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Heritage
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Conservation Methodologies and Practices for Built Heritage
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Conservation Methodologies and Practices for Built Heritage

A special issue of Heritage (ISSN 2571-9408). This special issue belongs to the section "Architectural Heritage".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2024) | Viewed by 25034

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Daniela Fico

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. National Research Council-Institute of Heritage Science (CNR-ISPC), Ecotekne Campus, s.p. 6, Lecce-Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy
2. Department of Engineering for Innovation, University of Salento, Building P, Ecotekne Campus, s.p. 6, Lecce-Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy
Interests: cultural heritage; analytical chemistry; materials engineering; archaeometry; innovative and green materials; additive manufacturing; rehabilitation processes; building applications; coatings; 3D printing; bio-based polymers and composites; chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques; conservation and restoration; waste recycling; circular economy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Daniela Rizzo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Salento, via D. Birago 64, 73100 Lecce, Italy
Interests: construction and building materials; analysis and diagnosis of the state of conservation and restoration; artistic techniques; cultural heritage; chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques; coatings; degradation mechanisms

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to submit research contributions to this Special Issue, called “Conservation Methodologies and Practices for Built Heritage”.

The planning of conservation interventions for historic buildings requires an understanding of their characteristics, of the site, and of the intervention procedures, due to the unique features of the architectural asset. In recent years, many advances have been made in the area of knowledge on conservation methodologies and practices for architectural cultural heritage. The use of innovative technologies and multidisciplinary approaches can be considered valuable tools to support the conservation, fruition, and valorization of a CH building, which is usually subject to protection restrictions and therefore requires noninvasive or, in some cases, microdestructive diagnostic analyses.

The aim of this Special Issue is to collect studies on architectural heritage conservation, focusing on material science, diagnostics and monitoring, chemical analysis, intervention, civil and materials engineering, green materials, and the use of new digital technologies.

The topics include, but are not limited to, conservation methodologies and practices for built heritage:

  • Chemical and engineering materials and technologies in the field of the diagnosis, conservation, fruition and valorization, and rehabilitation of historical buildings;
  • Environmental monitoring of monuments;
  • Multivariate statistical treatments and mathematical models;
  • Virtual and augmented reality, additive manufacturing, ICT, and digital heritage technologies;
  • Sustainability, green chemistry, and ecofriendly materials.

Original research, review articles, case studies, and research papers focusing on diagnostic, chemical, engineering, physical, and other investigations are accepted. Papers focusing on issues of sustainability, circular economy, and cost-effective technologies in building conservation are also welcome.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Best regards,

Dr. Daniela Fico
Daniela Rizzo
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Heritage is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • chemical and engineering materials and technologies
  • environmental monitoring of monuments
  • virtual reality
  • digital heritage technologies
  • sustainability

