Contemporary Architecture in Genoa since 1945—Knowledge and Use through Geoservices for the Citizen

The paper illustrates the enhancement of knowledge of architecture from 1945 onwards in Genoa by means of the publication on the Geoportal of the Municipality, which was developed with open-source systems, of a proper dataset and tools for digital storytelling for citizens. The implementation on the municipal Geoportal of a section called “Contemporary Architecture from 1945 onwards in Genoa” was made possible through collaboration between the University of Genoa Architecture and Design Department (DAD) and the Municipality of Genoa Office for Geographical Information Systems. The data related to the buildings in the Municipality of Genoa were extracted from a previous study about contemporary architecture in Liguria carried out by DAD. The case study introduced two tools for the promotion and enhancement of knowledge of such architecture, a map on which the buildings are located and associated with an information form and geostories with in-depth information on selected buildings, the latter of which can be sorted based on thematic itineraries or by author. The use of integrated services contributes to the competitiveness and sustainability of the city, raising citizens’ awareness of the value of the architecture of the second half of the 20th century and thus activating conservation processes as advocated in the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations General Assembly

Photogrammetry as a tool for chronological dating of fired bricks structures in Genoa area

open5The aim of this paper is to explore the applications of photogrammetry in the field of archaeology of architecture. Specifically, to test possible advantages in adopting this tool for undertaking brick measurements for chronological dating of fired bricks historic structures. Mensiochronology analysis is a direct and non-destructive method providing an absolute dating of stratigraphic units. It is based on direct inspection and survey of bricks. Depending on the accessibility of the surface being studied, mensiochronology is suitable for vertical structures of limited height or relies on the availability of scaffolding and lifting equipment. There are several advantages in applying photogrammetry to brick measurement, among them: the possibility to undertake measurements of every kind of surface; the reduction of on-site survey time; the opportunity to repeat measurements off-site; the possibility to increase the number of measured elements in subsequent phases and by different operators. To explore the application of photogrammetry for mensiochronology three case studies are analyzed, testing the effectiveness of this tool on buildings displaying diverse features (e.g. handmade and industrial bricks) and dating back to different periods.openAcacia, S.; Babbetto, R.; Casanova, M.; Macchioni, E.; Pittaluga, D.Acacia, S.; Babbetto, R.; Casanova, M.; Macchioni, E.; Pittaluga, D

Tecnologie digitali per il rilievo speditivo: l’esperienza nelle frazioni della vallata di Levanto (SP)

The article deals with an experience of using a mobile app for rapid surveying experienced by ISCUM (Istituto di Storia della Cultura Materiale) researchers. On the occasion of the revision of the urban plan of Levanto, the institute was involved in a research, returning to analyze the hilly settlements of the valley behind the La Spezia village already studied a few decades earlier. The tool was chosen for its compatibility with GIS systems with which the data collected in the field were processed

CIPA2023 Symposium - Firenze, 26-30 giugno 2023

Dal 26 al 30 giugno si è tenuto a Firenze il 29° CIPA2023 Symposium "Documenting, Understanding, Preserving Cultural Heritage: Humanities and Digital technologies for Shaping the Future", a cui ha partecipato come uditrice la dottoranda del XXXVIII° ciclo, Arch. Simonetta Acacia. Nella prima giornata si sono svolta la cerimonia di apertura all’interno del Salone dei Cinquecento di Palazzo Vecchio: sono state tenute le keynotes di Claudio Margottini e Mario Santana Quintero, oltre ad alcune pr..

Conservazione delle facciate dipinte a Chiavari (Genova), dagli anni ‘90 al bonus facciate

Chiavari (GE) is known for the porticoes that characterize the entire historic centre; connected to these are facades painted in trompe-l'oeil which have gradually been renovated, not always following conservative principles. Since 2019, an agreement has been active between the University of Genoa, the Municipality of Chiavari and the Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Territorial Landscape, for the study of the porticoes - subject to a declaration of cultural interest - and the facades above, with the aim of defining the lines -guide for the correct conservation and management of this precious architectural heritage. The timing of the research coincided with that of the "Bonus Facciate", offering the opportunity for a reflection on the outcomes of the fiscal measure adopted by the Government, in relation to the documentary investigations carried out and the facade maintenance sites started in recent years

L'INTERVENTO DEL GENIO CIVILE SULL'ALBERGO DEI POVERI DI GENOVA

During the Second World War, in the involved States, a huge number of cities and their environment were devastated; the most of damages were caused by bombing raids. Also the city of Genoa and its conspicuous built heritage was seriously damaged. The post-war reconstruction was a great occasion to change the urban layout, above all in some central areas. High-level buildings (in quality and appearance) were carried out too, especially where the situation was deeply prejudiced. Partially damaged buildings, also the monumental ones, were reconstructed by the Civil Engineer Office, above all in case of structural damages. The intervention and the supervision conducted by the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage mostly just concerned the artistic appearance and heritage. The paper aims at introducing the case of the Albergo dei Poveri in Genoa: here the intervention carried out by the Civil Engineer Office not only made use of unconventional materials and techniques but also brought about changes in the shape of the building. This way of acting, that nowadays we could regard as heretical may be understood but not necessarily shared if we look at the widespread post-war atmosphere, the contemporary debate about conservation and the modus operandi on listed buildings at that time

