Analysis of the Earthen Architectural
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Gremium©| Volúmen 7 | Número 14 | ISSN: 2518-2943 | Agosto-Diciembre 2020 Ciudad de México | Revista de acceso abierto editada por Editorial Restauro Disponible en línea https://editorialrestauro.com.mx/gremium/ Gremium Revista de restauración arquitectónica Research Paper | Artículo de investigación Analysis of the earthen architectural heritage in Piedmont (northern Italy): typologies, construction techniques and materials Fabio Fratini Graduated in Geological Sciences at the University of Florence, since 1984 working as researcher in the CNR - Institute of Heritage Science of Florence. His research activity concerns the archaeometry of stone materials, bricks, “terracotta”, earthen materials and mortars utilised in monumental and vernacular architecture and the study of the decay phenomenologies observed in this heritage, finalized to its conservation. He is member of the scientific Committee of the Congress “Science and Cultural Heritage” which take place in Brixen since 1985 and he participates to the activity of UNI Committee for standardisation concerning Historic Mortars and restoration Mortars. He is co-author of more than 310 scientific papers. Email: [email protected] ORCID: 0000-0001-7314- 8872 Website: https://www.ispc.cnr.it Manuela Mattone Architect, PHD, she is associate professor in Restoration at the Architecture and Design Department of the Polytechnic of Turin, where she does research and teaches. Her studies and research works are focused on themes concerning conservation and restoration of the cultural heritage. The following topics are object of specific studies: the wooden structures and in particular the evaluation of their state of conservation, or the analysis of their constructive techniques and the technologies adopted to consolidate them; the earthen architecture, with reference to its knowledge and conservation; the iron architecture, as far as it concerns the study of its construction techniques; the reinforced concrete civil and industrial architecture of the end of 1800’s and the beginning of the 1900’s; preservation of modern and contemporary architecture. She has participated as a speaker at numerous international conferences related to the topics object of specific studies. Academic link: https://www.swas.polito. it/rubrica/scheda_pers.asp?matricola=002968 Email: [email protected] ORCID: 0000-0001-5392- 1952 Silvia Rescic Degree in Geology and PhD in Science for Conservation of Cultural Heritage at the University of Florence. Since 1998 carries out research activities at CNR, Florence (now ISPC). Since 2009 she is full time researcher. Her research activity concerns: physical, mechanical, chemical characterization of stone materials used in architecture and study of intervention methodologies for their conservation; development, set up and validation of micro-destructive devices to the assessment of the superficial mechanical properties of stone materials sound, weathered, treated with conservative treatments; selection and development of new inorganic for natural and artificial stone materials and earth buildings conservation. Email [email protected] ORCID: 0000-0003-0639- 1375 Website: https://www.ispc.cnr.it/it_it/istituto/personale/#tab-1589557714-2-30 Luisa Rovero Architect and received the PhD in “Materials and structures for architecture” from the University of Florence, Italy. Since 2002, she is an Assistant Professor of Structural Mechanics at the University of Florence. Her current research activity is mainly focused on mechanical behaviour of masonry structures and consolidation techniques for historical buildings. An in-depth topic concerns earth constructions, focusing on mechanical characterizations of the material and on seismic vulnerability of structures. The results of the research are documented in many conference papers and book chapters and in over 40 papers in Scopus indexed journals. ORCID: 0000-0002- 9484-855X Website: https://www.unifi.it/p-doc2-0-0-A-3f2a3d30362c31.html Email: [email protected] Recibido: 28 de enero de 2020 | Aceptado: 24 de junio de 2020 | Disponible en línea: 01 de agosto de 2020. © Fabio Fratini - Manuela Mattone - Silvia Rescic - Lui- sa Rovero 2020. Este artículo es una publicación de acceso abierto. CC BY-NC-SA. Abstract Piedmont is characterized by the presence of numerous earthen buildings mainly concentrated in the province of Alessandria. Studies conducted over the last decade, however, have shown the presence of interesting examples of these buildings also in the provinces of Asti, Torino, Biella and Cuneo. They are generally two-storied rural constructions, built with both fired bricks (for the bearing structures) and adobe (for internal and external walls). The case