Methodology for the study of the walls of the Patio de Santo Tomás, University of Alcalá

The main courtyard of the University of Alcalá, Patio de Santo Tomas, has un-dergone many transformations and changes of use since it was built in the 16th century. During the restoration works of the building, the wall renderings were removed, showing the building materials of the walls. It was observed that the historical building works were overlapped on the same plane of the wall. This exceptional event allowed a direct study of the historical evolution occurred on the building, through an analysis of the materials and the construction techniques. The aims of the study were: first, finding out the shape and size, building techniques and ma-terials of the original Patio; second, identifying the main elements and construction techniques of the different historical stages of the building; and third, surveying the successive building works undertaken in the building over the past five centuries. In order to achieve these goals, the methodology used combined historic and graphic documentation, stratigraphy, morphology and metric analysis and materials characterization

Multidisciplinary Integrated Study of Saint Ildephonse's College, University of Alcalá (Madrid, Spain)

This paper present a multidisciplinary study of the Saint Ildephonse's College, the first building of the University of Alcalá, founded in 1495 and declared World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 1998. During the last restoration of the building, carried out in 2011-2012, all the walls’ coatings were removed and the historical materials came out to light. The aims of the study were: to identify the different stages of the building’s history, supported by direct measuring and sampling; to understand the changes suffered by the building in the last five centuries; to formulate a feasible hypothesis of its initial configuration. The study integrated a stratigraphic study based on a photogrammetric survey, a morphological analysis of the masonry patterns, materials characterization, a metric analysis of the original remaining parts and an architectural assessment of the construction chronology. Material samples were taken from the walls of the College and the characterization results were put in discussion with published data, reviewing the historiography of the building. Four historical stages were identified, corresponding to: the original 15th century building and the 16th century stone façade; the construction of a clock tower and a granite cloister inside the central courtyard during the 17th century; the refurbishment works and change of use into a religious school in the 19th century; the return of the University in the 20th century. The analysis of the original building’s remaining parts allowed to propose a hypothesis of the original two-storey building constructed with rammed-earth and brick masonry, which was previously unknown. The same constructive pattern and metrics was also identified in the side wall of the University Chapel, which was built simultaneously to the College. The original walls did not have any brick-row between the rammed-earth boxes, which was commonly used in the area of Toledo. Instead, this constructive technique is related to the rammed earth constructions used in the area of Spanish-Islamic kingdom of Granada. The biography of Cardinal Cisneros could explain the use of this technique in the centre of Spain

Methodology for the study of the walls of the Patio de Santo Tomás, University of Alcalá

The main courtyard of the University of Alcalá, Patio de Santo Tomas, has un-dergone many transformations and changes of use since it was built in the 16th century. During the restoration works of the building, the wall renderings were removed, showing the building materials of the walls. It was observed that the historical building works were overlapped on the same plane of the wall. This exceptional event allowed a direct study of the historical evolution occurred on the building, through an analysis of the materials and the construction techniques. The aims of the study were: first, finding out the shape and size, building techniques and ma-terials of the original Patio; second, identifying the main elements and construction techniques of the different historical stages of the building; and third, surveying the successive building works undertaken in the building over the past five centuries. In order to achieve these goals, the methodology used combined historic and graphic documentation, stratigraphy, morphology and metric analysis and materials characterization

Multidisciplinary Integrated Study of Saint Ildephonse's College, University of Alcalá (Madrid, Spain)

This paper present a multidisciplinary study of the Saint Ildephonse's College, the first building of the University of Alcalá, founded in 1495 and declared World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 1998. During the last restoration of the building, carried out in 2011-2012, all the walls’ coatings were removed and the historical materials came out to light. The aims of the study were: to identify the different stages of the building’s history, supported by direct measuring and sampling; to understand the changes suffered by the building in the last five centuries; to formulate a feasible hypothesis of its initial configuration. The study integrated a stratigraphic study based on a photogrammetric survey, a morphological analysis of the masonry patterns, materials characterization, a metric analysis of the original remaining parts and an architectural assessment of the construction chronology. Material samples were taken from the walls of the College and the characterization results were put in discussion with published data, reviewing the historiography of the building. Four historical stages were identified, corresponding to: the original 15th century building and the 16th century stone façade; the construction of a clock tower and a granite cloister inside the central courtyard during the 17th century; the refurbishment works and change of use into a religious school in the 19th century; the return of the University in the 20th century. The analysis of the original building’s remaining parts allowed to propose a hypothesis of the original two-storey building constructed with rammed-earth and brick masonry, which was previously unknown. The same constructive pattern and metrics was also identified in the side wall of the University Chapel, which was built simultaneously to the College. The original walls did not have any brick-row between the rammed-earth boxes, which was commonly used in the area of Toledo. Instead, this constructive technique is related to the rammed earth constructions used in the area of Spanish-Islamic kingdom of Granada. The biography of Cardinal Cisneros could explain the use of this technique in the centre of Spain

