Defining the Structurally Compatible Uses of Ancient Vaults: A Comparison between Traditional and Modern Modelling Approaches

摘要

The conservation of historical architectural heritage cannot be limited only to a series of isolated interventions on materials and structures, but must include also the maintenance or insertion of compatible uses, which can guarantee a continuous upkeep. The exploitation of heritage, nevertheless, is a wedge issue, as it involves new loads, more wear, different environmental conditions, which can induce changes in their behaviour which are hard to foresee. This contribution aims to analyse in particular the structural issues involved in the use changes or in the adaptation of a pre-existing use to new functional or normative requirements. Indeed, for a correct management of the built heritage, the choice of the structurally compatible uses cannot disregard a specific analysis aimed at the identification of the structure bearing capacity and focusing on the indications to combine functional and structural needs.The proposed case study, on which the approach is applied, regards the Pilotta National Museum, in Parma, that is undergoing a reorganization of the visit paths and a reconsideration on the uses allocated to some spaces. More specifically, a vaulted room over a long barrel vault is asked to host new functions and carry new loads, whose compatibility with the preservation of the monumental structure must be assessed.