of the La Serra hills between Biella and Ivrea is particularly Fratini F. | Mattone M. | Rescic S. | Rovelo L. 41 Análisis del patrimonio arquitectónico de tierra en Piamonte (norte de Italia): tipologías, técnicas de construcción y materiales. Gremium©| Volume 7 | Issue 14 | August-December 2020 | ISSN: 2007-8773 | Mexico City | CC BY-NC-SA This article is an open access publication | Retrieved from https://editorialrestauro.com.mx/gremium/ interesting because this zone, characterised by Although only few examples are still surviving, they the presence of morenic terrains, is rich in stone do, however, represent the interesting evidence of materials and the traditional architecture is know-how and old-aged construction techniques. mainly characterized by the use of materials such These architectures, little or not at all known, as stone, brick and wood. Nevertheless, some are always in bad condition of conservation interesting examples of earthen buildings have due to their fragility and lack of maintenance been found, evidence of the close relationships and risk to be irretrievably lost if not properly between man and his territory. They are fragile safeguarded. Their preservation is «threatened architectures, little or not at all known, which may world-wide by the forces of economic, cultural and be irretrievably lost if not properly safeguarded. architectural homogenization» (ICOMOS Charter, The research aims have been to examine types 1999), as well as by the lack of recognition and construction techniques and to analyze of their value. Conservation of earthen built the characteristics and performances of the heritage is strictly related to the full awareness constitutive materials through in situ tests of its cultural and historical value. Therefore, it is (rebound test), characterization of the adobe extremely important to identify it, to make people and mortars (XRD, particle size distribution) and conscious about the relevance of this legacy and identification of possible additives. This research to promote its enhancement. Further studies will be useful to promote again the use in the area aimed at deepening the knowledge of typologies, of these construction techniques, evidence of construction techniques and materials are people’s skills and abilities to take advantage of needed, in order to foster the preservation of this the local enviromental resources. heritage, to facilitate the design of appropriate restoration and reuse interventions and to promote the rediscovery of the earth as a building material. In fact, as stated by Luis Guerrero «hablar Introduction de conserver l’arquitectura de tierra no es solo en Piedmont is a region sited at the foot of the quenta los mecanismos para mantener en pie los western Alps therefore rich in stone materials edficios hechos en el pasado. […] La ampliación widely used in vernacular and monumental de la perspectiva edilicia dará pie la realización architecture. Nevertheless, it is also characterized de intervenciones en estructuras patrimoniales by the presence of numerous buildings realized así como nuevos edificios, en lo que se mantenga adopting the rammed earth technique, mainly el equilibrio entre el pasado y el futuro gracias a concentrated in the Fraschetta area (province of la salvaguardia del medio natural en que están Alessandria) (Barozzi, 1975; Robboni, 2007; Prati, insertos» (Guerrero, 2007). 2011). Less known is the presence of earthen This paper intends to present the results of the buildings also in the provinces of Asti, Torino, studies carried out on earthen constructions Biella and Cuneo (Figure 1), where the adobe located in Turin, Cuneo and Biella territories. In technique has been used. Primarily designed for particular, the building typologies and construction utilitarian purposes, they are the expression of techniques have been examined together cultural and architectural values representing a with the characteristics and performances significant testimony of the relationships between of the constitutive materials through in situ a community and its territory. tests (rebound test) and mineralogical and granulometric characterization of the earth. 42 Fratini F. | Mattone M. | Rescic S. | Rovelo L. Analysis of the earthen architectural heritage in Piedmont (northern Italy): typologies, construction techniques and materials Gremium©| Volumen 7 | Número 14 | Agosto-Diciembre 2020 | ISSN 2007-8773 | Ciudad de México | CC BY-NC-SA Este artículo es una publicación de acceso abierto | Disponible en https://editorialrestauro.com.mx/gremium/ Figure 1. Position of the investigated villages (after Google Earth modified) Typologies and constructive techniques the XVIthcentury, is built with both fired bricks (for the bearing structures) and adobe (for internal In the province of Turin