Brick masonry identification in complex historic buildings

This study is part of the Program “Geomateriales. Durabilidad y conservación de geomateriales del patrimonio construido” (S2009/MAT-1629) funded by the Comunidad de Madrid. The authors acknowledge the 13 professional support from Techno-Heritage (Network on Science and Technology for the Conservation of Cultural Heritage).The aim of the study is to define a reliable interdisciplinary procedure for brick masonry identification in complex historic buildings, in order to enhance documentation, conservation and restoration issues, thereby putting into value the architectural heritage. The methodology integrates experimental data obtained through on site measuring and sampling with historical information. Direct measurements were obtained through photogrammetry and brick and mortar characterization tests and were used to relate stratigraphic units, fabric morphology and materials. The differences identified through morphological analysis and experimental results are double-checked with historical data, allowing a scientific interpretation, supported by experimental results and contrasted to historical information. This approach was used for the study of the brick masonry walls of the first College of the University of Alcalá (Madrid, Spain), founded in 1495 and declared World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 1998. Different brick masonry typologies with the same morphology but different constitutive materials and vice versa were found. An integrated constructive analysis based upon available historical data allowed to identify six brick masonry types based on their period of construction, fabric morphology and building material

Bricks and mortars from the “Patio de Santo Tomás”, Alcalá University (Madrid, Spain): a combined study of fabric characterization and building morphology

A combined study of fabric characterization and building geometry and morphology has been undertaken at the “Patio de Santo Tomás, Colegio Mayor de San Ildefonso” from the Alcalá University (Madrid, Spain). A set of bricks and their associated mortars from differ-ent chronology and locations has been selected to carry out fabric characterization, which were accomplished by using observation and analytical conventional techniques, such as thin section polarized light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), en-ergy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS), and thermogravimetric-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA). Resulting data have enabled the recognition of three groups of bricks with their as-sociated mortars in the five constructive phases of the building. Each group showed composi-tional and technological differences which can be correlated with their chronology and location in the building. This combined study has provided outstanding data which can be useful for fu-ture conservation and restoration strategie

Bricks and mortars from the “Patio de Santo Tomás”, Alcalá University (Madrid, Spain): a combined study of fabric characterization and building morphology

A combined study of fabric characterization and building geometry and morphology has been undertaken at the “Patio de Santo Tomás, Colegio Mayor de San Ildefonso” from the Alcalá University (Madrid, Spain). A set of bricks and their associated mortars from differ-ent chronology and locations has been selected to carry out fabric characterization, which were accomplished by using observation and analytical conventional techniques, such as thin section polarized light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), en-ergy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS), and thermogravimetric-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA). Resulting data have enabled the recognition of three groups of bricks with their as-sociated mortars in the five constructive phases of the building. Each group showed composi-tional and technological differences which can be correlated with their chronology and location in the building. This combined study has provided outstanding data which can be useful for fu-ture conservation and restoration strategie

Estudio de los paramentos del Patio de Santo Tomás del Colegio Mayor de San Ildefonso

El estudio se integra dentro del Programa “Geomateriales. Durabilidad y conservación de geomateriales del patrimonio construido” (S2009/MAT-1629) financiado por la Comunidad de Madrid.Por su gran valor histórico y arquitectónico el Colegio Mayor de San Idelfonso ha sido estudiado desde diversos puntos de vista. Sin embargo no ha sido objeto hasta el momento de un estudio detallado de sus características constructivas. Actualmente se está llevando a cabo la rehabilitación de la “manzana fundacional cisneriana”, lo que constituye una oportunidad única de estudio, ya que durante los trabajos se retiraron todos los revestimientos de los paramentos del patio, dejando a la vista los materiales originales y las diferentes intervenciones realizadas a lo largo de los siglos. El estudio se integra dentro del Programa “Geomateriales. Durabilidad y conservación de geomateriales del patrimonio construido” (S2009/MAT-1629) financiado por la Comunidad de Madrid. Objetivos: 1. Estudiar el Colegio Mayor de San Ildefonso, en lo que se refiere a los paramentos que conforman el patio de Santo Tomás, para identificar y caracterizar los materiales y las técnicas constructivas, elaborando propuestas de conservación. 2. Elaborar un registro fotográfico de la totalidad de los muros del patio sin revestir. 3. Restituir gráficamente con precisión mediante levantamientos planimétricos las partes del patio más interesantes de analizar (fachada principal-norte- y del antiguo reloj-sur-). 4. Identificar y caracterizar los diferentes tipos de materiales integrados en las fábricas del patio. Se han obtenido resultados específicos de información constructiva de dos tipos: morfológica, gracias a los levantamientos fotogramétricos y de los materiales de las fábricas, gracias a la caracterización de su composición y estado de conservación; generando un material documental inédito y cualificado con información de las técnicas constructivas utilizadas en las diferentes intervenciones que han sufrido los paramentos del patio. Esta fuente permite realizar una identificación de las diferentes técnicas constructivas de acuerdo con su morfología, materiales constitutivos y estado de conservación

