Theme B

Restoration of the monumental complexes

All restoration works on the architectural heritage consists of the monumental complexes, have always been disputed between conflicting reasons and interests. These include requirements for compliance, even partial, to the new standards of life and safety (plants, fires, earthquakes), that contrast with those of their conservation values (tangibles and intangibles), present in their environments and in their structures and finishing works, and also in conflicts regarding the appropriate use of advanced technologies and the reproposing of the past ones.

The solutions to these and other outstanding issues can only arise from a direct comparison between experts on an international scale in all conflictual areas that affect decision-making of interventions on them; this comparison, which reflect the degree of risk for people and for the monument, involves a careful analysis of social perceptions and an optimum combination of all citizens' needs.

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1. Management and Planning of interventions

The conservation of monuments is an integral part of planning and management process the cultural heritage of a given community and must contribute to sustainable development, quality, economic and social enhancement of such community.

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1.1. Authenticity, Historicity, Ceremoniality, Identity of Monument. Proposals for critical redefining and categorizations of the monuments.

1.2. Procedures for allocation of 'Importance' to any monumental characterization, according to the technical codes and moral values of the Community.

1.3. Respect for the rights of future generations in relation to the monuments available today and the choices for conservation.

1.4. Political management of the monumental architectural heritage. The role of government and local authorities in planning the protection of monuments.

2. Conflicts emerging in the process of intervention

In all restoration practices available in different countries, their main characteristic is the contradiction between the different values of the monument, but also their relativity, since every time it search a combination of these contradictions, it has an immediate impact on design choices.

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2.1. Re-defining the Values of a Monument ("worthiness", "significance"): i) Value of Safeguarding Human Life, ii) Value of Safeguarding of the Shape: aesthetic satisfaction that offers the view of a monument from outside and inside, iii) Symbolic Value: the importance of religious or historical values of the monument and its contents, iv) Technical Values: construction process, construction details, materials used.

2.2. Conflicts in the conceptual triangle Features / Safety / Economy, when working to recover, improve or adapt the monumental buildings to the standards and regulations currently in force.

2.3. Quality Management and algorithms for evaluating expected performances after intervention: a) Reversibility / degree of Repeatability of the intervention, b) Durability of added materials and technical elements, d) Constructive Credibility of interventions in specific technical-economical and control conditions, e) Feasibility and Controllability of the proposed technical solutions, g) Functionality for reuse in case of new uses of the monuments (eg. touristic exploitation).

2.4. Conflict between Structural Safety and Technical Value of the monuments at different stages of interventions. Optimization of design choices.
2.5. Restoration / Anastylosis of Monuments: procedures, techniques, technologies.
2.6. Interventions of de-restoration. Legitimacy and limitations of the design decisions.
2.7. The energy conversion on aim to re-qualify the architectural monuments.
2.8. Architectural barriers in the restoration of monumental complexes.

3. Structural interventions on monumental complexes

3.1. Consequences of design choices on the Monumental Values: a) on the Shape of the monument (geometric changes color, etc.), b) on the historicity of the Monument (elimination of superfetations, impediment of current functions, e.g. liturgical celebrations), c) Technical Value of the Monument (on existing materials and building elements).

3.2. Quality Management and algorithms for evaluating expected performances after interventions: a) Reversibility/ Repeatability of the intervention, b) Durability of materials and technical elements added, d) Constructive Credibility of intervention in specific technical, economic and control conditions, e) Controllability and Feasibility of the proposed solutions, g) Functionality for reuse in case of new uses

3.3 Degree of adequacy / inadequacy of international prescriptions (International Conventions and Cards). Comparison, weaknesses, suggestions for updates. execution of structural works.

3.4. Constructive reliability. Control programs and monitoring during and after the interventions.Verification of the effectiveness of results achieved during and after structural interventions.

3.5.Preserving the monuments from natural disasters: a) interventions of structural updating/ reinforcement/adaptation to new technical normative, b) different approaches to safety between ancient structures and new structures.

3.6. Global Integrated Project: assessment procedures of the Importance attributed to different design aspects connected to the architecture, structure, equipments and functionality.

4. The shared heritage

4.1. Balancing the various needs that arise between different cultural communities in the decision making process of restoration of monuments complexes. Conflict between the need for protection of shared heritage values and the expectations of the public, visitors and locals.

4.2. The removal or alteration of any historic material: right to belong, dislocations, restitutions: the need for international regulation.

4.3. Socially useful use purposes of colonial monuments and their preservation. The conservation of monuments is always facilitated by their shared use for some socially useful purposes, without however change the architectural assets and building contents.

5. Case studies

5.1. Monumental complexes which are extremely important for their historical significance and their architectural and artistic characters of particular value.

5.2. Monumental complexes or representative buildings of historic building fabric which have maintained significant features on the architectural and distributive level.

5.3. buildings forming part of historical heritage building, even if are not particularly valuable artistically.