Restoration of Traditional Masonry Buildings in Italy

June 3-June 28, 2024

3 Units
Instructor: Prof. Valery Tovazzi

COURSE STRUCTURE

Mornings: Lectures 1.5 hours (4 weeks)
Afternoons: 4 hours field work (2 weeks restoring stone work of the San Giovanni City Gate 13th century in San Gemini)

This course introduces students to restoration of historic buildings in Italy. It explores the traditional materials and techniques used to create the buildings and the artwork that is integral to their structure, it also examines the various agents of deterioration that, over time, damage the materials and the different approaches to their restoration and conservation.

The course investigates such traditional building materials as stone, mortars, cements, architectural ceramics, wood and architectural metals. It also examines the materials and methods used in the artwork and decorations, such as fresco painting, secco murals, painting on wood panels, gilding, stone and wood sculpture, decorative plasters, mosaics and stained glass.

The course combines theoretical learning in the classroom with a hands-on experience in the field. As part of the course students will be working on our current field project: the restoration of the San Giovanni City Gate (13th century) in San Gemini.

The objectives for this course are to introduce students planning a career in restoration to the field, and to offer a useful overview of the process and problematic examples of restoration to students involved in other aspects of the process of conservation and historic preservation. This course is aimed at students of Restoration and Conservation, Historic Preservation, Architecture, Art, Art History, Cultural History, Engineering, Anthropology, Archaeology and Museum Studies.

Porous Materials

Artificial Stones: Plaster and Mortars

Binders

Gypsum

Aerial lime

Hydraulic lime

Cement

• Aggregates

Natural sands

Crushed stones

Pozzolana

Artificial

Crushed bricks and others

Restoring the façade of San Francesco in San Gemini, a church built in phases from the 13th to the 15th centuries. The work will include:

• Treating stone with biocide

• Stone cleaning

• Consolidation of stone where necessary

• Removal of inappropriate mortars

• Pointing stone work with hydraulic lime mortars

• Treatment of stone with sealers

• Applying washes where necessary

READINGS: Reading list supplied with acceptance to the program.

Field work: Complete various assignments that are given as part of the field project
Term paper #1: 8 page paper on a topic to be assigned
Term paper #2: 8 page paper on a topic to be assigned (graduate students only)
Exam: mixed format – quiz and essay questions

Sketching and Analyzing Historic Buildings

June 3 - 28, 2024

3 Units
Instructor: Prof. Max Cardillo

Course structure

Mornings: Lectures 1.5 hours (4 weeks)
Afternoons: 4 hours - Sketching and analyzing historic buildings in San Gemini (2 weeks) Students will alternate 2 weeks working on the restoration field project and 2 weeks sketching and analyzing historic buildings.

This course develops intellectual skills in identifying and analyzing historic buildings and their cultural contexts. Building typologies, architectural styles, materials, structural systems, and construction methods are discussed. In the sketching workshop and onsite participants develop analytical skills through observational drawing and documentation.

Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:

• identify and analyze historic buildings and their settings.

• demonstrate knowledge of the evolution of the Italian city, building typologies, architectural styles, traditional building materials, structural systems, building components and construction methods.

• develop analytical skills through methodical observation and documentation of historic structures.

• communicate effectively through sketching observations and analysis of buildings.

 1)     Introductory lectures Historical Overview of the region of Umbria. A panoramic view of the history of the region from Pre-Roman times to present.

2)     Historical tour  of the city of San Gemini. Observe the various physical features of the Urban environment as they have developed from Roma times to the present.

3)     Methods of Describing Buildings and Urban Environment

• Manual Graphics – sketching, paintings, architectural drawings (2D, 3D)

• Verbal – legal, surveys, literary

• Photography – still, cinematic, videos, photogrammetry

• Digital photo modelling

• Laser scanning

4)     Physical and Historical Analysis of Buildings (San Giovanni Battista)

• Physical description

• Historical evolution and context

• Iconography

5)     Shape of Italian Cities – the classical city

• Early human settlements

• Sardinian, Phoenician and Greek Cities

• Roman Castrum, Colonia, Urban infrastructure

6)     Ceramics uses in Architecture  - Visiting lecturer Elena Lorenzetti

• Structural uses

• Special surfaces – roof tiles, floors

• Decorative elements

7)     Visit to the archaeological site the Roman city of Carsulae

• Evolution of the city of Carsulae

• Features of the Roman city

8)     Shape of the Italian city – Middle Age

• Organic developments

• Bailey, castles and defensive perimeter

• Central square and markets

• Planned medieval settlements

9)     Shape of the Italian city - The Renaissance and Modern City

• The Ideal City

• Gun powder and City defensive perimeter

• The hub and spoke plan

• The baroque city

• The industrial city

10)  Structural System in Historic and Modern Buildings

• Foundations, walls, columns, beams, trusses, arches, vaults, domes, slabs, frames

11)  Italian building types - Classical

• Temples, basilicas, domus, villas, insulae, thermae, amphitheater, theaters, stadia, tombs, columbaria.

12)  Visiting Lecturer TBD

13)  Italian Building Types – Middle ages

• Christian basilicas, round churches, octagonal churches, city halls, loggia,  houses, merchant’s houses, palaces

14)  Italian building types - Renaissance & Modern,  

• Renaissance Basilica, Central plan church, domes

• Bankers palaces, Villas, rural houses

• Baroque architecture

• Neoclassicism and revival architecture

• Rationalism

15)  Historic Building Materials

• Earth, wood, stone, bricks, lime mortar, hydraulic cements, glass

16)  Traditional Construction Methods

• Foundations  

17)  Traditional Construction methods

• Walls and columns

18)  Traditional Construction methods

• Floors, roofs

19)  Visiting Lecturer TBD

20)  Traditional Construction Methods - Finishes

• Floors, exterior walls, interior walls, roofs, ceilings

21)  Air, Heat, light and Power

• Ventilation

• Heating and Cooking

• Illumination

• Electricity

Sketching assignment

Produce 10 sheets of sketches: five give a general description of the building and five to present details ,components and analytical diagrams.

Written assignment

3-page reports, describing the history, evolution and special features of the building analyzed.