wooden foundations, Venice, deterioration, bacteria, CORILA.

 

G. Biscontin,  M. Benedetti, U. Dainese, G. Driussi,  Z. Morabito, M. Tonon

Una metodologia di indagine per la valutazione sul consolidamento del legno

proposta di una metodologia di indagine e valutazione dell’efficacia di trattamenti consolidanti per il legno. In particolare si approfondisce il problema del trattamento nel caso di elementi lignei non portanti. L’aspetto delicato è rappresentato dal processo decisionale sulla base dei risultati ottenuti in laboratorio.

KEY-WORD: consolidamento, legno, efficacia, processo decisionale

 

O. Allegretti, P. Dionisi-Vici, C. Vincenzi, M. De Vincenzi

Attività di monitoraggio dei parametri microclimatici di ambienti espositivi come  pratica preventiva per una corretta conservazione di manufatti lignei dei BB.CC.

Because of the particular behaviour of wood caused by thermo-hygrometric conditions, the monitoring of Wooden Cultural Heritage objects reactions in their exhibiting environment is very important in order to improve their conservation and to protect them by this potential physical-mechanical degradation agent.

Due to the specificity of each artwork, both from the structural point of view and from its previous microclimatic history (for its largest part totally unknown), the analysis of the artefacts response to short- and long-term variations can give useful information about the “individual” sensitivity to the exhibiting microclimate, suggesting to the people encharged of conservation to adopt more or less rigid interventions.

The IVALSA-CNR, in its San Michele all'Adige branch, in autonomy or cooperating with other research Institutions, is carrying on for many years may monitoring case-studies, at different depth levels, on artefacts under the care of the Provincia Autonoma di Trento and in other exhibiting sites.

In some case-studies the monitoring is limited, for longer or shorter periods, to the air Temperature and Relative Humidity logging, useful to verify if extreme conditions for values and type of variations occur.

In some other cases it has been possible to couple the deformative monitoring to the microclimatic logging; it gives quantitative information directly related to the microclimate, useful to be eventually used for the validation of mathematical models that, after a correct implementation, will permit a provisional analysis of the long-term behaviour of the objects.

This paper deals with some case-studies, like the S. Maria Antica church in Madonna di Campiglio, where is exhibited the most ancient Trentino flügelaltar, suffering for colour falls because – we think – of non compatible climatic conditions produced by the severe variations induced by the combination of floor heating and the mountain-continental climate; or like the panel painting on restoration Le figlie dell'imperatore, by J. Seisenegger, where the hygrometric solicitations of the planks provoked many problems to the painted layer.

On the logged data it is possible to make statistical analysis aiming to define the microclimate variance, obtaining a very efficient schematization of the higher or minor stability of the climate according to the presumed higher or lower sensitivity of the artifact under monitoring.

Keywords: microclimate, relative humidity, hygroscopic behaviour, wood, cultural heritage.

 

J. Bernardo Da Silva

Analisi non distruttiva – (stress wave timer) esempio di utilizzo nella diagnostica su elementi legnei di una  casa di tronchi Casa Grochocki

Projects of restorations need efficient diagnosis to present good results in stopping the causes of degeneration, and in preserving the architeturals woks to the new generations. This research analyses the house called «Grochocki» situated at the Murici Colony, near Curitiba, built by roof timber, trunk and board, with the brazilian wood called Araucaria angustifolia. The « logs home » is a remanent of the traditional polish colonization and the local architectural wood construction of Paraná. This study presents a non-destructive analysis with the Stress wave timer equipment. One category of deterioration was created and good results in evaluation of the wooden historical patrimony were found.

KEY-WORDS: Logs home, Analysis Non-Destructive, Wooden Architectural Patrimony.

 

S, Valtieri,  V.Vacante, A. Bianco, C. Bonsignore

Conoscenza per il  restauro delle case baraccate post 1908:  le indagini in situ della Filanda Cogliandro a Villa San Giovanni

The Cogliandro’s silk mill in the locality of Cannitello in Villa San Giovanni belongs to a system of manufactory sites for the production and weaving of silk, developed in the area of Reggio Calabria, in ways no moreartisan,during the second half of the nineteenth century, giving rise to a industrial-manufacturing architecture, which during the post-earthquake reconstruction in 1908 assumed the character of strong peculiarities. The object of this article concerns the shed for spinning, realized with a particular constructive technology: the “baraccamento”. This is a building technology known in Calabria from the sixteenth century, used after the earthquake of 1783 and widely used in the reconstruction of Calabrian cities after the earthquake of 1908.

The experimental experience has been to establish a protocol for testing equipment suspects in situ (thermography, pacometric tester, ultrasonic tester and resistograph) which had the dual function of give informations about the technical construction system used, not directly inspected in every detali, and to give directions about diseases and state of conservation of timber, producing  a set of useful informations to the definition phase of the project within the plan of conservation.

KEY-WORD: silk mill, casa baraccata, conservation, Cannitello di Villa San Giovanni, thermography, pacometric tester, ultrasonic tester, resistograph, wood boring insect.

 

S. Cacciola , A. Kweder  G. Romano

La Sacrestia del Duomo di Messina: conoscere, conservare 

Wood, archetypal building material, has always urged the creativity of all artists by means of its many sided features. Wood manufacture turns natural raw substance into finished components. This specific deed implies a refined and detailed intellectual procedure, the plan. During the executive phases the manufacturing process supports the plan, the artisan/artist and his technical knowledge, producing sometimes rare pieces or unique examples.

According to this point of view, we can consider the Sacrestia of Messina Cathedral (1930-1934) a very particular object. Strongly characterized by sixteenth-century composition elements, the wooden work refers to the most bold twentieth century avant-gardes by means of many significant reveals.

The strong points of the work are the accurate plan and the refined execution. The study of original documentary sources and the direct inspection of the manufactured good mean to discover and transmit information on stuffs and techniques aiming to reassess artistic knowledge get disused and neglected trough industrial design. We also mean to analyze the condition of the Sacrestia aiming to project a specific maintenance plan for its conservation.

KEY-WORDS: wood, archetype, plan, avant-garde, manufacture,conservation, maintenance.

 

S. Colajanni, A. De Vecchi

Criteri per la conservazione delle coperture lignee tradizionali della Sicilia occidentale: recupero di pratiche costruttive e materiali tradizionali locali

The paper presents the result of a research carried out at the DPCE (Dipartimento di Progetto e Costruzione Edilizia) of the Università di Palermo. It was aimed at identifying typical wooden span roof systems in the ancient architecture of western Sicily. For this study, seventy constructions built with various building techniques have been selected for their peculiarities.

The research has paid particular attention to the components and the functional parts of the covering which have also been compared with the information acquired from written historical hand book. This comparison it was aimed at the individuation of the best way to build these covering structures and the possible precautionary measures aimed at preserving the wooden structures from the development of decay phenomena. The work has been developed through historical investigations, from which have information about the building component were realized to verify trough modern theories and laboratory tests. It’s allows to evaluation the performances given from the wooden elements both under the original conditions that different stadiums of the decay.

