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Old monasteries and new cemeteries. The case of the Capuchins in Conversano, Italy
Full text linkIn the first decades of the 19th century, local authorities in Capitanata, Terra di Bari and Terra d'Otranto set about acquiring extramural land and preparing plans for new cemeteries in application of the health laws passed in 1817 during the Bourbon Restoration, complying with the provisions of the Napoleonic edict of Saint-Cloud. The idea of acquiring places of worship outside the city walls, including suppressed monasteries, with their walled gardens that could be included in the enclosures of the erected cemeteries, immediately appeared to be a useful expedient for overcoming the difficulty of devising a new spatial model for burials, taking advantage of architectural structures that offered the dual advantage of counting on significant cost containment and maintaining a strong link to the ancient Christian tradition of burial in a sacred place. This entailed redesigning the relationship between the built and enclosed spaces of many Capuchin structures, which were deprived of their walled garden with the inevitable transformation of the site and, as a result, were forced to redetermine its semantics. In the case of Conversano, the varying spatial relationships pose a problem that can be addressed by resorting to a project to conserve and enhance the Capuchin structure, so as to renew the mutually beneficial coexistence between the monastery and the cemetery by bringing together what has survived of the walled garden and what has become part of the garden of memory
Weathering of monumental Islamic marble in Egypt: a contribution to heritage studies
Full text linkMarble is a metamorphic rock widely used in historical buildings as a structural and decorative stone; also, it is commonly used for sculpture and as a building material; for example, the lower parts of many walls of Mamluk and Turkish buildings are covered with marble tiles of different colors (mainly, white, red, black) as well as many of the columns in these structures. Due to the severe effects of deterioration factors, such as, atmospheric parameters, air pollution, ground water, micro-organisms, the decorative marble slabs and columns are seriously deteriorated. Forty marble specimens were collected from the most deteriorated parts of marbles located inside and outside selected historical buildings, namely the Sultan Qalawun complex in Al-Muizz Al-Deen Allah Street in Cairo (1284 AD) an archaeological architectural group, built in the Mamluk style. The present work focuses on the identification of the mechanism of marble deterioration. In order to carry out this study, different samples were collected from the deteriorated historical marble of the Qalawun; the marble samples collected for study were not from a single building, but from the complex of the Sultan Qalawun Group or the Qalawun Mosque, and included a school and dome, and the Mosque. The mihrab of the dome is considered one of the most luxurious mihrabs of antiquity in Egypt. Each of its sides is surrounded by three marble columns, and its cavity has four layers of gilded recesses supported by marble columns. The marble samples were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), polarized light microscope (PLM) and scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). The obtained results showed that the mineral constituents of the investigated samples were seriously deteriorated, and the physical structure had collapsed
Elements of archaic music reflected in petroglyphs as a phenomenon of cultural heritage, the original source of material and spiritual culture
Full text linkThis article examines the process of development of musical culture; the evolution of the functional features of a musical instrument (production, cult, aesthetic); the gradual allocation of a musical instrument from among ancient syncretic sound production and magic complexes and its formation as a professional instrument; the influence of the natural environment on the sound palette; the birth and realization of the specific role of music characterized by the spatiality of the sound stream and influencing the formation of worldviews and culture. The article proves the necessity of studying petroglyphs as a sign system, as the initial stage in the formation of musical art
The Steri, the historical site of Palermo University: past, present, future
No full textThe aim of the paper is to present the study carried out by the art historian Ferdinando Bologna on the painted ceiling of the Steri in Palermo in an informative but less formal way, so as to make it more accessible and, therefore, more enjoyable for a wider audience of enthusiasts and not just experts of the subject. The study examines a monument of exceptional importance for the city of Palermo, highlighting not only the nature of its extraordinary repertoire of late medieval fables, but also its significance as a document of important historical, iconographic, documentary and literary value. It also underlines what the Steri represents for Palermo University as a symbol of its roots in the city context and of the historical-evolutionary continuity of Sicilian society. The work concludes with a brief reference to the importance that the University of Palermo has assumed in the little more than two hundred years since its establishment, transforming itself from a cultural institution for the few, to a symbol of a culture open to all, dynamically projected towards a future of growth and innovation
Why the courtyards of historical palaces should not be roofed in
Full text linkThere is a trend to roof over the courtyards of historical palaces and similar great buildings with an eye to conservation or to expanding their range of functions. This tendency is being popularized by major architects and barely a voice is raised against it. However, from the viewpoint of theory and heritage, such actions are not to be recommended. In line with some international documents on cultural heritage, several architectural, perceptual and functional arguments show that, in order to preserve the cultural authenticity of courtyards, it would be advisable to avoid covering them. A courtyard is by definition an open space. Covering it, even with an apparently harmless glazed roof, radically affects its architectural essence and how it is experienced. Hence, such projects should not be accepted in a generalized and uncritical manner. It is best for courtyards to be left as courtyards, not as rooms with skylights
