Structural and constructive interventions on old buildings: a methodological framework

Abstract

The main purpose of this article is to present and discuss intervention methodologies, focusing on structural and constructive  work undertaken on old buildings of common architecture that are considered to be of cultural interest. Lying at the origin of this paper is the understanding that many of the interventions currently being made on such buildings are typically façadist in nature, frequently involving the complete reconstruction of the buildings themselves and showing a total disregard for the cultural values that their actual materials and traditional construction techniques confer upon them. A brief review will first be made of the main recommendations currently proposed for the conservation and rehabilitation of old buildings, while a general intervention methodology will also be established. In this way, an attempt will be made to discuss the various approaches and procedures that are commonly adopted in practice, in keeping with the nature of the different buildings that are subject to intervention, the aim being to present a summary of some recent studies that have recognised the need for a specific approach to the group of old buildings of common architecture that display a significant cultural value.