KEY-WORD: Wood, Recovery, Traditional Material, Roof, Historical Handbook.

 

R. Madorno , M. Baldi, R. Baldi , L. de Bonetti

St. Francesco - Carbonare Church – Trento. Disinfestazione con microonde ad elevata frequenza pulsata

We’re going to see what is perhaps the most famous, common and dangerous technology in the wood microwave pest control (2,5 to 3GHz and 500 until 3500W). This article will take us to see what maybe will be becoming the latest generation of microwave pest control instrument, a millimetre microwave instrument based on the new military technology with a new microwave cooled tubes. This new technology allows to operating with very low dangers limits or also without dangers for the human health, with more precision and at distances between 2 to 5 meters from the target. We will also be dealing with a new method for increased elastic modulus in wood damaged structures.

Keywords:  Millimeter microwave. Microwave tube. Raytheon. Cellulose. Lignin. Emilcellulose Crystallization. Ultra light aeronautical composite materials.

 

E.Manzoni,  A. Dusi,  C. Dusi,  V. Calzoni

La schedatura delle strutture lignee in opera per il progetto di consolidamento: un esempio sulle coperture di due palazzi cremonesi

This paper reports on an iterative procedure developed by the authors that allows to evaluate the performance of existing timber structure in the rehabilitation design phase. The proposed methodology also permits an easy follow up in the execution phase and, if needed, to quickly update and modify the intervention based on the actual condition.

An exhaustive form based on the relevant UNI cultural heritage norms is given allowing for the study of both simple and complex timber structure.

KEY-WORD: existing timber frame, performance evaluation, iterative procedure, classification.

 

N. Edi Montaruli, E.Conti, J.-W. van de Kuilen, W. F. Gard

Residual durability of an out-of-service mooring post

Timber species are classified based on their natural durability, which is the resistance to degradation caused by biological agents, like wood decay fungi, insects and marine borers. Natural durability is commonly used to predict the service life of wood commodities in different use situations.

However, little is known about how the natural durability of a timber species might be affected depending on the service life situation and history.

In this work, the residual natural durability of a pole of basralocus (Dicorynia guianensis) used as a mooring post for about 40 years, has been evaluated through laboratory fungal decay tests.

The results of the tests showed that the durability class of the timber pole was still comparable with the nominal values found in the literature for this wood species.

These findings can be applied to prevent that old structures are unnecessarily demolished and for decision making regarding the possible reuse of the timber or of structures featuring a good performance potential.

KEY-WORD: natural durability, decay tests, basidiomycetes fungi, service classes, hydraulic structure, resistance behaviour.

 

A. Della Patria, S. Omarini

Il colore del legno

Different types of woods are investigated from the point of view of the colour. The purpose of the work is double, first to set up a procedure to experimental measurements of the colour of different woods thinking to a possible data bank. The second target was a methodology to monitoring the wooden surfaces by monitoring their possible changing of colour in the time.

KEY-WORD: Colorimetry, woods, wood facing, measure procedures.

 

M. Sebastianelli, F. Palla, F. P. Mancuso, G. Rizzo, B. Megna, M.C. Di Natale

Un soffitto ligneo intagliato e miniato del XV sec. in Sicilia.  Studio e indagini diagnostiche

The truss roof in the S. Maria degli Angeli church in Caccamo (Palermo, Sicily) was released at the end of the XV century by Giovanni Liccio. The ceiling consists of 13 trusses finely carved and painted. In order to fully understand such a complex structure several scientific analysis were performed, before and during the restoration intervention, starting from 2008. The scientific investigation was carried on to improve the knowledge of executing technique and constitutive materials of the roof, regarding both paintings and structure. Identification of wooden species used in the construction was performed by means of optical microscopy, the pigment used were identified by micro Raman spectroscopy. Furthermore the entomological and microbiological decaying factors were identified by means of microscopic observation and molecular microbiology methods.

The restoration was carried out according to reversibility and recognisability principles and led to a good readability of the artcraft, respecting the original chromatic values of both paintings and wooden elements.

Key-words: truss roof restoration, carved – painted wood, Raman spectroscopy, molecular microbiology, Sicily.

 

E. Quagliarini, E. Petrucci , R. Terpolilli

La conservazione del plafone in legno del Teatro Filarmonici di Ascoli Piceno: la conoscenza come input iniziale per l’intervento di restauro

The plafond of Filarmonici Theatre in Ascoli Piceno consists, as most theatres in the Marches, in a “camorcanna” vault (plaster and reed laths hanging from wooden centerings). It shows an advanced degree of unsteadiness and it was characterized by localized yieldings of the “camorcanna” and a substantial lowering of the main wooden frame, resulting in fractures in

intradossal plaster as well as sinking of the mat-covered shelter and disjunction of plastery layers.

By way of the examination of the plafond, it has been possible to point out its advanced deterioration and also to specify the interventions to be carried out during the restoration.

Key –words  analysis finalized to the restauration of theatrical plafone

 

M.Romagnoli, A. Bistoni, F. Agostini, F.Spanedda, V Vinciguerra

Insetti xilofagi: metodologie per la valutazione dello stato di degrado e delle variazioni chimico-fisiche nel legno

A protocol to study the extent of xylophagous insect attack on wood is proposed, taking into account the implications on the physical (especially on wood water relationships) and chemical properties. 6 wood disks of silver fir attacked by Anobidae were investigated. The extent of degradation was estimated by visual inspection, measuring the number of galleries respect a reference surface according to a gradient pith-external part of  each disk. A class of degradation was established and SEM analysis was also performed. The visual analysis inner-external part of each disk has shown how the outer specimen are usually the most damaged. As regards as wood-water effect, the most damaged samples (class 3) tend to equilibrate at a higher equilibrium moisture content (EMC) than the less degraded ones. This effect is more pronounced for higher Equilibrium Moisture Content (EMC). Pyrolysis has shown also differences in the peaks of phenolic components.

Key words: Cultural Heritage; Py/GC/MS; SEM; Wood;  insect, wood-water, lignin.

C. Colla,  A.Benedetti, . G. Pascale

Diagnosi di elementi strutturali lignei mediante tomografia sonica  per la valutazione dello stato di conservazione

Wooden structural elements make up a relevant percentage in historical buildings. The material itself and employed workmanship techniques have to be protected and passed on through a careful material preservation. In the light of recent Italian technical regulations on constructions and of their guidelines devoted to Cultural Heritage, non-destructive structural diagnosis, to be carried out on site, assumes a greater role aimed at obtaining fundamental information for a correct planning of preservation or intervention design. With regard to wood, few testing techniques are available and suffer of limitations such as the punctual character of acquired data or the reliability of data interpretation. There is a need for advanced methodologies collecting data on large portions of the element and able to offer easier data visualization and interpretation, and quantitative knowledge of the element preservation.

