16 research outputs found
Spazi di transizione nella città storica e cambiamenti climatici: un approccio trasversale per l’adattamento, il riuso e la conservazione per nuove soluzioni di resilienza. Transitional spaces in historic cities and climate change: a transversal approach to adaptation, reuse and conservation for new resilience solutions
No full textClimate change is currently impacting cultural heritage globally. Despite several
enhancements in understanding the relationship between climate change impacts and
cultural heritage, significant barriers hamper the adaptation of historical transitional
spaces, especially for cloister typology. It is relevant to examine instances of
conservation and valorisation of the cloisters to promote regenerative reuse, allowing
a redevelopment of these places, and to promote outdoor comfort within the
historical city. Therefore, the research will start with a typological classification to
recognise the instances of conservation and reuse for these spaces, identify the best
practices trough select case studies in order to apply parametric and microclimatic
simulations. The research will lead to the identification of guidelines with integrated
mitigation/adaptation/enhancement/conservation solutions that can promote the
natural resilience of cloisters in the historic city
Hortus inclusus e chiostri urbani. Un approccio per il recupero microclimatico
No full textThe topic of functional recovery and the valorization of urban open spaces centers on an oftenoverlooked building type: urban cloisters, which were historically surrounded by convents. In this contribution, the author discusses the restoration of two large monasteries in Parma that are set to be transformed into student residences. The restoration project is further enhanced by the integration of microclimatic analysis and related design considerations
HORTUS INCLUSUS E CHIOSTRI URBANI. Un approccio per il recupero microclimatico
No full texthe topic of functional recovery and the valorization of urban open spaces centers on an often-
overlooked building type: urban cloisters, which were historically surrounded by convents. In this
contribution, the author discusses the restoration of two large monasteries in Parma that are set to be transformed into student residences. The restoration project is further enhanced by the integration of microclimatic analysis and related design considerations
I CHIOSTRI URBANI COME RISORSA PER LA MITIGAZIONE E L’ADATTAMENTO CLIMATICO URBAN CLOISTERS AS A RESOURCE FOR CLIMATE MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION
No full textCultural heritage is a valuable resource for mitigating climate change, as it records past successes and resiliencies.
Cultural heritage buildings represent a collection of historical actions, processes, and knowledge that exemplify adaptive practices, including traditional and nature-based methods. Heritage-based knowledge has the potential to enhance our understanding of climate change and its impact on societies across various spatial and cultural contexts. The diverse utilization of cultural heritage buildings can contribute to the development of adaptive solutions to address the present and future challenges posed by climate change. Historical buildings and heritage structures can provide valuable knowledge of climate adaptation strategies, both in terms of pre-existing knowledge and previously unimagined insights.
In this work, we consider historical cloisters as a widespread typology that is often found in dense and compact urban areas. The term “cloister” refers to secluded spaces in religious buildings, characterized by a paved or vegetated courtyard and porticoes on one or more sides. The mitigating role of urban cloisters in reducing the urban heat island effect is well-established. However, there is limited information available on the practical implementation of strategies to repurpose these cloisters and enhance outdoor comfort for residents.
This work aims to identify strategies and opportunities for optimizing the microclimatic performance of urban cloisters by utilizing the building typology, form, and materials of often-unused spaces.
Given the diffusion of the urban cloister type and the typological invariances that characterize these building structures, this study explores how knowledge derived from historical Italian cloisters’ cultural heritage can be applied to present-day climate mitigation and adaptation needs in urban environments, specifically to improve outdoor thermal comfort.
The paper presents a study of several cloisters located in the city of Parma (IT). These cloisters are identified and classified based on their H/W ratio, type of transitional space, and microclimatic behavior. The study used the values of PET as an indicator of outdoor thermal stress. Microclimatic simulations and on-site measurements will identify opportunities and challenges in mitigating future heat waves by improving outdoor thermal comfort
REVITALIZING AND PRESERVING STRATEGIES IN LIGHT OF CLIMATE CHANGE: THE CASE OF TRADITIONAL CLOISTERS IN THE ITALIAN URBAN FABRIC
No full textThe growing challenges that cities face in mitigating and adapting their outdoor spaces to the effects of climate change simultaneously present new opportunities for historic cities and their residents. Among the numerous buildings that constitute the cultural heritage of our historic cities, urban cloisters provide opportunities for reflection and serve as effective examples of interventions that can revitalize and restore open, protected spaces, such as the perimeter courtyards of the cloisters. This research analyses a selection of 30 cloisters located in the centres of various cities across Italy that have undergone redevelopment and repurposing interventions that transcend their original functions. The study employs geometric-typological and functional comparative analyses to identify recurring characteristics that define the thermal and functional resilience of these transitional spaces. Preliminary results indicate that the unique geometric features of these spaces, such as height-to-width (H/W) ratios and surface treatments, are significantly relevant to their potential for thermal resilience considering current conditions and the anticipated rise in temperatures due to climate change
I chiostri urbani come risorsa per la mitigazione e l’adattamento climatico. Urban cloisters as a resource for climate mitigation and adaptation
