Abstract:

The historical constructions were build on the basis of constructive concepts and of a material culture on "rules of art" which grew up layer by layer in the course of the centuries. This was possible thanks to an experimental knowledge of the materials and to the continuous refinement of construction techniques applied to the various building typologies. The knowledge of this process through the theoretical analysis of the conception, the definition of the experimental behaviour of the materials, the detection of the structural values of the different construction techniques, are essential conditions for the elaboration of preservation criteria, specifically calibrated on each typologies of the historic architecture.
The "minor architecture" was subjected in the course of the centuries to large modifications; these were partially due to continuous increasing of the construction dimensions and consequently the buildings modified from isolated to row to complex aggregates and partially due to small or large reconstruction.
It is difficult for these building typologies to recognise the original structural system and also to detect the structural behaviour. To these cases it is necessary to add those constructions which were subjected to damage along the times, due to settlements of various origins, or to damages connected with excessive dead loads as it is the case of massive buildings (towers, churches, defensive walls) or to exceptional events which are repeatedly occurring in time.
The paper introduce two different methodologies and approach to define the security level of the historical building:
- Multilevel Reliability Check System
The statistical study of collapses’ phenomena, which affected the “minor” Italian building heritage in the last decades, shows the necessity of policies and strategies afterthought for historical buildings’ safeguard. Starting from a multidisciplinary reconnaissance of knowledge and tools for the security level’s definition of existing buildings and a settlement of plausible mathematical models for the analysis of the natural materials’ ageing process, the research works out a Multilevel Reliability Check System. The obtained data are put in GIS for the TIS (Territorial Information System) construction at municipal level. The schedule shows the main input data in relation to four different levels. The testing area for MRCS consist of “minor” historical municipalities surrounding Milan. Many buildings in this area are subjected to collapses, casting off, maintenance or reuse.
This paper shows, together with the form system framework, an application of the MRCS on some significant case history of rural architecture finalised to a reuse project.
- Seismic Damage Project
Starting from a collection of contemporary researches and experimentation experiences on the issue of interventions in historical buildings (practical codes, preservation handbooks and guide lines) the work introduce a methodological approach to define check point system of historical construction. The research work focuses on the historic centres of Nocera Umbra, Colle di Nocera Umbra and Le Molina, both in the region of Umbria (Italy) . The authors are the co-ordinators to La.S.Me. (Meta-project Experimentation Laboratory) "Constructing and Living in Seismic Area”, conducted from the Faculty of Civil Architecture of the “Politecnico di Milano” in collaboration with the town council of Nocera Umbra.