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

24 pages, 22163 KiB  
Article
Comprehensive Overview and New Research on Carbonate Rocks of the Sé Velha Cathedral in Coimbra, Portugal
by Alice Tavares, Fernando Rocha, Ana Fragata, Aníbal Costa and Matilde Oliveira
Heritage 2024, 7(10), 5569-5592; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage7100263 - 8 Oct 2024
Viewed by 912
Abstract
In addition to the surrounding climatic environment, the intrinsic characteristics of the stones used in construction are a critical factor to understand a building’s conservation state and define the necessary planning and conservation management activities. The use of environmentally susceptible stones, such as [...] Read more.
In addition to the surrounding climatic environment, the intrinsic characteristics of the stones used in construction are a critical factor to understand a building’s conservation state and define the necessary planning and conservation management activities. The use of environmentally susceptible stones, such as carbonate stones, in heritage buildings can be especially problematic. The present investigation presents an overview of past research and contributes to identifying the types of carbonate stones used over time in Coimbra’s Old Cathedral in Portugal, which was classified as a National Monument and integrated into the Coimbra World Heritage site by UNESCO. Our mineralogical and chemical analyses revealed the use of carbonate stones from different quarries (Coimbra region), including Ançã limestone and dolostone (Porta Especiosa portal), Portunhos limestone and Outil limestone (in the perimeter of windows), and marlstones and Outil limestone (side facades). These stones, which were installed at various times during the construction and alteration of the monument, represent a great challenge for conservation planning due to their intrinsic vulnerability to adverse environmental conditions and pollution. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conservation Methodologies and Practices for Built Heritage)
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16 pages, 12463 KiB  
Article
Sustainable Conservation of Architectural Heritage to Reduce Environmental Impact: The Morocco Pavilion on Cartuja Island in Seville
by Manuel V. Castilla and Francisco Lopez
Heritage 2024, 7(8), 3851-3866; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage7080182 - 24 Jul 2024
Viewed by 691
Abstract
The architectural heritage of a particular place, in most cases, is characterised by vernacular and unique constructions that have been adapted to local climate conditions. For this purpose, specific materials and construction methods have traditionally been used that, in addition to the durability [...] Read more.
The architectural heritage of a particular place, in most cases, is characterised by vernacular and unique constructions that have been adapted to local climate conditions. For this purpose, specific materials and construction methods have traditionally been used that, in addition to the durability of the construction, also allow for the consideration of the energy efficiency of the building itself. The present intersection of climate change and architecture has led to new exposure to the external agents for which constructions were designed, forcing, in most cases, a review of building envelopes and very costly proposals. From the point of view of efficiency, intervention strategies with passive measures are proposed that not only improve the energy performance and maintenance of buildings themselves, but also lower the overall energy consumption. Using a heritage case study of the city of Seville, the Moroccan Pavilion, at Expo 92, this work includes an analysis and proposal of effective action through a methodological study of energy efficiency. The problem of high energy consumption during the summer months in Seville is tested in the Pavilion. The results indicate an urgent need for renovation, and among different options, new intervention measures are recommended as an alternative to consumption based on knowledge and tradition; moreover, passive construction elements are proposed in accordance with the climatic reality of the environment for optimal conservation in new climate scenarios. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conservation Methodologies and Practices for Built Heritage)
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22 pages, 3535 KiB  
Article
Towards Using Digital Technologies to Balance Conservation and Fire Mitigation in Building Heritage Hosting Vulnerable Occupants: Rapid Evacuation Simulator Verification for the “Omero Museum” (Ancona, Italy)
by Marco D’Orazio, Margherita Canafoglia, Gabriele Bernardini and Enrico Quagliarini
Heritage 2024, 7(7), 3734-3755; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage7070177 - 14 Jul 2024
Viewed by 593
Abstract
Digital technologies can support designers in balancing architectural heritage conservation and performances using multidisciplinary approaches. Fire safety represents a challenging issue, especially in public historical buildings hosting vulnerable occupants, since heavy modifications are often required to facilitate their evacuation. Digital tools based on [...] Read more.
