Architectural Evolution: Modifications, Alterations, and Restorations through Centuries
Publication: Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 31, Issue 5
Abstract
The many towers of San Gimignano, Italy, make this town unique in the world. While most have disappeared, the surviving towers are even today a very interesting example of ancient simple but high buildings. The construction is surprising, the method is based on very thick stone masonries and extraordinary mortars, with just a few later exceptions where bricks were used. Equally surprising is the inner space, as rooms are sometimes smaller than the wall thickness. For each of the 14 studied towers, detailed surveys were made on internal and external parts. The survey was carried out with laser scanner and traditional instrumentation. For each tower’s exposed masonries, materials and discontinuities were examined in detail, identifying demolitions and reconstructions that occurred over time. Deformations in vertical and horizontal planes and main cracking phenomena were recorded. Remarkable data on all dimensional and construction features of the medieval towers was obtained.
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Acknowledgments
The surveys were carried out with the collaboration of the architects Francesca Venturini and Francesca Zanetti, who cooperated in the surveys of the inner rooms of the towers and their sections, while the laser-scanner surveys were performed by the architect Alessia Nobile, Geomatics Laboratory for Conservation, University of Florence, directed by Professor Grazia Tucci.
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Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 31 • Issue 5 • October 2017
Copyright
©2017 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Apr 21, 2016
Accepted: Nov 14, 2016
Published online: Mar 24, 2017
Discussion open until: Aug 24, 2017
Published in print: Oct 1, 2017
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