Survey and restoration

[EN] In addition to the technological evolution over the last two centuries, survey has experienced two main conceptual leaps: the introduction of photography as a tool for an indiscriminate register for reality, and the shift from autographic to allographic survey, phenomena which can generate a distancing effect within the restoration process. Besides, this text presents the relationship between survey in its numerous forms and technologies (manual and semi-manual to more complex ones like scanner-laser) and the restoration of the building, either for establishing a diagnosis, operating or valorizating, illustrating it with examples developed by the authors, as well as the criteria to be applied when documenting a building to be restored, irrespective of the means and technology available in each case.Mileto, C.; Vegas López-Manzanares, F. (2017). Survey and restoration. International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences (Online). XLII(5):3-7. doi:10.5194/isprs-archives-XLII-5-W1-3-2017S37XLII

Spain under the Venice Charter

All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations used for purposes of scholarly citation, none of this work may be reproduced in any form by any means without written permission from the publisher. For information address the University of Pennsylvania Press, 3905 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-4112[EN] This article examines the Venice Charter's lnfluence on the evolution of restoration in Spain in the interesting perlod that bridges the gap between Francoism and the dawn of democracy. Under the organizational structure that prevailed during Francoism, the restoration of monuments in the whole state was assigned to seven specialized architects who engaged in a stylistic approach. With the subsequent dawn of demoaac:y, the field of monument restoration opened to a large range of non-specialized architects who applied Ideas of critica! restoration theory. This blatant dlchotomy led to a dlverse interpretatlon of the Venice Charter that this text strlves to analyze from the vantage point of its actors, starting with the work of the participants In the Second lnternatlonai Congress of Archltects and Technicians of Historie Monuments and continuiog with the protagonists of the discipline of restoration in this country who followed after them.Mileto ., C.; Vegas López-Manzanares, F. (2014). Spain under the Venice Charter. Change Over Time. 4(2):264-285. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/99945S2642854

Earthen architectural heritage in the international context: values, threats, conservation principles and strategies

[EN] Purpose This research aims to highlight the values, principles and recommendations for conservation in order to establish valid strategies for the conservation of earthen built heritage. This is done following a methodology which uses indirect (bibliography) and direct (case study) sources systematically analysed from different perspectives: the values of Earth as a material and of architectural and vernacular heritage; the heritage conservation principles found in international documents; and the analysis of over 3,000 case studies from which good practices in earthen architecture conservation are extracted. Design/methodology/approach Earthen built architectural heritage is found widely in all parts of the world, in archaeological sites and monumental and vernacular architecture, which research centres and researchers are increasingly studying and cataloguing. However, despite its richness and historic and cultural values, as well as its many merits in environmental sustainability, sociocultural and socio-economic terms, the value of this heritage has not been fully recognized in fields with major repercussions in conservation. Findings Finally, these data are cross-referenced to establish the broadest possible strategies to guarantee all aspects to be taken into account in the conservation of earthen built architectural heritage. Originality/value The text provides an overview of the different methodologies in order to extract specific strategies applicable to the conservation of this heritage, both locally and globally.This text is part of the framework of the RISK-TERRA Project "Earthen architecture in the Iberian Peninsula: study of natural, social and anthropic risks and strategies to improve resilience" (main researchers. C. Mileto-F. Vegas) funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, ref. RTI2018-095302-B-I00.Mileto, C.; Vegas López-Manzanares, F. (2022). Earthen architectural heritage in the international context: values, threats, conservation principles and strategies. Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development. 12(2):192-205. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCHMSD-06-2021-011519220512

Wind and the villages in Rincón de Ademuz, Spain

[EN] This study focuses on a sustainable system which makes it possible for the villages in the region of Rincón de Ademuz to have stood within their natural environment for over two thousand years. For this analysis the study has focused specifically on the wind factor. The dry weather and the wind trajectory make it possible to create a comfortable living environment in the villages. This research analyzed the position of a building unit in order to offer a clear representation of the relationship between wind and these villages.Ji, W.; Mileto, C.; Vegas López-Manzanares, F. (2022). Wind and the villages in Rincón de Ademuz, Spain. En Proceedings HERITAGE 2022 - International Conference on Vernacular Heritage: Culture, People and Sustainability. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 111-117. https://doi.org/10.4995/HERITAGE2022.2022.1570211111

Constructive features and preservation work of rammed earth architecture: the Islamic tower of Bofilla (Valencia)

