The use of steel in the Preservation and renewal of historic heritage: A case study of the Janete Costa Museum in Niterói, Brazil

Abstract

This article investigates the use of steel in heritage buildings. Its case study is the building that houses the Janete Costa Museum, designed by Mauro Costa Santos and opened in 2013. Listed as a heritage site in Niterói, the building underwent a restoration and expansion process, in which steel played an essential role in reconciling preservation and modernization. Its purpose is to analyze the structural recovery of these two historic buildings (twinned), which were transformed into a museum, with the aim of investigating the used intervention methods and how the use of steel helped and enhanced the modifications that were made. It analyzes the interventions carried out, highlighting the application of the main restoration theories, with an emphasis on Cesare Brandi’s theory. It demonstrates its relevance in architectural revitalization and the use of steel. It investigated the forms of intervention employed and how steel enhanced the structural modifications to provide stability, functionality and preservation of the historic building. In addition to its strength and versatility, steel is a sustainable solution that is aligned with the principles of reversibility. It also reduces waste, minimizes the need for new materials and allows the space to have large spans and the expected contrast between old and new. It is expected that this study will contribute to encouraging new research and expanding the adoption of this approach in the construction market, in order to promote interventions compatible with the preservation of architectural heritage.