Sonic tomography has been applied in the lab on a historic silver-fir beam. Signal velocity maps have been plotted corresponding to longitudinal and transversal beam cross-sections. The colours in the maps represent areas with different density and mechanical properties, thus at different decay levels. The principles of the technique and the data acquisition design together with procedures during testing are presented. The diagnostic results are verified ex-post on slices cut from the beam.

KEYWORDS: NDT, structural element, wood, diagnostic, sonic, tomography, preservation, decay.

 

C. Bertolini Cestari, G. Biglione, L. Cestari, G. Corradino, A. Crivellaro, D. De Luca, T. Marzi, R. Pasquino

Per la conservazione delle grandi coperture lignee del Duomo di Vercelli

The great timber roof structures of the Cathedral of Vercelli offer an extraordinary path of knowledge, diagnosis and conservation, through a collaboration between the architects of the Cultural Heritage Office of the Diocese of Vercelli – responsible for the restoration process – and experts in the field of timber structures.

The interest of the architectural complex is witnessed also by the contribution of renewed architects of Piedmont between the XVIth and XIXth centuries.

KEY-WORDS:  timber roof, diagnosis, survey, monumental heritage, history.

 

G. Garabelli, M. Varetto, L. E. Brancati, M. Locandieri  N. Macchioni, B. Pizzo E. Pecoraro

Prove di consolidamento e di trattamento superficiale del legno combusto e carbonizzato di una struttura architettonica lignea del XX secolo

In a XX cent. church in Torino ( I ) forty years ago a small fire partially burned some of the boards of the organ. During the restoration works it was decided to consolidate the charred surface layer of these burnt boards. Paper deals with the evaluation of the efficacy of the consolidation trials made with some different consolidant compounds, easily available on the market.

KEY-WORD: charred wood, consolidation, burned wood, carbonized wood, charcoal, wood conservation.

 

S. Barbò, C. Chesi, L. Jurina

Una possibile modalita’ di consolidamento per travi in legno

Roof and slab structures in the Italian tradition make commonly use of timber elements; the conservation of  this typology also in common residential buildings is nowadays perceived as a value, and strengthening of existing structures is preferred, when possible, to substitution with new elements and materials, not belonging to the tradition.  In this study the use of steel elements as reinforcement of timber beams is addressed; through a detailed analysis of the literature, it is shown that this technique belongs to tradition, and may provide an effective way to increasing both strength and resistance. Through the experimental  testing of a timber beam specimen coming from an old building, a reinforcing technique has been analyzed and the effect of the design parameters  is discussed.

KEY-WORDS: timber, beam, steel, cable, slab, reinforcing.

L. Quartana

Il restauro del modello ligneo del Duomo di Milano

The large wooden model in the Duomo's Museum of Milan, known as the ‘modellone’, reproduces the city cathedral in scale 1:20. This handwork is about 5 metres tall and 8 metres long, allowing a person to pass through it. The building of the “modellone” went on over three centuries. In 1519 the the work was entrusted to Bernardino Zenale by the Chapter of the Veneranda Fabbrica, and after a series of additions and restorations carried out for three centuries, beginning from the XVII century, it reached its final shape around 1888, when the carver Giovanni Brambilla realized the façade. Since the model is composed of about one thousand pieces, the first problem to solve in the present restoration was the dismantling of the object. Many unsuitables components like screws, nails and other, used in the course of previous restorations and reassemblings, have been found, so that disassembly has been a very difficult work. Nails and screws, badly put on by likely poorly qualified workers, caused damages to the wooden structures. The present restoration had permitted to repair and reconstruct many parts of the original block system, reinforcing in this way the whole structure. All nails and screws have been removed and replaced by innovative glass fiber screws, created ad hoc for this restoration, conceived to avoid damages coming from metallic elements. The cleaning of the wooden surfaces has been carried out in many parts by means of laser tecnology.

KEY-WORD: glass fiber screws, modellone, laser tecnology, dismantling, rebuilding, cleaning.

 

S. Mazzeo, C. Genovese

Il soffitto ligneo dipinto del duomo di Messina rilievo, storia e restauro

reconstructive history of the wooden ceiling of Messina cathedral, which was destroyed by the earth quake in 1908. The ceiling was reconstructed in reinforced-concrete covered in painted wood. The first part of the essay states the hypotheses about the constructional features and the technique used to assemble the wooden elements of this complex structure. These hypotheses are based on unpublished collation between Morey and Violletle-Duc drawings. These are now the only traces left of the original painted wooden ceiling. The second part of the essay is devoted to the path followed in the reconstruction of the ceiling made by the superintendent Valenti who firstly supervised the reconstruction of the cathedral in 1908 when it collapsed during the earthquake. Later Valenti was involved in the second reconstruction of the cathedral after the bombing in 1943, when it was completely destroyed. The drawings of reconstruction representing where and how the cathedral was, reveal several interesting constructional details of the new covering made of reinforced-concrete covered in wood. In this method of reconstruction, like others of that time, wood was used only as a covering material, since it was considered structurally unreliable.

KEY-WORDS: Painted wooden ceiling, Messina cathedral, survey, P. Morey and E. Viollet-le-Duc, post war reconstruction, Francesco Valenti.

A. Bellini , M. Sita,  F. Gerbelli,  M. M.Grisoni

Il “cascinetto” di Stezzano (Bergamo): scelte ed indirizzi per l’intervento di conservazione delle orditure lignee di copertura

 Cascinetto is the nickname used for a rural architecture situated close to Bergamo, straight to the main way to reach and pass through the town and its nearby. Despite the word generally used to indicate the building, it’s history reveal the tracks of a long tale related with the aristocratic family – named Moroni and titled counts - whose properties are recognized both in Bergamo and in Stezzano - where the Cascinetto is located too - up to the XVII century. So that, despite the simplicity of its architecture, the Cascinetto has the capacity to translate into the language of architecture the richness of its history.

The project - dated from 2005 to 2009 - was required to re-use this historical building for public purposes. Architects tried to reach the required purpose also preserving to the building the variety of its meanings, recognized or to be recognized yet. Especially with the conservation of the ancient wooden roof - reached with a tiny industry of repairs and seams, integrations and addictions – they declined renovation and restoration.

Key-words: Bergamo, Stezzano, Cascinetto, Cascina Moroni, re-use, conservation, wood-warping, roof.

 

C. Bertolotto,  F. Novelli, A. Rava

La conservazione e tutela delle opere devozionali in legno scolpito, dorato e dipinto in valle di Susa (TO)

Restoration of seventeenth – century sculptures in Val di Susa territory near Torino was done after an historical research and technical study of the contest and the territory. The informations  about the biocide methods were decisive for planning the restoration work, in order to insure a long lasting for of the treated object.

KEY-WORD: wooden sculptures – Val di Susa - biocide – anossia. 

