A reckoning with the maintenance of the built environment, a Sisyphean task

[EN] Maintenance concerns most of the artifacts, referring simultaneously to the socio-cultural, technical and managerial spheres. Contemporary scenarios impose an overall rethinking, where key-topics such as tradition, consumerism, sustainability and digitization become pivotal in the search for suitable production models, between post-industrial and neo-craftsmanship, in order to have fresher references for the maintenance activities. In the construction field, maintenance is not limited to the objective of prolonging the duration of quality levels that only affect direct users, but also has important implications of a social and collective nature, in the case of both public and private buildings and spaces. Despite this and other specific features, the parallelism between building maintenance and manufacturing maintenance was fundamental in the last quarter of the 20th century, when the subject made its way into the technological culture of architecture, in search of references that could replace pre-industrial habits. In support of the theoretical rethinking of maintenance (an activity which, like the Sisyphean task, does never foresee a definitive completion), the article suggests some considerations referring in particular to the reinforced concrete: a structural material almost omnipresent in the built environment since the second half of the last century, which poses significant problems in terms of duration and not only. In conclusion, some possible developments are presented, distinguishing between newly constructed and existing reinforced concrete constructions.Germanà, ML. (2023). A reckoning with the maintenance of the built environment, a Sisyphean task. VITRUVIO - International Journal of Architectural Technology and Sustainability. 8:34-45. https://doi.org/10.4995/vitruvio-ijats.2023.188043445

Demand for quality and design ideas competition: experimentation to discover good practices

The ideas competition process is suggested as a solution that might contribute to an improvement in architectural quality. There have been numerous experiences in Italy over the last decade, but they have not always produced positive and concrete results. Although procedures of international standing might refer to consolidated guide-lines, in most cases, on the local scale, the level of attention is insufficient to ensure ubiquitous quality in results. Participation in the work on the part of a jury, was welcomed as a useful opportunity to try out an approach, outside the academic sphere, based around the technological culture of design. Whatever the limitations of a local environment, it was felt that the experience might take on a generalizable significance, in contributing to thinking about the demand for quality as a precondition to the effectiveness of processes, an objective that is more indispensable than ever, and for which the public sector client has strategic roles and responsibilities

Vertical mobility: a multi-faceted tool for enhancing architectural heritage

Vertical mobility plays a key role in the accessibility of architectural heritage: an extraneous requisite, but indispensable for enhancing the built heritage in an inclusive way. In this framework, in the light of their multiple technological features, mechanical devices will be discussed, taking into account the interaction with the users (individuals and community). Urban and architectural design in the historical context is very often confronted with vertical mobility, in the relationships between fragmented spaces and the perceptive processes of the user. The mechanical devices can be read at the same time as technological products and as iconic moments of the narrative sequence of different urban areas. A focus will be placed on the social relevance of vertical mobility, with reference to the theme of the healthy city. The paper will report several results from an interdisciplinary research opportunity, stemming from MOVE AGED, specifically devoted to the specific needs of elderly people in the historical parts of urban settlements. The paper proposes architectural heritage as a thought-provoking, trans-disciplinary application field. In fact, the user¿s experience and technological innovation have become indispensable terms of reference in the activities of knowing, conserving and enhancing; over the last decades topics such as social inclusion, participation processes and community involvement have entered the domain of architectural heritage

A reckoning with the maintenance of the built environment, a Sisyphean task

Maintenance concerns most of the artifacts, referring simultaneously to the socio-cultural, technical and managerial spheres. Contemporary scenarios impose an overall rethinking, where key-topics such as tradition, consumerism, sustainability and digitization become pivotal in the search for suitable production models, between post-industrial and neo-craftsmanship, in order to have fresher references for the maintenance activities. In the construction field, maintenance is not limited to the objective of prolonging the duration of quality levels that only affect direct users, but also has important implications of a social and collective nature, in the case of both public and private buildings and spaces. Despite this and other specific features, the parallelism between building maintenance and manufacturing maintenance was fundamental in the last quarter of the 20th century, when the subject made its way into the technological culture of architecture, in search of references that could replace pre-industrial habits. In support of the theoretical rethinking of maintenance (an activity which, like the Sisyphean task, does never foresee a definitive completion), the article suggests some considerations referring in particular to the reinforced concrete: a structural material almost omnipresent in the built environment since the second half of the last century, which poses significant problems in terms of duration and not only. In conclusion, some possible developments are presented, distinguishing between newly constructed and existing reinforced concrete constructions

Technology and Architectural Heritage: Dynamic Connections

Technological aspects strongly characterise the built environment in both material and immaterial dimensions. The architectural heritage (the built environment that has acquired cultural meanings, without prejudice regarding the age and the scale of observation) offers a peculiar point of view for dealing with this issue. This paper outlines the dynamic connections between technology, the whole idea of architectural heritage and the approaches to intervention. A focus is placed on four main theoretical aspects, the effects of which are also significant on the practical field: the distance from contemporaneity; the concept of Time; reliable conservation; sustainability. The technological evolution that has had such an effect on the architectural heritage is briefly outlined, starting from the First Industrial Revolution and concluding with digitalisation, which is now imposing a profound rethinking regarding both technology and heritage. From such considerations, it might be possible to derive a paradigm, to be discussed and shared, aimed at piloting the conservation of the architectural heritage in the forthcoming years

Holistic Approach to the Mediterranean Architectural Heritage at risk of abandonment: the case study of Montalbano Elicona (Italy)

A conceptual and methodological renewal is needed in the field of formation, transformation and management of the built environment. This need also concerns the architectural heritage, a non-renewable resource threatened by various types of risk factors, including abandonment. A similar phenomenon (intended as a lack of usage, which leaves room for improper or harmful utilization) is juxtaposed with overuse (intended as too intense and continuous a usage), which today is even more unacceptable, due to the need for social distancing as part of the containment measures of COVID-19. There is a wide and varied case history regarding abandonment, with reference to possible causes and consequences. Some intrinsic factors (stratification, heterogeneity) and contextual (geo-political structure and financial crisis; territorial imbalances; overlap with the ordinary built environment, etc.) increase the risk threatening the Mediterranean architectural heritage; this is connected to the multifaceted cultural identity of this area and a consequence of long-term factors, in which natural and anthropic aspects are interlinked. New or aggravating challenges place even more emphasis on the theme of the sustainable use of the architectural heritage, rooted in the culture of conservation ever since its inception and in a state of constant evolution. The paper proposes the village of Montalbano Elicona, with its wealth of remarkable natural and cultural heritage in north-eastern Sicily, as a significant case study for experimenting the application of a holistic approach (oriented towards a high quality Baukultur) to various design opportunities

Technology and architectural heritage. Research experiences in archaeological sites

<p>Although the architectural heritage is of considerable importance in Italy, we often encounter critical conditions that perpetuate emergencies rather than efficiency. Those working in this field complain of poor resources, procedural hitches and clashing skills. Visitors encounter indecorous or risky conditions, difficulty of use and an unsatisfactory integration with the socio-economic sphere. Methodological instruments of Architectural Technology are essential in order to tackle these critical conditions, which are most prominent in the borderline cases of archaeological sites, because of the clear break with contemporary life and the intrinsic vulnerability of archaeological structures. Although they are related to immaterial technology, these tools produce tangible effects, occasioning reliability in every intervention. The operational aspects are intermingled with the wider issues of quality and effectiveness of process with reference to the public client.</p