Learning from tradition. Construction techniques and repair of historical buildings in the area of Brescia: some examples

Abstract

In the field of conservation, the issue of protection of traditional architecture - which includes historical rural buildings – is still neglected, even though, since the 1970s, a great number of studies on construction techniques and functions of rural architecture have been published. These studies show how the wisdom of traditional construction techniques (the use of local building materials, techniques characterized by minimum intervention, compatibility, reversibility), in many case could guide present practices of conservation. The essay focuses on the area of Brescia where, in spite of significant transformations over time of buildings and territory, many examples of traditional architecture still exist. The aim of the paper is also to suggest, by presenting some case studies, a strategy for conservation which proposes a dialogue between traditional methods, technological innovations and economic sustainability of interventions. Keywords: Traditional architecture, Brescia, Sustainability, Construction techniques, Protection