 

L.Barbanti , S. Garufi, D.Jeanmonod, R. Uslenghi

I solai lignei di Villa Mylius: una scelta tra la normativa e la conservazione

The Villa Mylius in Sesto San Giovanni (Milan) of eighteenth-century origin underwent many transformations over the centuries, both typological and of use destination. Its floors are mainly realized with wooden structures as the architectural structural tradition required. During the phases of diagnostic survey, preliminary to the structural working, it has been discovered that a floor, hidden at the intrados by a nineteenth-century false ceiling, was made of painted joists and of a finely decorated wooden flooring. The project choice led to the transposition from floor to ceiling of the decorated floor, by means of dismantling all the parts and hanging them on a steel frame hooked to the existing brick-cement ceiling, resulting from a previous never ended working which had left the room without a finished ceiling.

KEY-WORDS: conservation, diagnostics, decorated wooden floor, structural reinforcement, hanging structure, use compatibility

 

E.E. Barbero

Struttura e magnificenza: l’impiego, la conservazione ed il recupero del legno nel Palazzo Reale di Torino

The largest part of the structures and the decorations of the Royal Palace in Turin are in wood. It has been one of the main construction materials for a long time. Thus it allowed the realization of different elements thanks to its versatility: from the seventeenth-century coffered ceilings, with their golden decorations, to the partitions built to divide greater environments in smaller precious rooms during the XVIII, to truss similar to the lamellars already realized in the first half of XIX century. The restauration and the maintenance of wood are daily faced in the residence, trying to follow the traditional methodologies of intervention used at the same period of their realization and then applied in the subsequent maintenance. Then we have proceeded to simple polishing with light solvents both on lacquered and gilded surfaces and on those in natural wood, protecting them with waxes of bees or with wick paintings. This kind of methodology has also been followed for interventions on less precious furniture, as well on those of the kitchens. On the latter we have wanted to keep the wearing effect of time, as the marks of the knives and effect on the working surfaces, in order to remember the real-life. The same methodology has been applied on the masterpieces of great cabinetmakers as Pietro Piffetti, on which we have proceeded with simple interventions of polishing and consolidation.

KEY – WORD versatility – structure - decorum – magnificence – maintenance – tradition – real-life

 

L.P. Bellocchio,  A. Bellocchio, L. Di Bella

I soffitti lignei dipinti di Villa Scheibler a Milano, un intervento di consolidamento e di restauro

The unit of Villa Scheibler in Milan, built on the XVIIth- XVIIIth century, with older pre-existents that go back to Ludovico il Moro property, has on its inside, in the west wing, wooden ceilings decorated in the intrados with flower patterns. After the restorations commissioned by Milan Municipal district on 2007, these valuable proofs of a local building technique have been strengthen and restored (see different villas in the Milan area)

The floors have been strengthen with a mixed technique of wood/concrete and metal connecters, the wooden painted surfaces have been appropriately restored. The ceilings without decorations have been restored and protected, some with virgin bees-wax, others with final Bologna plaster finishing.

KEY-WORD: wooden decorated ceilings, XVIth-XVIIth century decorations

 

G.Castiglioni, R. Braggio, F. Legnaghi, G. Frigo, P. Peverelli, E. Colombo, M.V. F. de Adamich, M. Raffaeli, A. Pulcini,

L. Jurina

La carpenteria mista legno-metallo nell’architettura ecclesiastica del Seicento Veronese.  Analisi strutturale e progetto di consolidamento e restauro della copertura di San Nicolò all’Arena a Verona

According to the historian Giuseppe Silos in his "1666 Historiae Clericorum Regularium", the Theatiunes' church of San Nicolò at the Arena is considered one of Verona's most significant episodes of sacred architecture, both for its "mole amplissima" and for the "magneficenza". Its complex structural carpentry cover is characterized by an unusual system of metallic chains put in place already during the construction along with the imposing Palladian wooden trusses, typical of the Venetian tradition.

The careful survey and functional understanding of the complex structural carpentry cover - never scientifically investigated until now - has proved to be essential for the proper interpretation of the construction phases as well as for the degradation and transformation of the entire church. This is an exemplary case in which the understanding of the constructive wisdom exercised by 17th century masons and carpenters, together with an extensive diagnostics campaign, has made it possible to measure the structural preservation project and its implementation very carefully.

KEY-WORDS: wooden structures, Palladian trusses, extrados chain.

 

R. Fabbri, L. Bissi, L. Marquardt, M. Anselmi

Le imbarcazioni storiche in uso: problemi e ipotesi per la definizione delle metodologie di conservazione e restauro della struttura lignea

The Italian naval tradition produced crafts of particular historical and technological importance. A lot of studies thought back the stages in the progress of structural development and the traditions connected to these transports; still little has been done to give these wooden boats an adequate conservative intervention programme which would allow to preserve, as much as possible, the features time has carved into them, without making them useless and forcing them into a museum.  

KEY-WORDS: wooden crafts, conservation, restoration, navigation

 

H. Fallahdar,Z, Moradi, A. Salehi

Restauro e Conservare il Legno in Mar Caspio

In the region of Caspian Sea Before applying materials such as iron, brick and ceramics in civil structures, wood was one of the main ancient materials available. Using this material has been common due to easy accessibility, light weight, resistance against pressure, tension and shear stress, simple and easy connections, in assembling. By such characteristics would cause wood to be classified among other materials which are used in buildings and constructions.

Due to the existence of vast resources of wood on territory beyond Caspian Sea, using this material is abundant. The local architecture of this evergreen region represents the skillful application of wood in buildings during the historical eras in a proper way. The purpose of this study is to examine the type of architecture introducing such kind of values which has almost been forgotten on the pretext of using modern materials and sophisticated technology. This has endangered it, most of the materials imported in this region are less suitable for the climate and weather conditions in the region.

In these parts because of the basic materials used in the desertic architecture propered are based on cotto and mud-bricks order, it has never been taken into valorization. In the recent years, concerning the study of the territory, museum of Gilan, is regarded as a fundamental conservative action.

M. Dezzi Bardeschi, G. Guarisco, G. Becattini, F.Zaccheo

L’intervento di conservazione e consolidamento dei solai lignei dell’ex chiesa della Trasfigurazione a Cantù (CO)

The wooden-beam floors of the sixteenth century ex Church of St Ambrogio in Cantù (CO), located in small buildings inside the main one, have been the object of a strongly opposed conservation, because they were not considered suitable for the future museum use. After having identified the main points and the pathologies of degradation and after having worked on the materials in place, loading tests were performed that determined the static compatibility with the planned museum use. As a warranty for the static behavior of the floors two innovative consolidation systems have been designed and implemented, consisting in wing reinforcements made in plexiglass.