Digital technologies can support designers in balancing architectural heritage conservation and performances using multidisciplinary approaches. Fire safety represents a challenging issue, especially in public historical buildings hosting vulnerable occupants, since heavy modifications are often required to facilitate their evacuation. Digital tools based on evacuation simulation are able to verify the impact of other sustainable, compatible evacuation management and planning approaches, especially considering the use of generic software, which can be used by low-trained technicians according to rapid setups. Nevertheless, simulator reliability should be experimentally verified through case study applications. This work thus offers the experimental verification of a rapid setup-based generic evacuation simulator in the context of a significant case study (the “Omero Museum”, Ancona, Italy), placed in a historic building hosting vulnerable occupants (disabled, elderly, children), thanks to a full-scale evacuation drill. The rapid setup described different vulnerable occupants’ categories according to literature data. Comparisons between drill and simulation results, using consolidated verification indicators, showed the overall reliability of the proposed approach, and thus encourage additional tests in historical buildings. The proposed setup-based simulator could be combined with other digital tools (virtual reality, BIM-related) to provide full support to fire risk and evacuation assessments when vulnerable occupants are present. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conservation Methodologies and Practices for Built Heritage)
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31 pages, 23005 KiB  
Article
Deep Learning Enhanced Multisensor Data Fusion for Building Assessment Using Multispectral Voxels and Self-Organizing Maps
by Javier Raimundo, Serafin Lopez-Cuervo Medina, Julian Aguirre de Mata, Tomás Ramón Herrero-Tejedor and Enrique Priego-de-los-Santos
Heritage 2024, 7(2), 1043-1073; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage7020051 - 17 Feb 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1565
Abstract
Efforts in the domain of building studies involve the use of a diverse array of geomatic sensors, some providing invaluable information in the form of three-dimensional point clouds and associated registered properties. However, managing the vast amounts of data generated by these sensors [...] Read more.
Efforts in the domain of building studies involve the use of a diverse array of geomatic sensors, some providing invaluable information in the form of three-dimensional point clouds and associated registered properties. However, managing the vast amounts of data generated by these sensors presents significant challenges. To ensure the effective use of multisensor data in the context of cultural heritage preservation, it is imperative that multisensor data fusion methods be designed in such a way as to facilitate informed decision-making by curators and stakeholders. We propose a novel approach to multisensor data fusion using multispectral voxels, which enable the application of deep learning algorithms as the self-organizing maps to identify and exploit the relationships between the different sensor data. Our results indicate that this approach provides a comprehensive view of the building structure and its potential pathologies, and holds great promise for revolutionizing the study of historical buildings and their potential applications in the field of cultural heritage preservation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conservation Methodologies and Practices for Built Heritage)
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15 pages, 4782 KiB  
Article
Mortar Characterization of Historical Masonry Damaged by Riverbank Failure: The Case of Lungarno Torrigiani (Florence)
by Sara Calandra, Teresa Salvatici, Elena Pecchioni, Irene Centauro and Carlo Alberto Garzonio
Heritage 2023, 6(5), 3820-3834; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage6050203 - 22 Apr 2023
Viewed by 1548
Abstract
The research of structural masonry associated with geo-hydrological hazards in Cultural Heritage is a multidisciplinary issue, requiring consideration of several aspects including the characterization of used materials. On 25 May 2016, loss of water from the subterranean pipes and of the aqueduct caused [...] Read more.
The research of structural masonry associated with geo-hydrological hazards in Cultural Heritage is a multidisciplinary issue, requiring consideration of several aspects including the characterization of used materials. On 25 May 2016, loss of water from the subterranean pipes and of the aqueduct caused an Arno riverbank failure damaging a 100 m long portion of the historical embankment wall of Lungarno Torrigiani in Florence. The historical masonry was built from 1854–1855 by Giuseppe Poggi and represents a historical example of an engineering approach to riverbank construction, composed of a scarp massive wall on foundation piles, with a rubble masonry internal core. The failure event caused only a cusp-shaped deformation to the wall without any shattering or toppling. A complete characterization of the mortars was performed to identify the technologies, raw materials and state of conservation in order to understand why the wall has not collapsed. Indeed, the mortars utilized influenced the structural behavior of masonry, and their characterization was fundamental to improve the knowledge of mechanical properties of civil architectural heritage walls. Therefore, the aim of this research was to analyze the mortars from mineralogical–petrographic, physical and mechanical points of view, to evaluate the contribution of the materials to damage events. Moreover, the results of this study helped to identify compatible project solutions for the installation of hydraulically and statically functional structures to contain the riverbank. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conservation Methodologies and Practices for Built Heritage)
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19 pages, 21574 KiB  
Article
The Flight of Saint Mary Magdalene—A Case Study of the Dismantling, Repositioning and Restoration of a Votive Aedicule and Wall Painting in Nardò, Lecce, Italy
by Fabrizio Ghio, Enrica Marcella Stefanelli and Enrico Ampolo
