Conservation and valorization of historical building: the case-study of Stampace quarter in Cagliari (Sardinia, Italy)

The research focuses on the building heritage of one of the four historic quarters in Cagliari, known as Stampace. It is characterised by the original medieval urban pattern composed of narrow buildings, historically used as houses or stores. All the buildings are built with local stone, mainly limestone known as Pietra Cantone followed by Pietra Forte, and very few granite and volcanic stones. A vast knowledge of the true present state of a historic settlement is the only way to improve the quality of restoration, i.e. to define the necessary procedures for its protection, conservation, enhancement and management, as well as for its coherent development and its harmonious adaptation to contemporary life. This knowledge is not easy to achieve and must include a careful analysis of the state of conservation, often affected by recent inadequate transformations or simply lack of maintenance. Thus, a lot of effort has gone into analysing, understanding and representing every aspect of about 250 units, also creating specific and technical data-sheets on different topics. As a consequence, the high quality of the knowledge acquired has implied the necessity to store, manage and relate a large quantity of information, all included in a specific database easy to update. This complex computerised database gathers and provides mixed data concerning historic, architectural, structural and building material information. It also describes the state of conservation, the effects and causes of deterioration, any preservation law that might apply to the items as well as planned restoration works, maintenance programs and sustainable uses. A GIS (Geographic Information System) was generated from the first database. All information is now georeferenced in the new technological system that represents an extraordinary and effective tool for the management and planning of architectural and urban restorations in the old city centre. Considering the complexity and the number of topics involved in the analysis, research has been carried out by specialists in many different disciplines (restoration, geomatic survey, materials diagnostics) in an effective multidisciplinary cooperation.