KEYWORD Wooden-beam, conservation, material test, consolidation system

 

M. Montuori,  T. La Piana

La conservazione degli impalcati lignei del palazzo ducale Ceva-Grimaldi in Solopaca:  un’esperienza in corpore vili tra consolidamento critico e reintegrazione dell’immagine

In seismic-prone areas, the technical experience of a culture tested a large number of structural systems to prevent injuries from earthquakes and, according to its knowledge, improve building techniques. In masonry buildings, wooden structures, due to the lightness of material and the ductility of connections, attest to be more efficient than other systems. This is one of the reason to improve an up-dated approach to timber building systems, paying the proper attention to load bearing structure, remembering the responsibility of structural mechanism efficiency in architectural heritage maintenance. In the present paper, a case study yard involved in proper conservation of wooden structures and their aesthetical coat (i.e. incartate), solved with non-invasive and traditional techniques, is briefly presented.

KEY-WORD: timber structures, wooden beams,  chiancarelle, incartate.

 

F.Lionetto,  M. Frigione

Effetto di un nuovo consolidante organico sulle proprietà meccaniche e di durabilità naturale del legno di noce

 Starting from the analysis of the biological degradation of the statue of “Malladrone” in the church of S. Francesco d’Assisi in Gallipoli, a study on the use of new synthetic resins for preserving/consolidating wooden works of art has been carried out. The effect of the new product on the flexural properties, toughness, hardness and natural durability has been assessed on both worm eaten and not worm eaten walnut wood.

The reason for such work arises from the necessity to deepen the knowledge of the mechanical behaviour of wood treated with new organic products in order to apply it to a better preservation of cultural heritage.

KEY-WORD: wooden works of art, toughness, bending strength, hardness,  natural durability.

 

M. Montuori

La reintegrazione degli apparati lignei e la macchina liturgica dell’Oratorio dell’Annunziata in Ravello

Generally, conservation aspects of wood shaped artefacts are very complex and raise questions of complex solution; this study highlights, as well, some points of methodological interest that may take into meaning beyond the specific case. The ancon complexity lies in the fact that wood not only supports polychrome layers, but with its carved shape contributes to figurative composition expression; consequently, the recognition of links between the role played and the constructive design, from morphological, geometrical and material point of view, has identified the guidelines for the conservation process. Thus, once considered the deterioration causes and arranged the system of effective connections in the building, it was settled the ongoing working framework, as a critical act not only directed to polychromy recognition, but also to reveal the articulation of parts in relief.

KEY-WORD: altar, ancon, polychrome artefacts, wood shaped artefacts.

D. Foppoli, A. Paneroni, A. Pianazza

Esempi di restauro conservativo di strutture lignee in area alpina e prealpina

In the following paper are described strenghtening techniques on the wooden structures of two historical buildings placed on the northern part of Lombardy. A proper initial diagnostical activity have provided the parameters suitable for developing a statical analysis and for designing the reinforcement works based on compatible, recognizable and reversible techniques. The chase of study of the strenghtening of wooden floor of Palazzo Besta in Teglio shall emphasize that a proper diagnostical analysis is necessary for a correct design and the chase of study of reinforcement of wooden roof of San Pietro in Lamosa monastery in Provaglio d’Iseo shall emphasize that a proper design for executing is necessary to improving the on site works.

KEY-WORD: wooden structures, on site inspection, reinforcement techniques

 

E.Del Federico,F.De Vita, A. Mordini, D.Pittaluga, M.Tansini Petrali

Rocca Rangoni (Mo), soffitto a cassettoni: un approccio metodologico ad un’ipotesi di restauro

L’occasione: una dimora, rocca Rangoni, di impianto medievale, abitata sempre dalla stessa famiglia dominante, tra le più antiche e prestigiose dell’area emiliana, dal XVIII secolo ha sostanzialmente mantenuto il suo impianto e non ha di fatto subito più alcun intervento significativo. La Rocca , acquistata nel 2005 dal Comune, unitamente ad un parco di 5 ettari, è posta nel centro storico di Spilamberto.

La possibilità: uno studio congiunto tra esperti di diverse facoltà (Politecnico di Milano, Università di Modena, Università di Ferrara, Università di Bologna…) e la volontà da parte del Comune di un recupero del complesso1 con la partecipazione di diverse istituzioni (Soprintendenza per il Patrimonio storico, Artistico ed Etnoantropologico per le provincie di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Soprintendenza per i Beni Archeologici dell’Emilia Romagna, Soprintendenza per i Beni Architettonici e per il Paesaggio per le Provincie di Bologna, Modena e Reggio Emilia) permette di avere a disposizione una mole considerevole di dati riguardo allo stato di fatto2. L’interesse specifico: sono presenti all’interno del complesso strutture lignee di essenze varie (pioppo, abete rosso, abete bianco, quercia…), lavorate in diverso modo con strumenti differenti (ascia, pialla, sega a mano, sega a nastro…). L’interesse non è dovuto, però, solo alla molteplicità delle essenze ad esse sovrapposte (decorazioni a tempera, dorature, sovrapposizioni di decorazioni su carta…). Nello specifico, con la volontà di favorire sinergie tra enti pubblici, si sta approntando una sorta di cantiere-scuola per il restauro di un ambiente con soffitto ligneo, decorato con pitture su legno e su carta, posto al piano nobile del corpo settentrionale della Rocca. Infiltrazioni d’acqua nel tempo hanno provocato alterazioni e degradi . Allo stato attuale si stanno soppesando diverse alternative di restauro: la valutazione di possibili varianti oltreché un passaggio ineludibile dell’iter progettuale, diventa così, se opportunamente coordinata e gestita, anche un momento di ricerca.

KEY-WORD: soffitto ligneo, cassettoni, decorazioni, imprimitura, supporti cartacei, degrado, restauro.

 

B.G. Lattuada , M. Petrucci, M. Rosa

“Il legno: lait motive di una reggia estiva. Conoscenza e restauro delle pavimentazioni intarsiate

One of the main protagonist of Monza’s Villa Reale is with no doubt wood. Natural or carved it represents the guideline in the history of the royal residence construction and decoration: from the big oak beam ceiling to the attics and the floors. And from the boiseries, that in some cases cover walls room completely, to the precious inlaid game tables made by Giuseppe Maggiolini.

Restoration works done during this years as well as the ones in progress represents the occasion to deepen historical and technical/constructive knowledge of every single element, even through investigations and accurate studies or survey.

This article wants to make an excursus on investigations, summarizing as the research on construction techniques as works done on nineteenth century wooden floor.

KEY-WORD: Monza’s Villa Reale- nineteenth century wooden floor

 

M. Saeli

Interventi di lotta contro le termiti nella cinquecentesca villa Naselli di Gela Ambleri a Palermo

The presence of termites is one of the most frequent and troublesome causes of deterioration to the wooden parts of  historical and artistic building. The presence of termites cannot easily be detected as they  build hidden tunnel to facilitate undisturbed movement from their nest to the wooden structure that they infest, making treatment harder. In this work we are going to discuss the presence of two species of termites in a XVI C. villa in the suburbs of the city of Palermo, Villa Naselli di Gela Ambleri, where termites have infested some wooden window frames, built at the beginning of the last century. Particularly, we are going to look at the damage caused and the way the problem was resolved. The choice of the intervention techniques will be examined along with the financial implications to the private owner of this historical complex. The intervention used tried to mediate between the technical requirements of termite prevention / control  and the financial commitment faced.

