Recovery And Preservation of the Building

Knowledge and Understanding

The course aims to provide knowledge of the issues, methodology and tools required to tackle the renovation of existing buildings stocks within a needs-performance approach, of the construction systems in the 20th century, and of intervention strategy and technological solutions for building renovation. In addition, the course will cover the main methods for assessing the environmental sustainability of building, the minimun enviromental criteria in italian public procurement and the labels for certyfying the environmental performances of building materials.

Applying Knowledge and Understanding

By the end of the course, students will have acquired critical skills needed to manage the relationship between conservation and transformation of existing buildings. Students will be able to analyse an existing building in order to identify performance shortcomings an to define intervention strategies and technological solutions in response to the new performance requirements and in line with current principles of environmental sustainability.

The course combines lectures with a group-based design project; these two teaching methods complement each other in supporting the achievement of the expected learning outcomes.

If the course is delivered in blended or remote mode, appropriate adjustments may be made to the above, in order to ensure consistency with the syllabus.

Recommended Prior Knowledge

Formal Prerequisites

In presence, mandatory

THEORETICAL LESSONS

1. Framing Framing of the topic 

2. Complexity and systemic approach. Built Environment as system. Needs-performances approach for renovation of existing buildings

3. Evolution of construction systems in the twentieth century.

4. Building Renovation Process -  Categories of intervention: terminology.  Methodology for building renovation. Analyses of existing buildings and its context. Non-destructive investigations. Technical and performance diagnosis. Design strategies. Technological  solutions.

5. Environmental sustainability of design - Sustainability paradigm, role and responsibility of the construction sector. Building renovation and environmental sustainability. Life Cycle approach (LCA method, Environmental Product Declarations). Tools for assessing the environmental sustainability of building renovation (Italy GBC Protocol and ITACA Protocol). Circular economy in construction. Minimum Environmental Criteria in Public Procurement.

DESIGN ACTIVITIES

The design exercise will focus on a real case study in the local area. Students are required to form groups of 3 or 4 people. Each group, with periodic reviews by the teacher, will develop a renovation design for a building constructed between the 1950s and 1970s of XX century.

CONTRIBUTION OF TEACHING TO THE GOALS OF THE UN 2030 AGENDA FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Goal 11_SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

Target 11.6 e 11.b

Mode: frontal lesson

Goal 12_RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

Target 12.5 e 12.8

Mode: frontal lesson

Goal 13_CLIMATE ACTIONS : Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

Target 13.3

Mode: frontal lesson

1.     Di Battista V., Ambiente costruito. Un secondo paradigma, Alinea, Firenze, 2006.

2.     Di Battista V., Giallocosta G., Minati G. (a cura di), Architettura e approccio sistemico, Polimetrica, 2007.

3.     Conte V. Elementi della costruzione edilizia, 1970

4.     Gasparoli P., Talamo C., Manutenzione e recupero. Criteri, metodi e strategie per l'intervento sul costruito, Alinea, Firenze, 2006.

5.     Grecchi M., Malighetti L. E., Ripensare il costruito: il progetto di recupero e rifunzionalizzazione degli edifici, Maggioli, 2008.

6.  Grecchi M., Building Renovation. How to Retrofit and Reuse Existing Buildings to Save Energy and Respond to New Needs., Springer, 2022.

7.     Guarnerio L., Elementi costruttivi dell’architettura, Gorlich, 1964

8.   Iori T., Il cemento armato in Italia. Dalle origini alla seconda guerra mondiale, Edilstampa, 2001

9.     Lavagna M., Lyfe Cycle Assessment in edilizia. Progettare e costruire in una prospettiva di sostenibilità ambientale, Hoepli, 2008

10.     Malighetti L. E., Recupero edilizio e sostenibilità. Il Sole24ore, Milano, 2004.

11.  Malighetti L. E., Recupero edilizio. Strategie per il riuso e tecnologie costruttive, Il Sole24ore, Milano, 2011

12.  Moschella A., Organismi di pietra. Argomenti per la qualificazione del processo diagnostico, Bonanno editore, Acireale-Roma, 2012.

13. Pagliuca A., L’architettura del grano a Matera: il Mulino Alvino. Frammenti di tecnologie costruttive del ‘900, Gangemi Editore, 2016.

14.  Pagliuca A., Materiali made in Italy. Avanguardia italiana nell'industria delle costruzioni del primo '900, Gangemi Editore, 2019

15.  Petrignani A., Tecnologia dell’architettura, Hoepli, 1984

During the course further bibliographic material will be provided.

The assessment for this course consists of two components: a group design project and an individual oral examination on the topics covered during the lectures. The final mark will take into account the results of both components. The assessment of the oral exam, that constitudes 50% of the final grade, is based on the following criteria: level of knowledge of the required topics, expressive ability and language property, ability to connect the various topics of the programme. The final grade will take into account both the outcome of the aforementioned oral interview The assessment of the design exercise that constitudes 50% of the final grade and is based on the following criteria: completeness, correctness, originality and accuracy of the work. This design exercise must be completed within approximately one week after the end of the course (the exact date will be indicated well in advance by the lecturer) and the evaluation will be group-based. Each member of the group will be free to appear at the examination calls independently of the other colleagues in their group. 

Assessment may also be conducted online, should circumstances require it.

To ensure equal opportunities and in compliance with current legislation, students may request an individual meeting to arrange any appropriate compensatory measures and/or exemptions, taking into account the learning objectives and each student’s specific needs. Students may also contact the Department’s CInAP representative (Centre for Active and Participatory Integration: Services for Students with Disabilities and/or Specific Learning Disorders) at: https://www.cinap.unict.it/content/referenti.

Methodology for Building Renovation

Evolution of the concept of sustainable development

GBC Home Protocol

Environmental Product Declaration