Chiara CIRCO
Chiara Circo (1983) is an architect (2009), Ph.D. (2017), and lecturer (PON-AIM) at the Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture (University of Catania) since 2019.
In the fields of prevention and post-seismic activities, she collaborated on several national research projects aimed at studying the historical masonry structures in seismic emergency contexts (i.e.: the collaboration in the design of Reconstruction Plans post-earthquake 2009; the research focused on the analysis of damage to define restoration criteria of two public historical buildings in Crevalcore after the 2012 earthquake). She was also involved in studies focused on the elaboration of seismic mitigation tools (i.e.: the project on preventive vulnerability analysis of the historic center of Faenza in 2011 and the five historical centers of the Romagna Faentina Union in 2017).
Academic Year 2021/2022
- DIDACTIC UNIT OF ARCHITECTURE
Master's Degree in Architecture - 4th Year
LABORATORIO DI RESTAURO M - Z
Academic Year 2020/2021
- DIDACTIC UNIT OF ARCHITECTURE
Master's Degree in Architecture - 4th Year
LABORATORIO DI RESTAURO A - L
Academic Year 2019/2020
- DIDACTIC UNIT OF ARCHITECTURE
Master's Degree in Architecture - 4th Year
LABORATORIO DI RESTAURO M - Z
Academic Year 2018/2019
- DIDACTIC UNIT OF ARCHITECTURE
Master's Degree in Architecture - 4th Year
LABORATORIO DI RESTAURO M - Z
The fields of her research work mainly consist of: (i) Knowledge of historical masonry architecture, investigated through analysis of construction techniques, processes of deterioration and disintegration, transformations; (ii) the study of the processes of evolution and transformation of historical masonry architectures, investigated through analysis, interpretation, and comparison of documentary sources and direct survey; (iii) and the analysis of the history of restoration interventions, investigated through the use of archival sources.
The aforementioned research areas have been approached at different scales (both building and urban scale) and with reference to the seismic risk (prevention and post-seismic activities).
Within the departmental research project Open Technologies for Local Development. Democratic Practices for Enhancing and Preservation of Cultural Heritage, she is carrying out research on the half-abandoned small historic centres in the inner areas. The work identifies the main problems half-abandonment implies on the masonry urban fabric and on the inhabitant's safety by means of a direct survey of case studies. The scope is outlining a code of practice with a set of general considerations about compatible uses and restoration interventions on the built heritage with a focus on seismic safety.