Reclaiming an architectural heritage: rehabilitation of a neglected fortress.
Degryse, Ines (2018)
2018
Arkkitehtuuri
Talouden ja rakentamisen tiedekunta - Faculty of Business and Built Environment
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Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2018-09-05
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tty-201808142154
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tty-201808142154
Tiivistelmä
In this thesis, I am going to explore and defend the vast field of renovation through the rehabilitation of a 600-year-old abandoned fortress located on the highest peak of a Sicilian island.
The work of the architect goes far beyond designing buildings, it is his responsibility to create and offer qualitative living spaces. Renovation and rehabilitation challenge the architect with existing built structures to be adapted and rethought to meet today’s needs and expectations.
In the first place, I am going to support and defend the importance to protect our architectural heritage by the mean of renovation or restoration. The introduction will expose the most common reasons why to build with existing or remaining architecture, but also the limits and restrictions of rehabilitation.
The following sections are organized, based on my personal design process, guiding the reader through the project, trying to share the emotions in the same order I experienced them; going through fascination, curiosity, interrogation, confusion, understanding and maybe determination.
In those chapters, I will first present the area of the project, the historical background of the place, the surroundings and the two buildings standing on the site.
The new functions allotted to this ancient fortress are guided by a competition program, however, those will be adjusted according to a strong intention to preserve this exceptional heritage.
After introducing the general concept and organization of the project, I am going to highlight some technical questions and issues that occurred during the design process. Different common solutions for the whole intervention will be presented, such as structural reinforcements, new window frames, or floors and walls materiality. All those choices are always driven by this desire to protect the actual and unique character of the ruins.
Finally, the last part will present several zooms into the fortress through floor plans, sections or three-dimensional views to present the final design and defend my decisions. I will share and expose my convictions, trying to propose a relevant rehabilitation for this forsaken, but remarkably valuable remnant of this island’s rich historical background.
The work of the architect goes far beyond designing buildings, it is his responsibility to create and offer qualitative living spaces. Renovation and rehabilitation challenge the architect with existing built structures to be adapted and rethought to meet today’s needs and expectations.
In the first place, I am going to support and defend the importance to protect our architectural heritage by the mean of renovation or restoration. The introduction will expose the most common reasons why to build with existing or remaining architecture, but also the limits and restrictions of rehabilitation.
The following sections are organized, based on my personal design process, guiding the reader through the project, trying to share the emotions in the same order I experienced them; going through fascination, curiosity, interrogation, confusion, understanding and maybe determination.
In those chapters, I will first present the area of the project, the historical background of the place, the surroundings and the two buildings standing on the site.
The new functions allotted to this ancient fortress are guided by a competition program, however, those will be adjusted according to a strong intention to preserve this exceptional heritage.
After introducing the general concept and organization of the project, I am going to highlight some technical questions and issues that occurred during the design process. Different common solutions for the whole intervention will be presented, such as structural reinforcements, new window frames, or floors and walls materiality. All those choices are always driven by this desire to protect the actual and unique character of the ruins.
Finally, the last part will present several zooms into the fortress through floor plans, sections or three-dimensional views to present the final design and defend my decisions. I will share and expose my convictions, trying to propose a relevant rehabilitation for this forsaken, but remarkably valuable remnant of this island’s rich historical background.