Selected topics in history of building techniques and materials

The course provides a fundamental knowledge for the understanding of the historic building culture, which is indispensable reference point for the understanding of architectural conservation practice.
In addition the course will provide basic knowledge in physical, mechanical and technical properties of the building and ornamental materials (stones and lithoids) according to the mineral, petrographic and chemical characteristics.

Acquaintance in the methodologies of historic research, sound knowledge of history of architecture, basic culture of building construction, fundamentals of chemistry and lithology and observational skills (drawing) might be requested for the on-site visits.

1. Introductory notes on the research methodology
   • In situ observation;
   • Investigation of the building rationale (acknowledgment of historic techniques, materials, manufacturing processes with the support of historic treatises and building site notes);
   • Assessment of the technical, technological and material consistency of the historic building;
   • Assessment of the wider urban and environmental context;

2. Historic building techniques and materials
   • Analysis and assessment of the building components (structural principles and layout, masonry techniques and materials);
   • Techniques and materials of building elements (foundations, walls, arches, vaults, etc.);
   • Techniques and materials of timber carpentry (beams, ceilings, etc.);
   • Methods and materials of traditional flooring (terrazzo, etc.);
   • Plasters and plastering techniques;
   • Technical systems (sewer systems, cisterns, wells, flues and chimneys);

3. Building site process
   • Peculiarities of site and soil;
   • Building materials and labour supply and manufacturing process;
   • Dynamics between building process and building projects;
   • know-how transfer and its evolution into a closed body of “building knowledge” (historic architectural treatises, etc.)

4. Assessment of the architectural language
   • Recurring elements, evolutions and interruptions
   • Comparison of building data and functional organisation of the building with the context’s spatial, environmental and visual requirements

In view of the complexity and vulnerability of its built and natural environment, the course will have Venice and its lagoon as main working context. Additional comparative learning experiences on the course topics will be gained through conference participations and key note/guest lectures.

1. Applied petrography and conservation insights
   • history of quarrying, use and geological-petrographical insights of some frequently used building stones (Vicenza calcareous rocks, Verona calcareous rocks, Venice trachyte, Alps sandstone, Freising rocks, Istrian rocks);
   • stone deterioration causes (stone’s and brick’s physical and chemical deterioration, micro-macro morphology of deterioration, conservation insights);
   • the scientific characterization of binders: raw materials and manufacturing technology of gypsum, lime and cement;
   • clays, properties and products: ancient technologies for manufacture of pottery, bricks and architectural terracotta;

During the course the students will visit the laboratory for ancient material analysis and get acquainted with some basic analytical techniques for the physical characterisation of stone - lithoid materials.

Students will gain sound understanding of the historic and traditional building techniques and materials which is fundamental for the advanced research in the field of built heritage conservation.

• Howard D., The Architectural History of Venice, Batsford, London, 1980. E-version
• Gianighian G., Les citernes à Venise depuis le Moyen Âge : une solution d’hier pour demain ?. In Christèle Ballut. Patrick Fournier (edited by) “Au fil de l’eau. Ressources, risques et gestion du Néolithique à nos jours”, Clermont-Ferrand, 2013, pp. 93-109.
• Gianighian G., Appunti per una storiaa del cantiere a Venezia (sec. XVI-XVIII), in Caniato G., dal Borgo M., Le arti edili a Venezia, Roma 1990, pag. 249.
• Lazzarini L., Pieper R. (edited by), The Deterioration and conservation of stone : notes from the International Venetian Courses on Stone Restoration , Venice, Italy : UNESCO, 1988
• Lazzarini L. (edited by), Pietre e Marmi Antichi, CEDAM, , Raccomandazioni UNI-NORMAL, Padova 2004
• Trincanato E. R., A guide to Venetian domestic architecture, Canal Book, Venice, 1980. E-version

You will receive additional material during the lectures.

Based on assignments and open discussion/presentation of work. 50/50

Gianighan Giorgio is an Associate Professor of Architectural Conservation at the University IUAV of Venice, Italy. He has also been a Visiting Professor in Canada, the UK, Scotland, Japan, Israel, France, Colombia, Bulgaria, Germany, the USA, Nepal, India, Argentina, and China. He was a Fellow of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science in Japan in 1997. From 2013 onwards, he has served as a Visiting Professor and Vice-Director (Conservation-Restoration) at the International Research Centre for Architectural Heritage Conservation, Department of Architecture, School of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Civil Engineering (NAOCE), Shanghai Jiaotong University (SJTU).

Gianighan served as Deputy Dean for International Affairs at the University IUAV of Venice until 2013 and was a member of the Academic Council and a Professor at Venice International University from 2010-2013.
He holds over 90 publications on history and restoration in Italian, English, French, Japanese, and Chinese.
Consultant in Heritage: Gianighan has worked as a consultant for several prestigious organizations including the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, UNESCO World Heritage Centre (WHC), the European Commission, the Council of Europe, and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He has provided expertise for the People's Republic of China’s State Administration for Cultural Heritage (SACH), and has been an international expert for UNESCO WHC in countries including Nepal, the Republic of Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, and Thailand since 2002.

UNESCO Iran: He was part of the evaluation mission for the restoration of the Fortified Armenian Monasteries (WHS) in Iran in July 2012.

Main Restoration Projects:
• Torre dell’Orologio in Piazza San Marco, Venice (1997-2006)
• "New Life for Old Cisterns" (2003-2005)
• Ekmekçizade Caravanserai – Edirne, Turkey (2004-2005)
• The Red Castle – Tripoli, Libya (2007-2010)

Lecturer of the course Lorenzo Lazzarini is full Professor of Applied Petrography at the Università Iuav, www.iuav.it and Director of the Laboratorio di Analisi dei Materiali Antichi (L.A.M.A.) –Laboratory for the Analysis of the Antique Materials, of the same University. He has numerous years of experience in the study of ancient building materials, the deterioration and conservation of stone, and the characterization and provenance studies of marbles and ceramics. More information can be obtained from the L.A.M.A. website at : http://www.iuav.it/lama