[EN] The Bofilla tower (Valencia, Spain), at 800 years old one of the oldest buildings still standing in the whole region, is a rubble-reinforced rammed earth construction almost 20 m high. Its precarious condition called for preservation works and the enhancement of the surrounding archaeological site. However, these works involved a serious risk that the original construction might lose its hallmarks and its history, which had great narrative potential, due to the plasticity of the earth. Furthermore, as often happens, a great deal of the character and antiquity of the tower were linked to the erosion and abrasion of its rammed earth surfaces, so it was necessary for the preservation to try to alleviate or stop the degradation that threatened the tower's survival and, at the same time, conserve its narrative potential, its aura and its ancestral character. After performing a comprehensive preliminary study of the construction and its state of repair, a large number of preservation tasks were carried out, from cleaning the facades by hand to reconstructing the structure of the tower in several spots, such as the south-western corner and, especially, the entrance in the northern facade, which was on the verge of collapse. Other operations included filling in the lacunae in the fabric both inside and outside the tower, micro-pointing the rubble filling in the most degraded areas of the southern facade and protecting and consolidating the crowning. In addition, new floors and a staircase leading up to the top of the tower were inserted in the places where their traces were still visible to avoid damaging the fabrics and to perform the most faithful archaeological reconstruction possible. The article addresses the study, reflections and technical operations carried out on the tower during the works on site, with the objective of maintaining the original materiality of the rammed earth fabric and the traces of its construction and life as a testimony of its history.Vegas López-Manzanares, F.; Mileto ., C.; Cristini ., V. (2014). Constructive features and preservation work of rammed earth architecture: the Islamic tower of Bofilla (Valencia). Journal of Architectural Conservation. 20(1):28-42. doi:10.1080/13556207.2014.886377S284220

Villages with Fortified Churches in Transylvania: Architecture, History and Intangible Culture

[EN] Romania's significant German (Saxon) heritage is perfectly conserved in southern Transylvania, where Saxons arrived in the mid-1100s from the Rhine and Moselle river regions. Highly respected for their skill and talent, this population succeeded in gaining administrative autonomy, a feat practically unrivalled through a feudal Europe of absolute monarchies. The result of almost nine centuries of existence of the Saxon (German) community in southern Transylvania is still visible today in a stunning melting pot of cultural and architectural heritage, unique in Europe. Within the framework of the project ¿3d Past, Living & virtual visiting European World Heritage¿ the set of 7 villages (Biertan, Câlnic, Dârjiu, Prejmer, Saschiz, Valea Viilor, Viscri) listed by UNESCO since 1993, have been studied in detail. Strategies for maintenance and conservation have been analysed in order to contribute to the awareness and preservation of the principles of authenticity and integrity of those sites.This paper is the result of the research project 3D Past - ¿Living & virtual visiting European World Heritage¿ [Grant Agreement Ref Nº570729-CREA-1-2016-1-PT-CULT-COOP1], which was co-funded by the European Union, under the programme Creative Europe (2016-2020).Cristini, V.; García-Soriano, L.; Vegas López-Manzanares, F. (2020). Villages with Fortified Churches in Transylvania: Architecture, History and Intangible Culture. International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences (Online). 44:249-254. https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-archives-XLIV-M-1-2020-249-2020S2492544

Microscopic Identification of 24 Timber Samples Obtained from Half-Timber Walls in Northern Spain-Considerations on the Relationship between Species and Constructive Needs

[EN] Traditional architecture characteristically uses locally available materials to develop constructive systems and techniques, providing an optimum response to the needs of the population. This study focuses on half-timber walls as a traditional technique taking material form in a wide range of variants found mostly in the northwest half of Spain. Primarily aiming to ensure the broad objective of in-depth documentation, understanding, and study, the microscopic analysis of 24 timber samples obtained from different half-timber walls is proposed. This analysis aims to identify the species or species groups used and to establish a correlation with different aspects of construction including structural resistance, durability, and workability. This makes it possible to identify the predominant use of species found close to the locations from which the samples are obtained, using relatively resistant species for the structural elements of the half-timber wall, as well as the use of species with flexible and easily malleable branches for the construction of the enclosure panels. This indicates that, among the species available in a given location, builders have a degree of knowledge on the characteristics of the material, so they could choose the most suitable ones or develop specific constructive solutions based on these characteristics.This work is part of the research project "Risk-Terra: La arquitectura de tierra en la Peninsula Iberica: Estudio de los riesgos naturales, sociales y antropicos y estrategias de intervencion e incremento de la resiliencia" (Ref. RTI2018-095302-B-I00; main researchers: Camilla Mileto y Fernando Vegas), funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and University. This research has been developed within a doctoral thesis funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and University (Ref. FPU18/01596).Hueto-Escobar, A.; Vegas López-Manzanares, F.; Mileto, C. (2023). Microscopic Identification of 24 Timber Samples Obtained from Half-Timber Walls in Northern Spain-Considerations on the Relationship between Species and Constructive Needs. Forests. 14(2):1-22. https://doi.org/10.3390/f1402035212214