KEY-WORD: insects, cultural heritage, termites, historical buildings, wooden structures

 

G. Signani , G. Stefanini , B. Zilocchi

“Conservazione, consolidamento statico e miglioramento antisismico delle strutture in legno delle coperture dei camminamenti del castello di Montechiarugolo (PR)”

Restoration works for public opening of Montechiarugolo Castle walkways led to a safe arrangement of masonry structures and connections of their complex link net, moreover urging wooden roof structures restoration too, in spite of their relevant worn out and remarkable dimensions. Present first operational stage to be submitted, took into account North and South branches since they resulted those into the major collapse risk by settlement and degradation experiences. Traditional materials and technologies – compatible with ancient timber structures- were applied to old structural member preservation, to static restoration and for earthquake capacity improvement. Works resulted in a positive structural performance in quake event who hit Parma shire on December 23rd 2008 thus demonstrating as some traditional technological procedures and compatible methods, together with contemporary mechanical knowledge of ancient structures behavior, do lead to high efficiency results, mostly in quake events.

KEY-WORD: Parma, Montechiarugolo Castle, traditional technological, compatible methods, static restoration, wooden roof structures restoration.

 

R.Bulgarelli, P.Gianuzzo, A.Bergamasco, A.Rango, M.Piozzi

Conoscere per decidere. Il restauro del pavimento ligneo della camera da letto del re in palazzo Chiablese – Torino

Restoration of eighteenth-century wooden floor located in the king bedroom of Palazzo Chiablese in Turin was done just after an historical research and technical-scientific study. It transpired that the kind of wood used in the damaged parts was apple-tree. This information was decisive for planning our restoration work in order to join need of curing and functional reinstatement in respect of “instructions” of who has conceived the floor in 1756, creating chromatic effect due to different kind of wood, apple-tree and walnut.

KEY-WORD   Chiablese Palace – King bedroom – Apple-tree – Wooden floor -

 

G. Metelli, Preti M. , Marini A., E.Giuriani

Intervento di riparazione di un’antica trave lignea

For the repair of ancient wooden floors, the employment of steel plates glued by epoxy-adhesive is a non-invasive technique which appears appropriate for the restoration of precious wooden beams. The proposed technique was used to repair an ancient beam in a wooden floor of the XV century in Palazzo Calini (Brescia). The beam was repaired by the use of twin steel plates glued on one side of longitudinal grooves in order to avoid the dangerous effects of wood cyclic change of volume due to the moisture variation: restraints on both sides of the steel plates would produce alternative compression and tension stresses which could cause the splitting failure of the glued surface. This technique requires particular attention because it is sensitive to the delamination of the glued reinforcement due to the stress concentration which occurs at the end of the repairing element. This phenomenon was studied experimentally with the Moiré interferometry analysis on a larch beam with a flexural crack at the midspan and reinforced with two glued steel plates.

KEY-WORD:Rehabilitation, timber beams, delamination, strengthening

 

M.M. Cherido, S. Boel, E. Ghittino

Cassettonato ligneo policromo della Sala dei Giganti di Palazzo Liviano a Padova

The spacious sixteenth-century room adjoining Palazzo Liviano, once part of the ancient Palazzo del Capitano, has preserved within its walls a precious coffered wood polychrome ceiling which has recently undergone restoration (1999-2001).

The lavish decorative work, made of octagonal coffers, rectangular tiles portraying masks with floral decorations and panels depicting faces, outlined by braided and beveled frames, presented evident signs of deterioration with traces of past interventions and repainting.

The use of wide length beams and boarding led to the formation of fissures and warping with numerous and evident disarrangements which made the dismantling and the reassembly of the paneling necessary during the work of restoration.

KEY WORD: Palazzo Livano, ceiling, coffered, polychrome wood

I

M. Omodei, V. Ghezzi, L.Sala, B.Scala

Il soffitto ligneo policromo della casa del Podestà di Lonato (BS): il restauro di un composito assemblaggio novecentesco

The restauration of the wooden ceiling, of the House of the Podesta in Lonato completed by the architect Tagliaferri, reenters in those works of completion the environments in the ancient house of the Governor Veneto. The wooden ceiling originated from the union by ceilings different and integrated in the lacking parts it has been object in 2000 2001 of a restauration that has put the particularities of the finishes of the single component elements the attic and their different quality. In the execution of the jobs the adroitness is had to maintain the signs of the work removing the elements that trey would have been able to jeopardize the maintenance of the work.

KEY-WORD: Lonato, Casa del Podestà, soffitto ligneo,

 

V.Ghezzi, M.G. Mori, L. Sala, B. Scala

Le “macchine” del Triduo. Questioni di devozione e problemi di conservazione e restauro

The contribution takes into consideration the "macchine" of the triduum, the spectacular wooden and papier-mâché scenic architectures prepared on the occasion of the three days of prayers offered for the souls of the dead, a rite introduced in the Catholic liturgy in the Counter-Reformation age. This rite was often celebrated by the middle of the carnival as a Christian antithesis to the profane festivities in this period of the year. The apparatus is an articulated and complex frame, whose abandonment with the consequent loss or transformation of plenty of its pieces, is due to several problems of preservation and restoration of its particular constituent parts often spoiled by use or damaged by the frequent fires of the wooden parts in contact with the flames of the candles. The work examines some artefacts within the area of Brescia (where the tradition of the triduum had a great diffusion from the early 18th century) and proposes their census and their detailed reading to favour their restoration and increase their value, as they are devotions proofs that summarize ancient traditions and represent documents of great historical and artistic importance

KEY-WORD: restoration, ephemeral apparatuses, wooden architectures, "macchine" of the Triduum.

 

L. Fozzati, M. Bortoletto, N. Martinelli, P. Scanferla

Archeologia del legno: problematiche di studio, restauro e conservazione

KEY-WORD: archaeology, dendrochronology, ecology, marine invertebrates, maritime archaeology, prehistoric economy, shipworm, submerged timber, underwater archaeology, Venice, wood-boring mollusks, woods conservation.

C.Capretti, M. Labriola, N. Macchioni,  M. Moraldi, B. Pizzo, G.Zolfo

Il ritrovamento di mobilio in legno e avorio proveniente dall’area di villa dei Papiri in Ercolano scavi: dal microscavo allo studio per il consolidamento di reperti polimaterici in stato imbibito

Paper describes the finding of wooden artefacts completely covered by ivory lamina, within the excavations of “Villa dei Papiri” in Herculaneum. The problems relevant to the micro-excavation, to the first recovery and to the choice of the consolidation methodology of waterlogged composite artefacts are explained.

