Ilaria Trizio

HBIM for the Archaeology of Standing Buildings: Case Study of the Church of San Cipriano in Castelvecchio Calvisio (L’Aquila, Italy)

This paper describes the application of a BIM (Building Information Modelling) process to a medieval building analysed through the most classic tool of architectural archaeology, namely the stratigraphic analysis of structures. The case study, conducted by a multi-disciplinary team, attempts to shed light on the procedure’s strong points and shortcomings, and to widen the range of digital tools employed during the preparatory stages of restoration projects. The ultimate aim is to acquire in-depth knowledge of the asset and the history of its construction through the integration of documentary sources and on-site material findings, with the firm belief that proper data analysis and processing may lead to correct decisions concerning the asset’s conservation and enjoyment.

The Archaeoseismology of Historical Buildings: A Model Study from the L'Aquila Area in Italy

Much of Italy is characterised by two features: an increased risk of seismic activity and a profusion of old and historic buildings. These factors force us to consider the relationship between building safety and practices of conservation and protection, and as such have a direct bearing on our approach to preserving the country’s cultural heritage in general. The guidelines issued on the assessment and reduction of seismic risk to cultural heritage assets in the Prime Ministerial Decree (DPCM) of 9 February 2011 underline the importance of studying such properties in terms of their vulnerability to seismic activity, using “factors of confidence” (FC) to translate the qualitative assessments produced during previous phases into quantitative measurements. In addition to the building survey, which describes the precise three-dimensional form of a structure and the relationships between its constituent parts, a substantial part of our knowledge of a building is provided by stratigraphic analysis of the above-ground elements. Similarly, a great deal of useful information can be derived from historical analysis. This paper outlines an archaeoseismological study developed by archaeologists from the University of L’Aquila and researchers from the ITC-CNR in the same city, which applies a multi-disciplinary approach to the study of historic buildings in areas of seismic activity.

The Conques Masia Restoration Project

Masies are an archetypal feature of the landscape of Catalonia. A masia is a farm building (the Catalan word mas means land). Masies date from the end of the feudal period. Over time, the status of the farmer (the masover) who worked the masia’s land would progress from that of a feudal serf to that of a manager, a custodian of an estate on which his and his family’s wellbeing would ultimately depend. The Conques masia has a long history: it first appears in written records dating from 1403, though its existence certainly dates back further. Nowadays, it is used by a wine-producing company, Mas Rodo. The aim of the restoration project is for Mas Rodo to be able to use it for tourism: it will house a hotel, a restaurant and a small Spa.