Heritage 2023, 6(4), 3429-3447; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage6040182 - 29 Mar 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1741
Abstract
The work carried out as part of construction on a ring road around Nardò (Lecce, South Italy) involved a votive aedicule attached to the perimeter wall of a rural building that had been scheduled for demolition. Provision was made for the movement and [...] Read more.
The work carried out as part of construction on a ring road around Nardò (Lecce, South Italy) involved a votive aedicule attached to the perimeter wall of a rural building that had been scheduled for demolition. Provision was made for the movement and relocation of the building, dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene, to an adjacent area, in addition to the restoration of the pictorial decoration itself. The intervention was designed to conserve the building as testimony of its use for future generations, given its value and sense of identity for the local community. The project was largely conservatory, thus guaranteeing the continuity of its still active devotional function. In this sense, the restoration of the building was also associated with an educational aim of raising awareness of the importance of eco-compatible care of the landscape. So, this project highlights the importance of social, as much as environmental, sustainability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conservation Methodologies and Practices for Built Heritage)
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13 pages, 2823 KiB  
Article
In Situ Investigation of the Medieval Copper Alloy Door in Troia (Southern Italy)
by Giovanni Buccolieri, Antonio Serra, Giorgio Giuseppe Carbone, Vito Nicola Iacobellis, Alfredo Castellano, Lucio Calcagnile and Alessandro Buccolieri
Heritage 2023, 6(3), 2688-2700; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage6030142 - 2 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1483
Abstract
This work describes experimental results concerning the chemical composition of the alloy patina and inlays from the medieval copper alloy door of the cathedral of Troia (southern Italy), dating back to 1127 CE. The analyses were conducted in situ with no sampling or [...] Read more.
This work describes experimental results concerning the chemical composition of the alloy patina and inlays from the medieval copper alloy door of the cathedral of Troia (southern Italy), dating back to 1127 CE. The analyses were conducted in situ with no sampling or sample preparation required, using a portable energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF) instrument. The compositional results show that the two door leaves were made using a binary alloy of copper and lead, while the nails, lion protomes, and handles have a different chemical composition. Moreover, the analyses revealed uniform concentrations of chlorine, probably due to cleaning treatments during the restoration. It is important to emphasise that the obtained results are the only ones related to this valuable masterpiece analysed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conservation Methodologies and Practices for Built Heritage)
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34 pages, 7988 KiB  
Article
The Version of the Composition of the Mausoleum-Khanaka Khoja Ahmed Yassawi Main Facade in Turkestan
by Konstantin Samoilov, Bolat Kuspangaliyev, Gaukhar Sadvokasova and Aizhan Akhmedova
Heritage 2023, 6(2), 1344-1377; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage6020074 - 30 Jan 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4873
Abstract
The problem of preservation, and optimal demonstration of it to local residents and tourists of architectural monuments, is of constant scientific and public interest. Two concepts coexist in dialectical interaction: conservation to preserve the monument in the form in which it has come [...] Read more.
The problem of preservation, and optimal demonstration of it to local residents and tourists of architectural monuments, is of constant scientific and public interest. Two concepts coexist in dialectical interaction: conservation to preserve the monument in the form in which it has come down to in our times, and restoration of the monument with the restoration of lost details. In each case, one or another decision is made, which finds both supporters and opponents. One of the aspects of this problem is the attitude to buildings that have long breaks in the history of conduct in their construction works. An interesting example of such a monument is the mausoleum-khanaka of Ahmed Yassawi in Turkestan, which remains unfinished. Given its importance for the self-determination of the culture of modern Kazakhstan, it seems appropriate to consider the planned design, which remains unrealized. For the first time, the article suggests, by way of discussion, several options proposed by the authors for solving the main facade of the mausoleum-khanaka and the shape of the central dome. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conservation Methodologies and Practices for Built Heritage)
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21 pages, 7930 KiB  
Article
Protection of Historical Mortars through Treatment with Suspensions of Nanoparticles
by Efstathia I. Pavlakou, Christine Lemonia, Emily Zouvani, Christakis A. Paraskeva and Petros G. Koutsoukos
Heritage 2023, 6(2), 1148-1168; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage6020064 - 27 Jan 2023
Viewed by 1297
Abstract
Mortars, which are very important elements for the integrity of historic monuments, consist mainly of calcium carbonate and silicates in different proportions. Chemical dissolution due to exposure in open air is very important for the degradation of mortars. Inorganic nanoparticles with chemical and [...] Read more.
