To analyse Sustainability in refurbishment of buildings, it is necessary to determine if traditional materials or techniques are so. We have to develop studies about traditional materials, durability, maintenance, the influence of climate, and the compatibility with metals or plastics, taking attention not only in technical aspects but also economic. The normalisation has to be adapted to the different conditions in the north and in the south of Europe. We analyse in this document some criteria to consider in normalisation of buildings Refurbishment: from the previous studies to the final product

Barrios Padura, Ángela

Barrios Sevilla, Jesús

García Navarro, Justo

Servicio de Coordinación de Bibliotecas de la Universidad Politécnica de Madrid

 ““Sustainability of traditional materials and techniques 
in the Mediterranean cities” 
BARRIOS PADURA1 Angela, BARRIOS SEVILLA3 Jesús,  GARCÍA 
NAVARRO2 Justo,  
1 ARCHITECT. PROFESSOR, Universidad de Sevilla, Spain. Canalejas Street Nº 8, 2ND Floor, Seville 41001, Spain. Email 
Address bym@arquired.es Tlf: 0034 669225547. 
3 CHEMIST. PROFESSOR, Universidad de Sevilla. 
2 ARCHITECT. PROFESSOR, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain. 
Keywords:  Refurbishment 
Abstract: To analyse Sustainability in refurbishment of buildings, it is necessary to determine if 
traditional materials or techniques are so.We have to develop studies about traditional 
materials, durability, maintenance, the influence of climate, and the compatibility with 
metals or plastics, taking attention not only in technical aspects but also economic.The 
normalisation has to be adapted to the different conditions in the north and in the south 
of Europe.We analyse in this document some criteria to consider in normalisation of 
buildings Refurbishment: from the previous studies to the final product.  
1 INTRODUCTION 
The incorporation of specialists and investigators coming from different areas has 
produced an important development in the study of the materials and techniques 
related to the historical and architectonic patrimony, as demonstrated by the theses 
and the published articles, that bear relation to the restoration and architectonic 
rehabilitation. 
We considered that we have an exhaustive and quality information in specific areas 
in which the confluence of scientists and technicians has taken place, and have 
obtained results of great interest. Despite the previous thing, it is the moment for 
reflecting, for analysing the crossed way and for exposing some considerations and 
proposals. 
There are many specialize investigators who consider that we are in a confused 
moment, in that prime plus the publication in the best magazines, that the solution 
given to the constructive problems considered in the architectonic scope. The 
knowledge are extended but it does not advance in construbilitá, like the reality of 
the materials and the constructive techniques to use in the design of the 
architectonical project.  
Upon this context it is necessary  to follow a suitable methodology in the restoration 
processes and/or refurbishment. 
2 PROCEDURE 
In the first place the state in which the construction is, must be known, it is 
necessary to locate the damages that the building presents to be able to determine if 
it is necessary to act, to consider the reach of the repairs to make, as well as 
possibilities for its execution.  
Once indicated the anomalies, he fissures and cracks must be measured, as well as 
the angular distortions to verify movements in foundations, to locate capillarity 
humidity in walls, condensation and filtration, as well as the chemical composition 
of waters . 
In this phase it can be necessary the collaboration and support of historians and 
archaeologists based on the patrimonial degree of the construction. Also it will be 
necessary to make drawings of the construction to indicate the different units. 
In the second level of performance it presents two slopes, of a side to know the 
 2 
causes that have originated the existing damages, this is to determine the origin of 
the damages and injuries that the construction presents, and another one to  
characterize the construction being described the composition of the different units 
that conform it. In any case it must define the laying of foundations and land of 
support, using the more suitable techniques: georadar, microgravimetry (electrical 
soundings), opening of test pits, tests of dynamic penetration, rotatory soundings 
with extraction of samples, presiométricos tests, cross-hole and down hole, static 
penetration, analysis and tests to the land samples, etc... To the walls, pillars, floors, 
vaults, cupolas must be determine the proportions, determining in addition the 
sections, thicknesses of such, as well as the models of the construction. Study of the 
constituent materials of the different constructive units determining those chemical 
and mechanical characteristics physical necessary to be able to verify by means of 
the corresponding calculations the short term stability, the possibilities of restoration 
and/or rehabilitation. 
Equal process must be made with electricity, plumbing, air conditioning, fire-
fighting, , acoustics, of security, etc. 
This section which we could call of previous studies, is of great importance to obtain 
a suitable process of restoration. For that reason it must be well done, that takes care 
of and reaches to all the units that conform the construction, trustworthy, that is 
made by qualified personnel, techniques, procedures and tests necessary for the last 
aim that it is the restoration project. We understand that only in the cases of pure 