The sociocultural impact of the djemaa on the organization of the ksour (south-west of Algeria)
Full text linkThe ksour (vernacular human settlements) of southwestern Algeria, founded on the site of the Saharan area called Saoura, are integrated into the modest dunes which run along the rocky escarpments (limiting them). They take the form of a harmonious heap of cubic volumes, of gray ocher color which merges with the natural landscape. Their architecture proves to be the fruit of the spirit of mutual aid and community participation, coordinated by the institution of the "djemaa": a public space extending from the mosque, which brings together notables in order to solve problems in Ksour society. This paper focuses on the characteristics of the "djemaa" space. In addition to a privileged place of rest, meeting and exchanges, this institution once brought together all the notables who judiciously concerned themselves with the management of community interests, as well as the socio-spatial organization of the ksour (situated in the southwest of Algeria). It was a local assembly for the management of collective interests, whose powers were extremely broad. As council of the ksar, the djemaa played a primordial role in the organization of the community life of these ksour. This study highlights the socio-cultural impact of the djemaa on the logic of the configuration of ksour heritage in the Bechar region. For this purpose, a socio-historical approach was adopted, which was then followed by a morphological reading of some ksour specimens
Shamanistic ritual ceremony and accompanying music as the worldview basis of traditional culture
Full text linkThis article is a comprehensive study of shamanic ritual music in syncretic unity with ritual rite, which is inextricably linked with an ethnic worldview. The aim of this work is to identify and substantiate the need to study ritual music based on a fundamentally new methodological setting – the study of ritual as an archetype of culture, determination of the compositional structure and semantic filling. The research is devoted to the mysteries of the sacred musical world of shamanic ritual, the ultimate state of the shaman as a musician, his spiritual world, cultural environment, the understanding of the morphology and semantics of the use of music in ritual, the formation of a cultural code, stylistic features, genre forms, musical thinking, musical language, means of expression, individualized and personally colored vocal and instrumental improvisation
Using Digital Twin Models (DTM) for managing, protecting and restoring historical buildings
Full text linkHistorical buildings are essential cultural assets to be preserved and maintained for the sake of future generations. However, they are also highly vulnerable to natural disasters and other extreme events, which can cause irreparable damage or even their total loss. To manage these risks, a growing number of experts are turning to Digital Twin Models (DTM), conceived as more than a mere virtual replica of physical objects or systems. They can be used to monitor, inspect, and simulate the functioning and behaviour of a building in real-world scenarios. In the context of reconstruction, DTM can be used to create virtual models of damaged buildings, allowing experts to assess the extent of the damage and plan restoration. By creating a DTM of a historical building, experts can gain valuable insights into its construction technique, structural integrity, maintenance needs, and potential vulnerabilities in real time. This can help to extend the lifespan of the historical building and ensure that it remains in good condition for future generations. In case of an extreme event, such as a natural disaster or terrorist attack, war or vandalism, a DTM, together with all related enabling digital technologies, can be used to plan for and respond to the crisis, also simulating the effects of a disaster to develop emergency response plans accordingly. Therefore, the use of DTM can enhance the current vision of a historical building thus helping it to increase its resiliency to potential damaging, preserving, and maintaining its historical and cultural value and characteristics through time
Il Journal “Conservation Science in Cultural Heritage” per i prossimi anni: un impegno per il “Sistema Cultura”
No full textThe national jewelry of Bashkir women: tradition and modernity
Full text linkIn Bashkir studies, women's national jewelry has been considered in the works of several researchers. However, analysis of the scientific literature and specialized sources has shown a lack of scientific research and publications on the role of national women's jewelry in the life of modern people. A review of the available information about women's jewelry can serve as a basis for further in-depth research in this area. The purpose of this article is to introduce readers to Bashkir women's jewelry, its philosophy and spiritual meaning, to emphasize its role and place in modern life. Familiarizing the reader with the aesthetic and artistic traditions of Bashkir people makes this study relevant for the present and fills a gap in the research of women's jewelry as elements of Bashkir material culture and its reflection in the folklore of the people. Based on folklore and ethnographic materials related to women's clothing, jewelry, taken from published and unpublished field notes of the authors, this article aims to show the rich history of Bashkir women's jewelry from ancient times to the present day and determine its place in modern Bashkir culture. The analytical approach used for this study revealed the frequent mention of national ornaments in folklore, for example, in Bashkir fairy tales, songs and epics, emphasizing their aesthetic and social functions. Examples taken from various genres of Bashkir folklore illustrate the authors' observations about the spiritual meanings and aesthetic value of women's jewelry in the life of a Bashkir woman, and which have not lost their significance for contemporaries