Un sistema informativo per la conoscenza del patrimonio architettonico del centro storico di Chiavari (GE)

In the conservation project, knowledge is one of the prerequisites for a successful outcome. Moreover, the dissemination of this knowledge plays a key role in the valorisation process. The historical centre of Chiavari (GE), characterised by the presence of porticoes protected by the Cultural Heritage Code, has suffered an impoverishment of its architectural surfaces with a progressive loss of the identity of the places due to improper interventions. In 2019, the local superintendence promoted an agreement between the Municipality and the Department Architecture and Design of the University of Genoa for the realisation of a study on the system of porticoes of Chiavari and their associated façades. The research aimed to provide a wide knowledge of this heritage, by systemising bibliographic and iconographic sources, archive documents, as well as the material aspect of the historical building, investigated through surveying, analysis of construction techniques and attendance at the restoration sites active there. This knowledge is intended, on the one hand, to support the Municipality in drafting guidelines for the proper conservation and management of porticoes and façades and, on the other hand, to provide professionals with a solid starting point for designing interventions on them. The data acquired during the research have been organised in a database with a graphic interface: this has made it possible to create thematic maps and to carry out urban-scale analyses but it also allows the research results to be shared through their publication in the geoportal of the Municipality of Chiavari. This step is a fundamental action for the enhancement and preservation of the historic centre: it constitutes an opportunity not only to disseminate knowledge, making the population aware of the richness of the architectural context in which they live but also to enable active use of the research products by the professionals working there

Le frazioni della valle di Levanto (SP). Trasformazioni dell’architettura rurale negli ultimi trent’anni

Levanto is a coastal village in eastern Liguria, whose origins date back to the Middle Ages; today it is characterised by a certain tourist pressure. Behind it, a wide valley lies where several small settlements of a mainly rural character have sprung up over the centuries. In the 1990s, the Municipality of Levanto commissioned the ISCUM (Istituto di Storia della Cultura Materiale) to carry out historical-archaeological research on its territory, aimed at a better understanding of this interesting node in the medieval merchant traffic system of Liguria. As part of this research, the hillside hamlets were catalogued. Significant building units were identified: they presented characteristic elements of the local building tradition, relevant historical stratifications or a recognisable constructive and typological homogeneity. If possible, ISCUM researchers proposed dating of these buildings or elements according to their own distinctive chronological-typological methods. This work was used to make suggestions in the planning field; almost thirty years later, it was taken up again in view of a revision of the Municipal Urban Plan. The activity of the ISCUM in 2020-2021 had a different approach compared to the previous research: on the one hand, the survival of the characterising elements reported previously was verified; on the other hand, the number of buildings registered was increased, including cases of lesser singularity, of a more humble character, sometimes abandoned, but still witnesses of the building tradition and local culture. Numerous tamperings were noted during the inspections: these highlighted how the rural built heritage is endangered at a time when places are being re-appropriated by a population with a different lifestyle from the community that shaped them. The characterising elements themselves, such as portals and masonry layers, have often been misunderstood or misinterpreted: sometimes they have been completely hidden by layers of plaster and covering paint, at other times - recognising their value - they have been isolated and decontextualised from the building as a whole. It thus emerged how much, with the alteration of rural architecture and the banalisation of the language of construction, the identity of places and the memory of the communities that inhabited them are at risk. As part of the research, an abacus of the elements that characterise the rural architecture of the Levanto valley and that are therefore to be protected was drawn up; furthermore, indications were given as to which interventions should be avoided because they are extraneous to the context. By illustrating the results of the research, this paper intends to offer a testimony of the vulnerability of rural settlements, also in relation to town planning instruments, which - for example, in the case of Levanto, but not only - could provide a protocol for intervention on the historical building, respectful of its great social and identity value

WHICH WILL BE ITS DESTINY?

The paper aims at offering an overview of the traditional wooden constructive techniques from XVII to XIX century in Genoa, means to explain the events that have affected the main roofs of the Albergo dei Poveri, a monumental complex in the city of Genoa, and in a more detailed way illustrate the roof structure of its north-west wing, through its survey and constructive analysis. The building construction started in 1650 and was stopped in the XIX century, leaving the original design unfinished. The building was hit by incendiary bombs during the Second World War, restored and then partially abandoned; since 1990 it has been the object of an intervention of conversion from charitable hostel into university. Its roof structures were in wood and, thanks to its long history and constructive features, we can still identify different types of timber structure within it. Some of them were replaced by concrete structures (after the Second World War) or by new wooden roofs, some others have been recently studied with specific diagnostic techniques and preserved, consolidated or partially replaced in order to ensure the structural stability of the building, also considering its new purposes. Today we can find only few of the original timber structures, especially in the part of the complex not restored yet. The paper wants to inspire a reflection about the destiny of the last original wooden roofs in the Albergo dei Poveri