investigation all the techniques available must be applied. 
In these previous studies usually take part equips multidiscipline integrated by 
scientists and technicians, chemistries, physicists, geologists, architects and 
engineers of the specialties of structures, and construction. In this equipment a 
coordinator with sufficient knowledge is necessary as to obtain a harmonic study, 
precise and adapted to the state in which is the construction and to the intervention 
proposals, like conservation, repair of damages, integral restoration or rehabilitation 
of the building to be destined to other functions different from the present ones, as it 
can be the conversion of a palace in museum, of a church in audience, a singular 
construction in an administrative center, hotel, cultural center, etc. 
The third level of the process of intervention for the restoration of a construction 
corresponds to the search of solutions, elaboration of the project and execution of 
the work. In the first place there must be qualified propose suitable to solve the 
damages and injuries that the construction presents/displays being based on the 
made previous studies. In order to establish correct solutions we must know the 
origin and the causes that have caused them, as well as the mechanisms and kinetic 
the process that has ended at the existing anomalies. These solutions will be 
different according to is a rehabilitation or restoration. In any case the following 
premises must be contemplated: 
1) Use of materials adapted to that construction located in a concrete place. 
Those will have to be used are the traditional and of that one long 
experience in the zone exists. The different climatologic conditions mainly, 
of sun conditions, of humidity,  geologic, must be considered, for example 
in the North from Europe and the corresponding ones to the Mediterranean 
zone.  
2) The greater failures that take place in relation to the materials used in the 
restoration are related to problems of physical or chemical mutual 
incompatibility between those of the construction and the new ones. Also it 
happens with the lack of adhesion between new and the old ones, as it is the 
case of placed new mortars on the old coatings, or with the effectiveness of 
the treatments in the case of wood against the biological agents, or of 
humidity by capillarity, or the consolidation or cleaning of the walls 
(stones, bricks, mortars), or of the durability of the new materials. 
3) Use of possible and suitable techniques. Possible because there are 
favourable experiences to his use, as much by the results obtained as by the 
made tests that confirm their effectiveness. Adapted to the constructive 
element as it can be the case of structural failures with origin in the laying 
of foundations, land of support, pillars, walls, forged, covered..... Of here 
the importance of the programming of a good previous study, because 
without it hardly a good technique of intervention will be able to settle 
down. 
 3 
4) It is important to control the constructive process testing the materials and 
the made construction. In special verifying the structural operation of the 
laying of foundations reinforcements and other elements. Consequently the 
following verifications will have to be made: 
• Tests that define and certify the improvement obtained in the 
mechanical and physical characteristics of the treated structural units.  
• Tests that to certify the improvements obtained about the behaviour of 
the water, by means of tracing of a map of humidity before and after 
the treatment to avoid the ascent of the water by capillarity; tests of 
water tightness and permeability to the water in facades and covers; 
tests of adhesion of the new coatings materials; behaviour of the water 
by means of absorption tests steam suction, pressure, etc; aging of the 
treatments; heat insulation and acoustic; durability... 
The last section in this process of intervention is the related one to the conservation, 
understanding it like the set of activities directed to that a construction conserves its 
state the for a long time, without it is precise to make repairs of great spread and 
considerable cost. Marconi says that the maintenance and conservation are the other 
face of the architecture and begins where the restoration finishes. 
It is necessary to call the attention, and this congress is the forum adapted for it, on 
the taken care of lack of conservation and of recovered monuments. Great budgets 
are qualified to recover our historical patrimony, are made magnificent interventions 
obtaining itself excellent results, but the laziness and the lack of awareness of the 
responsible authorities, are obtaining that recovered present to the new pathologies 
by the abandonment and the lack of maintenance. For it it is fundamental that the 
author of the project and work director specify in a manual of conservation, the 
necessary performances, the regularity, the procedures to use referred to:  
• Cleaning of covers, water-drainages, cleanings, etc. 
• Inspection and replacement if outside necessary of the systems or 
treatments done (barrier wood antihumidity, treatments, stones or other 
materials, condensation humidity control, waterproofings, sealed...)  
• Replenishment of deteriorated material, executed painting or treatment. 
 


Sustainability of traditional materials and techniques in the Mediterranean cities

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Sustainability of traditional materials and techniques in the Mediterranean cities

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