Architectural Restoration and Laboratory

Module Architectural Restoration

The integrated course “Architectural Restoration and Restoration Laboratory” provides students with a solid grounding in the theory and practice of architectural and monument restoration. The program combines historical and contemporary perspectives with technical and scientific approaches, guiding students in the critical interpretation of restoration works, their historical context, and the development of independent analytical skills.

The course places particular emphasis on understanding the cultural values and historical layers embodied in architecture, and on applying methodologies consistent with the principles of the discipline. Its goal is to prepare future professionals capable of addressing the challenges of conservation and restoration projects with competence and critical awareness.

Specifically, the “Architectural Restoration” module introduces the concept of restoration through its historical evolution and provides a structured methodology for interventions on historic buildings—from documentation and analysis of material decay to project design. It also highlights the potential of past architecture as a resource for the cultural and social development of communities when properly preserved and enhanced.

The module equips students with tools to navigate complex design choices, guided by the principles of compatibility, potential reversibility, specificity, and minimum intervention. These skills enable them to approach restoration projects in all their dimensions: conservation, reuse, and enhancement of architectural heritage.

The teaching is carried out through frontal lectures on restoration theory, on historical building techniques, on intervention techniques;

The course-unit is developed in two phases:

• A. Theory and history of restoration
• B. Restoration of architecture.

Historic architecture is a stratified cultural document, embodying typological features, construction techniques, symbolic values, and collective memory. Its conservation demands a rigorous knowledge framework and a technical–scientific methodology, grounded in cultural competence and professional training in architectural heritage preservation.

The course integrates lectures, specialized seminars, and design studios, culminating in the “Architectural Restoration Laboratory.” Students will examine the evolution of restoration theory and practice, from 19th-century debates to contemporary approaches, and acquire methodological tools for the restoration process: survey and documentation, diagnosis of material decay, and design of interventions in conservation, structural consolidation, and adaptive reuse.

Theory and history of restoration

The knowledge as premise for every operativity. Methodological process for built heritage intervention. The archaeological restoration and the examples of R. Stern and G. Valadier; The 19th century debate in Europe: E. Viollet - le - Duc and the J. Ruskin’s theories, the Antirestoration movement and W. Morris. The philological-historical and modern Restoration (L. Beltrami and C. Boito), the scientific Restoration (G. Giovannoni). The post-war period and the critical Restoration - Cesare Brandi.

The contemporary currents. The restoration and the reuse. The project on the built heritage today. Ways of approach to the historical pre-existences, categories and examples.

The Charters of restoration.

The Athens Charter, the 1932, the 1960 Gubbio Charter, Venice Charter, the 1972 Italian Charter, Integrated Conservation, Recommendations for buildings of special typology in seismic areas (1986), Restoration and Conservation Charter of 1987, Krakow Charter and Risk Charter. Code of Cultural Heritage and Landscape.

KNOWLEDGE

1 Analysis of historical buildings:

Historical bibliographic research, survey;

the architectural organism as a system of constructive parts;

the structural typologies

2 Architectural Materials.

2.1 Stone materials

-Stone (physical and chemical characteristics, workability etc.)

-Systems of use in the construction (stone façades);

Wood (physical characteristics, use and frequent pathologies).

3 Architectural configuration and construction elements of historical buildings

3.1 Notes on the historical building systems in the Etnea area;

3.2 Masonry elements (foundations, masonry, vaults, architraves, platbands, archivolts, stairs);

3.3 Wooden structural elements: floors, roofs, architraves, centerig

3.4 Metal structural elements: floors, shelves tie-rods

4. Environmental protection systems in the rule of art

4.1 Surface protections (plasters);

4.2 Rising damp (barriers, sealing, crawl spaces);

4.3 Rainwater (roofing, gutters, downspouts);

INTERPRETATION - ANALYSIS OF THE STATE OF CONSERVATION

5. Surfaces

5.1 Definition of the main degradations on surfaces (NorMAL 1/88 and UNI 11183 Standards);

5.2 Main causes and phenomena of material degradation (chemical, physical, biological);

5.3 Reading of surfaces degradation (general and thematic maps of visible manifestations);

6. Damages recognition (in progress or previous), collapse mechanisms (local and global), damage scenarios.

6.1 Masonry structures

- structural failures due to crushing, buckling, differential failures; cracks frameworks

6.2 Vaulted structures: deformations cracking frameworks

6.3 Slabs: manifestations of failures

-wooden floors

-iron floors

DEFINITION OF THE CRITERIA OF THE RESTORATION PLAN - (REVERSIBILITY, COMPATIBILITY AND MINIMUM INTERVENTION)

7. Material restoration: techniques of conservative intervention (cleaning, consolidation, protection);

8. Protection from moisture (rising damp, rainwater);

9. Structural restoration: local and global interventions (vulnerability mitigation);

9.1 Local interventions

-Foundations, walls, floors and roofs

-Vaults

9.2 Global interventions

 -Tie-rods, curbs, corner bracing.

Exercise

The exercise consists in the study, in the classroom, of the historical building techniques of the Etna area and in the graphic elaboration of a historical recurrent housing type of the historical center of Catania or the Etna area based on a survey provided by the teacher.

The work will be organized in groups of 3-4 students.

Contribution of teaching to the objectives for the un agenda 2030 for sustainable development goal n. 11. Sustainable cities and communities - Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.

·      11.1 Safe and affordable housing. by 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums.

·      11.3. Inclusive and sustainable urbanization by 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries.

·      11.4 Protect the world’s cultural and natural heritage. strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage.

·      11.7 Provide access to safe and inclusive green and public spaces by 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities.

·      11.a. Support least developed countries in sustainable and resilient building. support least developed countries, including through financial and technical assistance, in building sustainable and resilient buildings utilizing local materials.

Modalities

 • Student participation in conferences

 • Laboratory

 • Study visits

 • Meetings with neighborhood associations

• Topics related to one or more currents of theoretical restoration thought.
• Evolution of the concept of restoration in history.
• Methodological procedure for intervention on historic buildings: from knowledge to project.
• Description, also with graphic sketches, of the construction techniques of historical buildings, with particular regard to masonry architecture in the Etna area.
• Manifestations of the degradation and instability of stone materials and construction elements.
• Possible correlations between the construction system and current or potential instabilities.
• Explanation of restoration works (punctual and global) with detailed sketches
• Exposition of the design drawings.