Estudio de los paramentos del Patio de Santo Tomás del Colegio Mayor de San Ildefonso

El estudio se integra dentro del Programa “Geomateriales. Durabilidad y conservación de geomateriales del patrimonio construido” (S2009/MAT-1629) financiado por la Comunidad de Madrid.Por su gran valor histórico y arquitectónico el Colegio Mayor de San Idelfonso ha sido estudiado desde diversos puntos de vista. Sin embargo no ha sido objeto hasta el momento de un estudio detallado de sus características constructivas. Actualmente se está llevando a cabo la rehabilitación de la “manzana fundacional cisneriana”, lo que constituye una oportunidad única de estudio, ya que durante los trabajos se retiraron todos los revestimientos de los paramentos del patio, dejando a la vista los materiales originales y las diferentes intervenciones realizadas a lo largo de los siglos. El estudio se integra dentro del Programa “Geomateriales. Durabilidad y conservación de geomateriales del patrimonio construido” (S2009/MAT-1629) financiado por la Comunidad de Madrid. Objetivos: 1. Estudiar el Colegio Mayor de San Ildefonso, en lo que se refiere a los paramentos que conforman el patio de Santo Tomás, para identificar y caracterizar los materiales y las técnicas constructivas, elaborando propuestas de conservación. 2. Elaborar un registro fotográfico de la totalidad de los muros del patio sin revestir. 3. Restituir gráficamente con precisión mediante levantamientos planimétricos las partes del patio más interesantes de analizar (fachada principal-norte- y del antiguo reloj-sur-). 4. Identificar y caracterizar los diferentes tipos de materiales integrados en las fábricas del patio. Se han obtenido resultados específicos de información constructiva de dos tipos: morfológica, gracias a los levantamientos fotogramétricos y de los materiales de las fábricas, gracias a la caracterización de su composición y estado de conservación; generando un material documental inédito y cualificado con información de las técnicas constructivas utilizadas en las diferentes intervenciones que han sufrido los paramentos del patio. Esta fuente permite realizar una identificación de las diferentes técnicas constructivas de acuerdo con su morfología, materiales constitutivos y estado de conservación

Participación en el proyecto Symbcity para la competición internacional Solardecathlon 2014

La Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha junto con la Universidad de Alcalá de Henares presentaron en diciembre de 2012 una candidatura para participar en la competición de diseño y construcción de viviendas de consumo energético casi nulo “Solar Decathlon” Europe 2014. La propuesta fue seleccionada junto con otras 19 del resto del mundo para participar conjuntamente, bajo el nombre de “Plateau Team”, en este evento. El desarrollo de la propuesta conlleva una gran cantidad de tareas además de construir un prototipo, ya que consiste en actuar en edificios existentes de modo que, aumentando el volumen del edificio por las fachadas y la cubierta se consigan nuevos espacios vivideros y aprovechables, que hagan crecer la densidad de las ciudades, sin ocupar nuevo suelo, a la vez que mejoran la eficiencia energética de los edificios a los que se adaptan. Dadas las características de la propuesta, no se tratan soluciones constructivas ni materiales convencionales, sino que se tienen en cuenta factores como la sostenibilidad, el impacto medioambiental, el Análisis de Ciclo de Vida, la rapidez y sencillez en la ejecución y montaje, posibilidades de prefabricación y otros parámetros que dotan a la propuesta de un carácter innovador. Los resultados obtenidos han sido muy satisfactorios, tanto desde el punto de vista académico como de la propia competición, donde el rototipo “Symbcity” logró demostrar su eficiencia energética y su capacidad de mantener condiciones de confort con un mínimo consumo energético