KEY-WORD: waterlogged archaeological wood, waterlogged ivory.

 

G. Giachi, N. Macchioni, P.Pallecchi, B. Pizzo, C.Capretti

Un nuovo passo nella diagnostica del legno dei relitti di Pisa: la nave A

Recently, at the site of the Ancient ships of Pisa, the characterisation of the wood of the so called Ship A (dated back to the end of II - beginning of the III cent. A.D.) was performed and concluded. The micro-morphological evaluation together with the chemical and physical analyses evidenced that the wood decay was mainly due to biological attack, which is usually what takes place in waterlogged conditions. This attack caused a severe depletion of the polysaccharidic components (holocellulose residue up to 20%) and, consequently, a loss of basic density (residual Db of about 30%) and a large increase of water content (MWC generally above 450%) inside the wood. Moreover, a large amount of ashes, about 10%, was found, in which the iron content, accompanied by calcium sulphate -differently hydrate- goes up to 60% and constitutes an important condition in conservation choices.

KEY-WORD: waterlogged archaeological wood, wood analysis, shipwrecks, Cantiere delle navi antiche di Pisa.

 

S. Bugani, S. Cagno, P. Cloetens, M.P. Colombini, G.Giachi, K. Janssens, J.J. Łucejko, F.Modugno, L.Morselli

Valutazione delle modalità di deposizione di sostanze impregnanti nel legno archeologico imbibito mediante microtomografia a raggi X con luce di sincrotrone

In waterlogged conditions characterised by low oxygen content, archaeological wooden artefacts can survive until now even if wood is often deeply degraded. The loss of polysaccharidic components (cellulose and hemicelluloses), with the subsequent increase of porosity and of water content, is the main effect of wood degradation. Usually, the conservation treatments of such a material involve the replacement of water with impregnating substances which, filling the cavities, prevent collapses and stresses during drying. The effectiveness of the treatments strongly depends on the chemical and physical behaviours of those substances and, moreover, on their degree of cavities-filling, penetration depth, and way of deposition into wood structure. The evidence of some impregnating materials in waterlogged archaeological wood samples (pine and elm) was investigated by synchrotron radiation X-ray microtomography (SR-μCT). Experiments were performed at the ID 19 Beamline of European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) in Grenoble (France).

KEY-WORDS: Synchrotron Radiation, X-ray microtomography, waterlogged archaeological wood, conservation treatment, pine, elm, impregnation, SR-mCT.

 

C. Capretti, G.Giachi , S. Lazzeri,C. Giordano, L.Sozzi

Ritrovamenti di legno archeologico  in Italia: metodi di indagine mediante  microscopia

The study of archaeological wood using microscopic techniques is the preliminary phase to establish the state of preservation of wooden findings. First of all, it allows to determine the wooden species which constitutes the findings and, therefore, to compare the actual characteristics of the identified wood with those of the fresh one, thus to highlight its decay (grade of decay). Moreover, by the observation of the cell walls micro-morphology, it allows to identify the agents of biological attack (fungi or bacteria) and to point out the depth of their spreading into the wood (depth of decay).The aim of this work is to show the potentiality of microscopic techniques by showing several study-cases regarding archaeological woods coming from some Italian excavations, and which are different with regards to species, time and environment of burial and state of preservation.

KEY-WORDS: optical microscopy, electronic microscopy, archaeological wood, decay, wooden species identification, wood anatomy, micro-morphological analysis.

 

G. Ghini, G. Guarisco, N. Lombardini

La conservazione dei legni degli scafi delle navi di Nemi: metodologia e prassi nella conservazione negli anni Venti del Novecento

The conservation of the historical Caligula wooden ships, in the lake of Nemi, is an interesting example of restoration, not only for the Italian culture, but for the international one, in the first thirty years of the Twentieth Century. This occurrence represents the collaboration between the state conservation office and the private industry when the organization of the scientific conservation institutes were organizing themselves in the absence of a methodological procedure. The event, directed by Corrado Ricci for the Italian Government and Guido Ucelli for the Officine Meccaniche Riva, a private industry in Milan, is very important, from an archaeological point of view, and the first one from which started scientific research for the conservation of the wood of the cultural heritage, recognizing the historical, and not only antiquarian, value of the material of the ancient object.

Key-words: cultural heritage, wood, conservation, history of conservation.

 

M. P. Colombini, J.J. Lucejko, F. Modugno, E. Ribechini

Caratterizzazione di legno archeologico bagnato mediante tecniche basate su pirolisi analitica e spettrometria di massa

Analytical pyrolysis -gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS), was used to characterise waterlogged archaeological wood and to study degradation patterns of wood in aqueous environments. The technique was applied to samples from the excavation of the Site of the Ancient Ships of Pisa San Rossore in Pisa (Italy). The data were compared to those relative to native sound wood of the same species (pine, elm, beech). Analytical pyrolysis results valuable in the analysis of ancient wood artefacts, avoiding the long wet-chemical procedures that are commonly used in wood analysis, and allowing the use of minimal sample size. GC/MS permits detailed molecular analysis of pyrolysis compounds and highlights some chemical modifications of lignin in archaeological samples, as demethylation of lignin units both guaiacyl and syringyl monomers.

KEY-WORDS: pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, archaeological wood; lignin; carbohydrates

 

P. Palma, N. Macchioni, B.Pizzo, C.Capretti,  L. Fiorentino, L. Sozzi, S.Lazzeri, D.Parham

Approccio scientifico alla stabilizzazione in situ di relitti: uno studio pilota sul relitto dello “Swash Channel”

The rapid decay of a ship after the sinking is a process that can be on going unless anoxic conditions are put in place on the site to impede biological organisms as well as other physical and chemical processes, from attacking the wood provision available. Monitoring the degradation/preservation of archaeological wood is a fundamental step, which allows taking informative decisions on the management of the site.

By monitoring how the wood reacts to all environmental processes, its cell collapse or decay, by understanding how fast is degrading and by which processes, by putting in place a thorough diagnosis on the archaeological wood, the right protective method or protection/preservation system can be chosen as a result.

KEY-WORDS: reburial, Teredo navalis, Lyrodus pedicellatus, in situ preservation, diagnosis.

E.Amendola , R.Miranda, M.De Angioletti, G.Zolfo, D. Acierno

I legni archeologici di Ercolano  consolidati con polimeri sintetici

 Consolidation of archaeological charred and/or mineralised wood involves both the correct excavation operations, initial protection and preservation, and the subsequent display. The aim of this study is to identify a system based on synthetic polymers and suitable for impregnation of charred materials. An epoxy resin supplied by Elantas Camattini S.p.A. has been used for this application. The resin penetrates what remains of parenchymatical canals, especially in the lignin body. The proposed method can be used as first application, starting the restoration of artefacts directly after field excavation.