Mortars, which are very important elements for the integrity of historic monuments, consist mainly of calcium carbonate and silicates in different proportions. Chemical dissolution due to exposure in open air is very important for the degradation of mortars. Inorganic nanoparticles with chemical and crystallographic affinity with mortar components are expected to be effective structure stabilizers and agents offering resistance to chemical dissolution. In the present work, we have developed and applied suspensions of amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC), silicon oxide (am-SiO2) and composite nanoparticles by the precipitation of ACC on am-SiO2 and vice versa. The application of suspensions of the synthesized nanoparticles on three different historical mortars of Roman times (1st century AD), retarded their dissolution rate in solutions undersaturated with respect to calcite, in acid pH (6.50, 25 °C). All three test historic mortars, treated with suspensions of the nanoparticles prepared, showed high resistance towards dissolution at pH 6.50. The ability of the nanoparticles’ suspension to consolidate the damaged mortar was the key factor in deciding the corresponding effectiveness in the retardation of the rate of dissolution. The combination of ACC with am-SiO2 nanoparticles showed high efficiency for protection from the dissolution of calcite rich mortars. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conservation Methodologies and Practices for Built Heritage)
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13 pages, 2497 KiB  
Article
Mortar Characterization and Radiocarbon Dating as Support for the Restoration Work of the Abbey of Santa Maria di Cerrate (Lecce, South Italy)
by Giovanna Vasco, Antonio Serra, Giovanni Buccolieri, Daniela Manno, Lucio Calcagnile, Gianluca Quarta and Alessandro Buccolieri
Heritage 2022, 5(4), 4161-4173; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage5040215 - 15 Dec 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1890
Abstract
During the restoration work promoted by the FAI foundation (Fondo Ambiente Italiano) of the abbey of Santa Maria di Cerrate (Lecce, Apulia, South Italy), multidisciplinary analyses have been realized to support conservators and art historians for the safeguard and valorization of [...] Read more.
During the restoration work promoted by the FAI foundation (Fondo Ambiente Italiano) of the abbey of Santa Maria di Cerrate (Lecce, Apulia, South Italy), multidisciplinary analyses have been realized to support conservators and art historians for the safeguard and valorization of the most important byzantine evidence (12th–13th century) in Apulia. In this paper, mortar samples have been investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) to characterize the observed materials, directing conservators for the integration interventions with compatible realizations. Moreover, the samples were compared with specimens taken from local quarries and the nearest coastline area, and vegetal fibers, embedded into the mortars were analyzed by applying radiocarbon dating by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). It was thus possible to give a contribution to the historical-artistic research related to the building techniques, the ratio aggregates/binder and the employed materials of the mortars and the dating of the mural paintings between the end of the 12th century and the first half of the 13th century. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conservation Methodologies and Practices for Built Heritage)
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24 pages, 8276 KiB  
Article
The Comparative Analysis for the New Approach to Three Tourism-Oriented Heritage Districts in the United Arab Emirates
by Jihad Awad, Mohammad Arar, Chuloh Jung and Bouzid Boudiaf
Heritage 2022, 5(3), 2464-2487; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage5030128 - 1 Sep 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4920
Abstract
This study investigates the tourism-oriented heritage districts in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and explores a new approach to fostering heritage tourism. This is envisaged through conducting a post-occupancy evaluation (POE) to detect the characteristics of the tourism-oriented heritage districts from the residents [...] Read more.
This study investigates the tourism-oriented heritage districts in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and explores a new approach to fostering heritage tourism. This is envisaged through conducting a post-occupancy evaluation (POE) to detect the characteristics of the tourism-oriented heritage districts from the residents and tourists. The systematic evaluation of opinions is based on indicators developed by UNESCO and ICOMOS international principles. According to the survey results, it is found that Dubai’s approach was successful at reuniting people with their history via modern materials in the restoration works. This has preserved the heritage value and increased their culture and national identity. The social goal to reconnect residents to their cultural history has been realized despite the inconsistencies compared to the specification of the World Heritage Convention, which requires technical authenticity and integrity. People perceived the identities of tourism-oriented heritage districts in Dubai, Sharjah, and Ajman differently. Based on the POE survey, the Shindagha area and Al Fahidi Historical Area in Dubai were perceived as traditional destinations for tourist attractions. The Heart of Sharjah area was perceived as cultural and educational tourism, and the Ajman Heritage District area was perceived as community tourism. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conservation Methodologies and Practices for Built Heritage)
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