VIRTUAL: Prague Heritages
Abstract
The paper intends to bring attention to the history of the construction of the “Casa del Sole” in Palermo, an example of high architectural quality, typological and technological innovation for the time, within the panorama of the building stock of the Fascist era, devoted to tuberculosis prophylaxis. The children’s sanatorium, designed and built between 1919 and 1936 by the engineer Francesco Damiani, are among the first buildings, realized in Palermo by means of reinforced concrete frame structures. Damiani applies, in fact, in their design, the construction practices of reinforced concrete, learned at the newly established Polytechnic of Turin. This structural choice was necessary to respond to specific typological and production needs, such as the need for long spans for the dormitories, walls with large windows for high ventilation and considerable hanging structures to shelter from the sun’s rays in the heliotherapeutic verandas. Although these buildings are bound by Italian legislation on cultural heritage, they have changed various uses (clinics, offices, etc.), which have required substantial modifications such as divisions of the large original collective spaces, the closure of the porches and terraces to increase the volume. This led to a distortion of the modern and rationalist language with which Damiani had wanted to formally characterize the buildings. The knowledge of these buildings is important as to guarantee the re-functionalization responding to the new needs of society, in respect of the conservation of the formal, material, structural and technical integrity of the architectures.
Tiziana Basiricò (1973), construction engineer, PhD, is Associate Professor of Technical Architecture and Building Design at the University of Enna “Kore” (2014-present), Faculty of Engineering and Architecture. Her research topics include the history of construction, the history of structural engineering and the conservation of modern architecture. She has worked on research projects funded by the Italian Ministry of University (PRIN). The results of her research work have been published in international journal articles, essays, books and conference proceedings.
Antonio Cottone, civil-construction engineer and architect, is Full Professor (retired) of Technical Architecture – University of Palermo – Faculty of Engineering. Since 1973 he has been involved in research financed by the CNR, MIUR and the EU and concerned the following subjects: building industrialization, history of construction techniques, restoration and conservation of the building heritage, restoration of modern architecture.
He was responsible for the C.N.R. – Operating unit P.F.Ed and member of C.E.R. Committee. In 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2006, 2008 he was local manager of national research projects.
Author of 130 publications.