Historic concrete buildings (end of 19th century – 1960s), because of their “experimental” character, require a specific approach to both survey and conservation. Although they were built with empirical approaches, some buildings show a fair state of conservation and resilience –even though they have already exceeded the 100-year threshold– while others of comparable age are in severe need of restoration. As part of the European project CONSECH20, aimed at contributing to the conservation of cultural-heritage concrete buildings, this paper investigates what are the most common types of damage and hypothetical causes, and what direct and non-direct parameters can lead to a faster or slower deterioration of historic concrete in the Netherlands. The research is based on an initial screening study, which will be used as a basis for a larger research among the participant countries. The current research is divided in three phases. Firstly, a selection of 15 case studies from the Netherlands are investigated; the selection was based on criteria of age, state of conservation and type of ownership. Secondly, the history and materials of the buildings are examined. Thirdly, an on-site visual survey is performed per each building, with pre-design templates, to identify types of damage, extent and severity. The data is then analysed combining different factors with a calculated index of severity. Results are discussed and contrasted to provide further clarification of the degradation of historic concrete. A fourth phase, not discussed in this paper, will use this methodology in a broader context, with a larger number of case studies in different countries.@en

Historic concrete buildings are at risk. Limited knowledge of concrete technology until the 1960s led to more sensitive buildings than modern concrete buildings. In addition, the lack of sensibility regarding their heritage value and insufficient protection is leading to remorseless demolition. Still, concrete has proved to be a resilient material that can last over a century with proper care. There is not yet an estimation of the status of historic concrete buildings in Europe. Until now, a few attempts have been done to secondarily, and subjectively, gauge their conservation status. This paper is the result of a joint investigation studying forty-eight historic concrete buildings distributed in four countries. They were surveyed by expert teams according to a predefined methodology. The study aims to identify recurrent damages and parameters affecting the conservation state. It also aims to serve as the first trial for an objective and measurable methodology, to apply it with a statistically significant number of cases. Damages related to the corrosion of reinforcement and moisture-related processes were the most recurrent. The use of plasters, flat roofs, and structural façade walls show a positive effect in protecting the concrete. The state of conservation has a great variability across countries. @en

La ciudad de Nueva York reúne una de las mayores concentraciones de edificios históricos construidos entre 1850y 1940 en el mundo, siendo un enclave único del pabimonio arquitectónico moderno. Estos edificios. muchos de ellos de gran altura, se realizaron con diseños, materiales y técnicas actualmente en desuso. El papel del ingeniero restaurador combina el conocimiento de las estructuras y edificios históricos con las técnicas modernas de análisis y diseño estructural, con el fin de mantener, adaptar y restaurar de la manera más respetuosa y eficiente posible los edificios que constituyen el alma de la ciudad de Nueva York. El presente artículo expone el trabajo del ingeniero restaurador en la ciudad de Nueva York con una introducción sobre la tipología de edificios históricos más comunes, así como una breve presentación de los proyectos de restauración, agentes participantes, objetivos, financiación, etc. Por último se exponen dos casos de estudio.@en

The Guastavino Fireproof Company founded by the Spanish architect Rafael Guastavino Moreno, imported to the United States the vernacular Spanish technique of Timbrel Vaulting. He patented the system adapting the ancient technique to the demanding technical challenges of the time. Within a few decades, the family firm helped design and construct many of America's most famous monuments. This paper goes through the history of how a vernacular technique from the old continent was transformed into art and innovative engineering.@en

TBuilt between the end of the 12th century and the beginning of the 13th, Teruel's Cathedral is a complex building which greatest treasure is the "mudejar" roof that covers the central space, declared World Heritage by UNESCO in 1986. During the 2008 restoration of the church, part of the roof and walls remained uncovered for a short period of time, making that moment a unique chance to develop a constructive analysis of part of the building. The temple was built with bearing gypsum walls in the main nave, with the technique of the "tapial" or "rammed-earth wall". The walls under study are the side walls of the main nave, one meter thick and up to 17 meters high, with big openings at the bottom connecting the naves and nine windows at the top. The exterior walls have been exposed for near 900 years to weather, modifications, additions, new openings and even a bombing during the Spanish Civil War, and still now they show an enviable neat condition.@en

Las técnicas no destructivas de reconocimiento y evaluación son una herramienta ampliamente utilizada en la conservación de patrimonio arquitectónico en los Estados Unidos. En el presente artículo se exponen las más utilizadas clasificándolas en técnicas de reconocimiento visual y técnicas basadas en la propagación de ondas. Dependiendo del tipo de onda, estas últimas a su vez se subdividen en técnicas electromagnéticas y técnicas acústicas. En el último apartado se exponen dos facilitadores de las técnicas de reconocimiento y evaluación: los vehículos no tripulados y Tablet PC Annotation System.@en

5th International Congress on Construction History@en

8th International Conference on Structural Analysis of Historical Constructions (SAHC 2012)@en

Dated to late 12th and early 13th centuries, the Cathedral of Teruel isa complex building whose greatest treasure is the Mudejar roof thatcovers the central space, declared World Heritage by UNESCO in1986. There are some basic unknown facts about this roof, such aswho built it, how, when or what it represents. There are manytheories that attempt to clarify these uncertainties, but there is notmuch historical documentation available. During the years 2008 and2009, a restoration of the church was conducted and part of the roofand walls remained uncovered for a short period of time. Using thattemporal and unique chance, a wide stratigraphical and buildinganalysis of the central nave walls and their joints with the roof wascarried out. Thanks to this work, some important results have beendiscovered concerning the modifications suffered by the building. Atthe same time, other evidences help to further going within theknowledge of the form of the church at its earliest stages.@en