Restoration of the historical steel vault of the Goldoni Theatre in Livorno in Structural Analysis of historical constructions

The Goldoni Theatre in Livorno (1843 –1847) was designed by architect Giuseppe Cappellini to offer natural lighting via a wide steel and glass vault. A significant part of the original “Best Best” english laminated steel structure, one of the oldest in Europe, has been conserved up to today. The original central part is made up of 16 vertical frames, in a sort of “umbrella structure”, each of which consists of 4 thin rectangular cross section rods converging on central complex joints. During recent restoration it has been preserved (although with significant errors), while the ‘900 additions have been rebuilt to restore Cappellini’s original structural design. The glass roof has also been re-built according to modern performance, with a new upper reinforcing steel structure to provide hanging support for aluminium-glaze panels. The ceiling is equipped with a mechanical “velarium”, replying the historic manual one, to darken the hall during daytime shows.