The most recommended choice of materials for architectural redevelopment has distant roots. There have been three predominant schools of thought concerning the choice of techniques and materials for restoration and, between the opposing poles of Viollet-le-Duc’s stylistic restoration and the purism of Ruskin and Morris, the solution most valued by contemporary architects is the one that points to the recognisability of supplementary measures, represented by the commendable restoration of the Colosseum and the Arch of Titus.
Before and after photos of the restoration of the Colosseum in Rome
Renovation and Redevelopment Today
That a restoration operates in assonance or dissonance with what already exists is, today, a very complex question as it does not just concern the restoration of ancient relics, but increasingly that of ordinary buildings, defining a marked distinction between conservation of historic heritage and architectural redevelopment. The subject of reuse of the existing in the city centres, ex-industrial areas and in the urban outskirts is closely related to the need to reduce the use of land with the aim of limiting urban sprawl. Today, cities are spreading like wildfire and redevelopment enables new life to be given to disused areas, avoiding the unjustified exploitation of the land.
Energy Redevelopment
Together with the topic of preserving unspoiled spaces, architects must take sustainability into account, which is resulting in a new approach driving urban development. Indeed, in cities, the air-conditioning of buildings is the second highest source of pollution after traffic pollution and limiting the energy used by buildings is a common subject on a global scale. In recent years, the European countries have issued decisive legislation aimed at reducing consumption from an ecological perspective, as well as stipulating tax incentives for energy-neutral buildings.
Redevelopment Solutions
How do we choose materials for redevelopment to tackle these requirements? When choosing materials, certain fundamental factors must be taken into account to increase a building’s value: sustainability, wellbeing, durability, maintenance, economic aspects, environmental and architectural context, and aesthetic quality.
As stipulated, redevelopments are often aimed at limiting energy loss. To this end, thermal insulation of the perimeter surfaces has been used; specifically, facades. Especially if combined with a ventilated rainscreen facade system, the cladding material, by protecting the brickwork from atmospheric agents, enables thermal bridges to be eliminated, thereby reducing heat influx during the summer months, heat loss during the winter and ensuring cleaner air in the interior environments.
Example of redevelopment with application of porcelain stoneware on the facade
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The Choice of Materials
Selecting high-performance technical materials contributes to offsetting the fragility of the building undergoing renovation, prolonging its useful life and lowering maintenance costs. The economic aspect is heavily influenced by redevelopment: drastically reducing the building’s energy requirements leads to a saving with regard to climatisation and an increase in the property’s commercial value.
As with new constructions, the renovation and restoration of both public and private interior and exterior spaces, the aesthetic factors of the cladding and the environmental and architectural context in which it operates largely influence the choice of materials to be used. Returning therefore, to the concept of restoration in assonance or dissonance with the existing, the use of high-quality techniques and materials becomes an inevitable compositional reality for designers. The search for materials that combine the need for creative expression and composition with the factors of sustainability and efficiency outlined above narrows the field from which they can be drawn.
Porcelain Tiles as a Material for Redevelopment
To this end, ceramic materials are particularly valued for redevelopment projects as they are advantageous in terms of their high technical performance, due to their extremely compact physical composition (strength, impermeability, durability), to the sustainability of their production cycles, their light weight (lighter than glass, for example), and in regard to their versatility.
Available in a wide range of formats and finishes, porcelain stoneware now represents a genuine ally in architectural projects, capable of responding to the most disparate compositional needs and of giving new life to buildings undergoing redevelopment.
Residential complex in Monza, with application of porcelain stoneware on the facade
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