416 research outputs found
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The background story and research history of the case study “Mona Lisa”: the volume “Is the Louvre Mona Lisa Leonardo’s Second Version?”
Full text linkThe research carried out over the years on the theme “Attribution and authentication of artworks” and, therefore, on the case-study “Mona Lisa”, as topical as it is strongly debated, is continued with the first and the second volume entitled: “Is the Louvre Mona Lisa Leonardo’s second version?” 500 years of historical-bibliographic references, taken from publications by scholars of the humanistic and experimental sciences, relating to the question posed in the title of the volume. With reasonable certainty it has been proved that Leonardo executed two distinct and successive paintings of the Mona Lisa with different aesthetic-visual and structural characteristics confirmed by analytical investigations as well as historical-bibliographic examinations. It refers to the first unfinished version of the younger Lisa del Giocondo referable to the painting, Isleworth Mona Lisa, called Earlier Mona Lisa, and to the successive version, that is the Louvre Mona Lisa, finished, as a result of a more advanced pictorial technique and different structure
Community cultural heritage management and protection of selected medieval Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela, Ethiopia
Full text linkThe Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela are tangible world heritage. However, the sculptures are facing imminent danger of destruction and damage from various factors of deterioration. This is because they have been affected by various agents which have caused rapid deterioration, as well as by the aging process. Geological factors can be related to the rock formations and fractured ceilings; climatic factors can be related to temperature fluctuations which gradually affect the condition of the cultural heritage; biological factors include bacteria and fungi which are also a threat to the sculptures. Hence, modern conservation methods are needed to halt further damage before facing the total collapse of the entire structure. Having described several elements of concern in the management of this World Heritage Site, this study suggests important considerations to put in place for developing proper approaches to its preservation
The architecture of Mosques and the Covid-19 pandemic
Full text linkThis article attempts to provide some answers to the unexpected effects of the global Covid-19 pandemic relating to the architecture of mosques. For this, we observed mosques in El Oued in the south of Algeria; the climatic and social features of the region involve the use of outer courtyards for prayer and are taken as a motivating case study. Our investigation in relation to the spread of COVID-19 is the fact that the topic has not been tackled before. COVID-19 has had a great impact at all levels, including the closure of mosques. As the pandemic developed, decisions about the gradual and controlled opening of mosques were made, based only on the capacity factor of the covered spaces of mosques. These decisions ignored the uncovered outer spaces found in mosques in El Oued and some other regions in Algeria. They were, of course, a response to the health protocol requirements related to measures to prevent and protect against COVID-19. We then asked ourselves the following questions: How could the knowledge and spatial arrangement of mosques guide us towards better management and decision-making during a health crisis like COVID-19? And what would the impact of this pandemic on the future architecture of mosques be? Our article is an attempt to find some answers to these questions
Issues in the expression of local identity in the saharan regions of Algeria: in search of references to vernacular architecture
Full text linkThis article focuses on the Saharan vernacular houses in the Souf region (Algeria), from the point of view of their capacity to express local identity. An approach based on historical research methods (documentary research, iconography, etc.) and architectural analysis was adopted to investigate the subject. The findings confirmed that the features of local identity are expressed in certain morphological attributes noted in the vernacular houses. These attributes are the result of the construction process itself, which is closely linked to the use of local building materials, namely tafza and louss stones. The constraints of the settlement site precluded the use of earth and palm wood as the main building materials. In addition, the space of the sabat (portico-like structure in the courtyard) is a major identity feature, marking the layout and use of domestic space. If the culture of reference, the site, and the climate have proved to be predisposing factors for a particular typology, it is the building system that has truly forged the identity image of the Souf. The local architectural identity is fed by the specificities of the region, taking into account its human component in accordance with the historical and cultural dimensions. Exogenous contributions are the driving force behind the dynamism in the expression of local identity
Nomadic life cycle structured by calendar, representative of lexical-semantic processes and genre systems
Full text linkThe appeal of cultural heritage as a creative product, an "intellectual potential" having centuries-old traditions and unique value, such as the Tengrian calendar, is especially relevant today. The Tengrian calendar is a genre system of traditional music and the work of professional singers and instrumentalists, which represent lexical-semantic processes. The role of the Tengrian calendar in structuring the life cycle and age stratification of nomadic society is undeniable and necessary for the preservation of identity, as well as being a contextual connection with modernity. Possessing a huge field of information and semantic code, the Tengrian calendar, as a component of the spiritual and intellectual world process, is worthy not only of preservation and development, but also of comprehensive scientific research. The article studies the problems of traditional Kazakh culture belonging to the super-ethnic civilization of nomadic peoples. Based on the study, it was found that the calendar played a role in structuring the life cycle and age stratification of nomadic Kazakh society
Heritage cross-disciplinarity. The Arquitectura Textos de Doctorado collection