KEY-WORD: Legni archeologici, Restauro, Beni Culturali, Resine epossidiche, polimeri.

 

F. Galussio, G. Gelardi, F. Letizia, V. Motta

Strutture voltate d’incannucciata nel Settecento Palermitano. La restituzione della grande volta del Serenario di PalazzoMazzarino - Branciforte di Scordia

 The intervention of restauration of the building, that was the residence of Ercole Branciforte, prince of Scordia, has to contemplate the transformations that had concealed the native configuration of some saloons.

The removal of a series of partitions and secondary roof has allowed to refund the eighteenth-century incannucciata’s vault, painted by Gaspare Serenario and framed by plasters that well they represent the aristocratic ostentation of the local nobility in the Age of Enlightenment.

An advanced degradation state of the wooden warping, realized according to the local tradition, it was due to infiltrations of waters rain and to heavies "cuts" of portions of the vault.

The conservative restauration has been performed aiming to return, through leasts and located interventions, to the native behavior of the vaulted structure in his different components, setting an functional specific system that has seen the employment of composite materials able to recreate the lost continuity.

KEY-WORD: incannucciata’s vault, great span, support of decorative apparats, composite material, least intervention, polypropylene’s rope.

 

Vincenzo Borasi

Strutture invisibili e prescrizioni sconosciute per i vecchi manufatti edili di legno

The small quantity of visible wood in an ancient building shows even in Piedmont the wealth of its past owners: in present restoration projects it is therefore necessary to perform a preliminary search in order to find out invisible wooden artefacts which might have been carefully hidden throughout the years. Even in Piedmont, the craftsmen who were charged of creating said wooden artefacts possessed various skill. Even in Piedmont, the architects responsible for projects of building in the past were used to writing, in their contract forms, the way they desired the above wooden artefacts to look like and to draw designs thereof but not to provide for their structural details. If the idea that wooden artefacts are non datable, at least in the frame of ages or centuries, is unacceptable, in present philological restoration projects are therefore indispensable, together with dendrochronology and the analysis of stylistic and compositional aspects, abaci of original historical models of wooden artefacts created in the specific cultural regions under examination. 

Key- words: hidden timber works for the building framings in the old Piedmont; the different specialisations of the windows and doors craftsmen; the standard thickness of the timber bites in Piedmont was (and is) cm 4,3 (“un’oncia”); the old wood framing images design; for a wood framing dating; dendrochronology of wood framing bites; abaci of antique wood framing details; different geographical spheres of the wood framing cultures; in the old buildings numerous timber bites are not in sight.     

L. Mancuso Prizzitano

Lo strano caso del solaio ligneo della Cantoria di Scipio Manni in San Francesco a Milazzo

La ricerca si propone di descrivere la natura e la geometria del solaio,del controsoffitto e della balaustra che formano la “cantoria “ della chiesa di San Francesco a Milazzo. La struttura presenta nel complesso delle anomalie e delle incongruenze, almeno all’apparenza, quali la assenza di vere e proprie centine associate nel connubio controsoffitto in canna e gesso e solaio ligneo. Si vogliono ricercare le motivazioni che stanno alla base della scelta che presiede quellarealizzazione e le implicazioni nel progetto di restauro.

KEY-WORD: Milazzo, Santuario, Scipio Manni, Canna e Gesso, Solaio ligneo.

 

S.A. Alberti

L’uso della volta in canna e gesso nella ricostruzione post-sismica nella Sicilia orientale

Lo studio affronta il tema della evoluzione nell’uso delle volte in canna e gesso denominate anche volte finte a partire dalla ricostruzione del Val di Noto successiva al terremoto del 1693 sino agli eventi sismici che hanno caratterizzato il XIX secolo.

KEY-WORD : Legno, canna, canapa, gesso, chiodi, Noto, Gagliardi,  Gugliara, Niscemi. Catania.

 

TRAVI COMPOSTE NEI SOLAI FERRARESI

- Ingegno costruttivo e perizia tecnica nella carpeteria rinascimentale ferrarese

R. Fabbri

- Prime identificazioni e considerazioni sulle specie legnose impiegate nelle travi composte di palazzo Turchi a Ferrara

R. Fabbri, N. Macchioni, V. Balboni

- Caratteristiche decorative dei solai di travi composte:  materiali, tecniche, problemi conservativi

F. Bevilacqua, C. Di Francesco, R. Fabbri, V. Balboni

- Un solaio di travi composte a palazzo schifaoia. Indizi per l’ipotesi ricostruttiva della loggia

C. Di Francesco, S. Ciliani, D. Lattanzi

- Le travi composte nel palazzo Nigrelli di Ferrara

A. Marino, C. Di Francesco, S. Ciliani

- Abaco delle travi composte: sintesi per immagini

V.Balboni, R. Fabbri

A series of literary contributions allow us to provide an overview on  the topic of  the wooden composite beams, in the architecture of the Renaissance era in Ferrara. The strong technological development from the year 1440 until the early 16th century is described in its relationship with the architectural renewal made possible by this new construction technique as further examinations are offered regarding the mapping of wood species (palazzo Turchi), the decorative aspects,  and the existence of some composite beams referable to former configurations of palazzo Schifa-noia and palazzo Nigrelli. Synthesis tables allow the comparison of many different kinds of composite beams and floor which can be found in Ferrara.

KEY-WORDS: Ferrara, wooden floor, composite beams, historical construction techniques

 

LE STRUTTURE LIGNEE DELL’ARSENALE DI VENEZIA. STUDI E RESTAURI

A. Adami, C. Balletti, C. Bertolini Cestari, G. Bettiol, G. Biglione, C. Brito de Carvalho, E. Garbi, F. Gerbaudi, F. Guerra, S. Mander, C. Menichelli, G. Pagliarino, F. Pasteris, M.Piana, O. Pignatelli, L. Pilot, M.R. Valluzzi, P Vernier

The Venice Arsenal, is an extraordinary subject of study of constructive techniques and of experimentation in the development of restoration methods. The wooden covering systems in particular document almost 700 years of building technology, strictly linked to the shipbuilding’s development. Since 1983 the Superintendency has been working and investing many resources on a program of study of the Arsenal, concentrating above all on the roof’s structures. An important occasion of testing the results of our study has been given by the restoration works on the wooden structures of the “tesa” of the “Isolotto”, built in the 14th century. This is the oldest structure of the whole building, and still maintain the original constructive characteristics. This writing is a brief summary of the restoration works carried out on the trusses of the Isolotto and of the relative study to develop a model in the preservation, diagnostics and individuation of the wooden structures. The work also illustrates the level of knowledge of the constructive characteristics of the trusses in the whole Arsenal, the dendrochronologic studies carried out in the last 20 years and the first results of a research aimed at understanding the static-structural behaviour of the covering system.

KEY-WORD Arsenal, Trusses, Isolotto, Dendrochronology, Laser scanning, Roof, Wooden structures