Textile shelters for archaeological or heritage areas: design references

• DOI: 10.2495/str110321
• Publication Date: 2011-08-30T11:20:18Z
• Authors: M. Mollaert; L. De Laet; A. Verdonck; S. Lombardi; P. Beccarelli; A. Zanelli
• Keywords: covering of archaeological sites; Tensile Surface Structures; 11. Sustainability; tessili tecnici; manutenzione; beni culturali; 02 engineering and technology; 0201 civil engineering

The paper gives a short summary of the properties of tensile surface structures made out of technical textiles. Tensile surface coverings can protect archaeological or heritage areas against deterioration and revalue these sites for visitors. Covering systems have to combine several preservation requirements like protection from environmental and pollution load, low maintenance, compatibility of new materials, reversibility, ease of disassembly, reusability, adaptability and flexibility. Textile lightweight structures present a great number of advantages like easy mounting, natural aeration, elegant design and filtered natural day lighting. Building on archaeological or heritage areas is a delicate task. Architects have to compare alternative approaches and find solutions appropriate for the situation under consideration. The discussion on built shelters, presented together with the underlying concepts, the performance, the used primary structure and the chosen coated fabric can support design decisions in future. A recent research activity has been started in Sardinia (Italy). The aim is to analyse technical aspects and to clarify which solutions really serve to protect while others contribute to further damage. Prototypes have been built in order to evaluate the behaviour of some innovative textile materials in comparison with traditional ones.