Full text linkReaders are introduced to the most recent titles from the collection ARQUITECTURA - TEXTOS DE DOCTORADO, published jointly by the University Institute of Architecture and Building Science (IUACC) and Editorial Universidad de Sevilla since 1997. The seven titles are the result of doctoral theses awarded by the IUACC. All of them share a cross-disciplinary approach touching upon architecture, landscape, and immobile heritage (architectural, archaeological or landscape) and are highly relevant to readers with an interest in heritage conservation: Cartografías del espacio oculto. Welbeck Estate en Inglaterra y otros espacios by Tomás García (2018); Francesco Venezia, John Hejduk y el arte de la memoria by Gabriel Bascones (2018); Topografías arquitectónicas en el paisaje contemporáneo by Carlos Rodríguez (2019); La forma plástica de la estructura. Expresividad del hecho resistente by Félix Suárez (2019); Paisajes patrimoniales en coexistencia by Sagrario Fernández Raga (2020); Arquitectura de los pantanos en España by Eduard Callís Freixas (2021) and Un cliente y un arquitecto: Jan Antonín Bat’a y Le Corbusier by Jaime Prior (2022). All of these clearly show the interest of the authors in the dissemination of cross-disciplinary awareness of the heritage identity of architecture and the need for in-depth research and preservation
L’Erma di Bretschneider: a reference point for scientific and humanistic publications since 1896
Full text linkFounded in 1896, L’ERMA di Bretschneider is a historic publishing house, whose mission is to publish works of excellent academic reputation. The topics covered by the publications include archaeology, history, heritage conservation and management, Roman law, history of art and architecture, and literary criticism. L’ERMA di Bretschneider is unanimously recognized as the Italian publishing house par excellence for its scientific publications in the field of humanities, in particular archaeology, ancient history and art history. The intense research activity in historical, archaeological and artistic disciplines carried out by L’ERMA in collaboration with leading experts in the field and the most prestigious universities in the world, and the vast editorial catalogue which boasts over a century of collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and its constituent bodies and includes prestigious series and magazines, constitute today an invaluable wealth of cultural heritage, available not only to scholars and enthusiasts, but to the entire community
Non-destructive testing of nano-silica for enhancing the durability of limestone structures in the Valley of the Kings, Luxor, Egypt
Full text linkThe Valley of the Kings (KV) is a UNESCO world heritage site with more than thirty tombs that have been opened. Since the first tombs were constructed, at least 24 historical flash flood events have been identified, each of which has contributed to the destruction and deterioration of the tombs. After the floods of 1994, most of these tombs were inundated and damaged. Theban Tomb 109, or TT 109, is an example of one of these significant tombs. This study presents a novel technique which uses computer X-ray tomography (CT scan) as a non-destructive method to capture the morphology of the limestone's internal structure at Tomb 109 (TT 109), as well as the stone's grain texture and the surface features through 3D images and videos. Additionally, this research examines the ability of a nanomixture, consisting of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and nanosilica, to consolidate the limestone, which is also a novel approach that this study introduces. It is worth noting that the limestone of Tomb 109 has suffered harsh weather conditions such as groundwater and has been in an unfavourable burial environment, causing geostatic stress which in turn has led to stone abrasion and weakness in its mechanical properties. This study also presents a comprehensive morphological and spectroscopic study to confirm the efficiency of the nanomixture in the consolidation of the limestone structures. A cross-examination method using CT scanning, SEM, and XRF analysis before and after consolidation was employed. The final result shows that the nanomixture significantly enhanced the physical and mechanical properties of the limestone
The phenomenon of diversity and the effective response to the physical environment: the formation of old traditional markets (Suq)
Full text linkMany cities worldwide take pride in their traditional markets. This research aims to verify the importance of lessons learned from old traditional markets, characterized by the effective response to their physical environment. This main aim leads to many secondary aims. First is the aim to explain the role of the phenomena of diversity in the establishment of various markets. Second, the research aims to explain the relationship between the specialization of goods, the architectural form and general planning of the market. Third, the research aims to investigate the relationship between markets and the diversity of the goods, width of the corridors, roofing style, and how this diversity affects shoppers, as well as interacting among the shoppers themselves. The research adopts a descriptive analytical methodology for a number of market types in order to study the morphology of traditional markets, their form, their urban context, and their relationship with the diversity of the goods and the impact it has on shoppers. The most important conclusion reached by the research is that the diversity in the morphology of traditional markets corresponds to the diversity and change of goods, the width of the corridors and the style of the roof … etc. This diversity affects shoppers and generates a state of pleasure and social interaction
Factors that affect participation in the “Carnaval de Negros y Blancos” in Colombia
Full text linkThe Black and White Carnival in Pasto (Carnaval de Negros y Blancos) is a cultural event that is deemed Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO (2009). It takes place the first week of January every year in southern Colombia. In this event, artists and artisans display their creativity and compete in six different modalities: individual costume, troupe, band of street musicians, choreographic collective, non-motorized float, and emblematic motorized float. In each edition of the carnival, there is an accreditation process that grants official permission to compete and be part of this event from an artistic viewpoint. There are three stages: registration, accreditation, and participation, which are addressed to relate the factors that affect each phase and determine the options to participate in the CNB. For this reason, the data obtained for this research are related to variables of registration, management, and the influence of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), which show the modernization of administrative processes through the implementation of information systems and digital tools. The results presented arise from the systematization of statistical data on determining factors that affect the decisions and actions that artists must undertake, such as adhering to the guidelines and complying with the regulations established by Corpocarnaval. In this phase, valuable information was obtained relating to registering the categories and providing the required documentation; the human and economic resources that were needed; the materials used for the models or prototypes; and the sources of financing, as well as the tools, frequency of use and ICT management skills