Tecnologia del recupero dell’architettura tradizionale: gestire la coesistenza tra conservazione e innovazione

The main aim of this PhD Thesis was to develop meaningful data and information on how to address the fundamental question related to rehabilitation technologies of traditional architecture: managing the coexistence between innovation and conservation, in order to restore the functionality of the building according to the contemporary standards of quality and, at the same time, not to alter the historical - cultural identity of the building technology. The present study is an analysis of good practices. The criteria applied to managing the coexistence between conservation and innovation of the building technology in some successful rehabilitation processes of historical city nuclei have been systematized. The main expected outcome is to fill a gap in literature concerning the evaluation of rehabilitation results by the technological point of view, in order to adjust the criteria of intervention on the basis of the results of earlier experiences. A qualitative and inductive research methodology has been applied, based on an evaluative-comparative strategy focused on case studies. Three rehabilitation processes of historical nuclei have been analyzed: Genova in Italy, Guimarães in Portugal and Santiago de Compostela in Spain. It has been systematically analyzed how windows, floors and roofs were processed, and it has been highlighted which traditional building technology characteristics were usually maintained and which were altered. The applied methodology has proved to be incisive in revealing the rehabilitation dynamics of the case studies. The findings show that in all cases the applied criteria were conceived in line with the Nara Document on Authenticity. The problematic coexistence of technological conservation and innovation was addressed by upgrading the traditional building technology thanks to the preservation of some building characteristics, that represent traditional building technology logic, and the implementation of all required innovations that do not contrast with the abovementioned traditional characteristics. The homogeneity of criteria among the three case studies represents a relevant fact in rehabilitation, as it demonstrates the existence of a common, well developed, rehabilitation methodology that is internationally shared among rehabilitation experts.