Moving from some ideas about conservation and protection proposed in Italy until the 18^th century, the teaching provides students with a focus on the cultural conditions which generated the birth of the ‘modern restoration’ in Europe, between 18^th and 19^th century, and its changes and orientations until present times.

After passing the exam, the student: knows the theoretical debate on the intervention on the historical building; is able to use and explain the meaning of terminological, classificatory and methodological knowledge aimed at the analysis of historical buildings; is able to communicate the results of their knowledge in a clear and convincing way.

Moving from some ideas about conservation and protection proposed in Italy between 15th and 18th c. (e.g. L.B. Alberti and Raphael), the course focuses on the cultural conditions which generated the birth of the “modern restoration” in Europe, between 18th and 19th c., and its changes and orientations until present times.

The teaching deals with aims and issues of the conservation approaches, linked, e.g., to the different values recognized in historical buildings based on the variable concepts of history and art over time; the gradual extension of the attention from classical monuments to building heritage; the introduction of further aspects in the protection field such as social and economic ones; the contrapositions between restoration and preservation and a in-depth analyses of the reasons and the features of the preservation design. The theoretical framework is outlined through the ideas of the main protagonists and the definition of keywords as “monument”, “heritage”, “built environment”, “protection”, “restoration”, “preservation”.

Above all, the main topics will be analysed through the presentation of exemplary interventions: the aim is to be aware of the links between theoretical aspects and their influences on preservation designs and works. For the same reason, in parallel to the lectures, some activities will be proposed to students in order to experience the limits and the potentialities of the different cultural approaches.

During the semester there will be seminars, guest lecturers and visits to historical buildings restored according to some criteria discussed during the lectures; when possible, these visits will be organized under the guidance of designers or figures directly involved in the interventions.

None pre-requisite.

The final exam is composed by two parts: a oral examination on the contents of the lectures and the bibliography (the mandatory texts, and two more ones chosen in the list of optional bibliographical references); a presentation of group activities on a case-study. Meetings during the course will be organized to explain the procedures for the activities to not attending students, who may work, individually or in teams, on case-studies proposed by them. The final grade is individual.

References to specific chapters will be suggested during the course

References to specific chapters and charters will be suggested during the course

Students have to choose 2 texts among the list of optional bibliographical references

Students have to choose 2 texts among the list of optional bibliographical references

Students have to choose 2 texts among the list of optional bibliographical references

Students have to choose 2 texts among the list of optional bibliographical references. The web link is referred to the original text in French (ad vocem "Restaurer")