No full textCultural heritage is a valuable resource for mitigating climate change, as it records past successes and resiliencies. Cultural heritage buildings represent a collection of historical actions, processes, and knowledge that exemplify adaptive practices, including traditional and nature-based methods. Heritage-based knowledge has the potential to enhance our understanding of climate change and its impact on societies across various spatial and cultural contexts. The diverse utilization of cultural heritage buildings can contribute to the development of adaptive solutions to address the present and future challenges posed by climate change. Historical buildings and heritage structures can provide valuable knowledge of climate adaptation strategies, both in terms of pre-existing knowledge and previously unimagined insights. In this work, we consider historical cloisters as a widespread typology that is often found in dense and compact urban areas. The term “cloister” refers to secluded spaces in religious buildings, characterized by a paved or vegetated courtyard and porticoes on one or more sides. The mitigating role of urban cloisters in reducing the urban heat island effect is well-established. However, there is limited information available on the practical implementation of strategies to repurpose these cloisters and enhance outdoor comfort for residents. This work aims to identify strategies and opportunities for optimizing the microclimatic performance of urban cloisters by utilizing the building typology, form, and materials of often-unused spaces. Given the diffusion of the urban cloister type and the typological invariances that characterize these building structures, this study explores how knowledge derived from historical Italian cloisters’ cultural heritage can be applied to present-day climate mitigation and adaptation needs in urban environments, specifically to improve outdoor thermal comfort. The paper presents a study of several cloisters located in the city of Parma (IT). These cloisters are identified and classified based on their H/W ratio, type of transitional space, and microclimatic behavior. The study used the values of PET as an indicator of outdoor thermal stress. Microclimatic simulations and on-site measurements will identify opportunities and challenges in mitigating future heat waves by improving outdoor thermal comfort
Monastic Enclosures and Cloisters. Understanding the Transformation from Historical Mystical Gardens to Renewed Urban Open Spaces for the Community
No full textAmong the numerous historic open spaces, the green and paved areas of cloisters and their ad-joining courtyards are often overlooked. In recent years, efforts have focused on preserving built heritage, while these open spaces have been neglected, in favour of larger monumental complex-es. However, climate change has heightened the need for conservation, increasing the demand for the restoration and management of these areas, as they provide significant microclimate bene-fits.This contribution focuses on the historical role of cloister gardens as integral components of mo-nastic life and examines their influence on the typology of monasteries. These open and transi-tional spaces can be adapted to meet modern needs while maximizing their intrinsic features of protection, thermal comfort, and intimacy. By analysing the morpho-typological characteristics of a diverse range of Italian urban cloisters, this study demonstrates the advantages of integrating historical preservation with contemporary reuse and microclimate assessments to revitalize ur-ban open spaces, thereby addressing the challenges posed by a changing climat
From patented prefabricated panels to energy requalification strategies. The case of nursery schools in Emilia Romagna region
No full textSince the 1960s, prefabrication has become an increasingly popular technique for building construction. Prefabricated building components are preferred because they can save costs, expedite construction schedules, increase quality control, and provide safer working environ- ments. Despite the initial extensive use of prefabricated buildings for residential purposes, the acknowledged advantages were also applied to the construction of new schools. The urgent need to quickly establish a network of new schools at all levels led the main manufacturers of prefabricated components to file numerous patents for prefabricated panels and floors. These were widely used in all regions until the early 1980s. Today, most of these buildings, constructed using compositional schemes that involved the assembly of prefabricated cells, require energy and functional retrofit interventions. Understanding the patents and technologies used is es- sential for optimizing the redevelopment intervention in terms of costs and fully leveraging the replicability of the project to be applied to schools of the same historical era and prefabrication type. Regarding prefabricated school buildings, particularly nursery schools, there are several opportunities to support energy and environmental retrofit projects and optimize the inherent opportunities in prefabricated panels. The paper aims to present a retrofit project workflow for single-story prefab nursery schools. The case studies are in Carpi, in northern Italy
From patented prefabricated panels to energy requalification strategies. The case of nursery schools in Emilia Romagna region
No full textSince the 1960s, prefabrication has become an increasingly popular technique for building construction. Prefabricated building components are preferred because they can save costs, expedite construction schedules, increase quality control, and provide safer working environ- ments. Despite the initial extensive use of prefabricated buildings for residential purposes, the acknowledged advantages were also applied to the construction of new schools. The urgent need to quickly establish a network of new schools at all levels led the main manufacturers of prefabricated components to file numerous patents for prefabricated panels and floors. These were widely used in all regions until the early 1980s. Today, most of these buildings, constructed using compositional schemes that involved the assembly of prefabricated cells, require energy and functional retrofit interventions. Understanding the patents and technologies used is es- sential for optimizing the redevelopment intervention in terms of costs and fully leveraging the replicability of the project to be applied to schools of the same historical era and prefabrication type. Regarding prefabricated school buildings, particularly nursery schools, there are several opportunities to support energy and environmental retrofit projects and optimize the inherent opportunities in prefabricated panels. The paper aims to present a retrofit project workflow for single-story prefab nursery schools. The case studies are in Carpi, in northern Italy
Assessing the Resilience Potential of Cloisters in Historical Urban Areas in Response to Climate Change
No full textThe current debate increasingly focuses on revitalizing city centers, areas where a significant portion of the population is concentrated. It has been observed that several components of historic cities provide resilience measures against the impacts of climate change; therefore, their protection is crucial. This paper will concentrate on cloisters as examples of open and transitional spaces that are essential for mitigating the negative effects of increasingly extreme weather events within historic centers. This study aims to understand the role and thermal resilience potential of three historical urban cloisters in Italy, compared to the surrounding urban fabric, while considering both present and future scenarios. Through microclimatic assessments conducted using ENVI-met software, the thermal behavior of three case studies is assessed by calculating the absolute differences in Mean Radiant Temperature (MRT) and Physiologically Equivalent Temperature (PET) values. The findings indicate that cloisters with lower absolute differences in thermal stress values demonstrate a greater potential for adapting to future overheating. Despite the varying morpho-typological cloisters features, the study reveals that the shaded areas within these cloisters exhibit increased resilience to rising temperatures, highlighting their importance in urban thermal behavior
