LE PIETRE ARTIFICIALI NELLE ARCHITETTURE DEL VENTENNIO FASCISTA. TECNOLOGIA DI REALIZZAZIONE E PROBLEMI DI  CONSERVAZIONE

Luca Rocchi

Laboratorio TekneHub, Tecnopolo dell’Università di Ferrara;

LaboRA, Laboratorio di Restauro Architettonico - Dipartimento di Architettura di Ferrara luca.rocchi@unife.it

ABSTRACT 

The growing interest in the "Modern Architecture restoration raises new methodological and operational questions about a lot of building techniques extraneous to the historic tradition and new materials derived by industrial innovation in the early XXth century.

Cement and derived products have an essential role in the modern architecture language; in particular the production of surfaces and artefacts realized by false stone (also know as artificial stone or litos-cement).  The spread of artificial stones began at the end of the XIXth century, when the application of “stucco” and “marmorino” was replaced by cement that, properly pigmented, appears like a natural stone.

The enhanced "eternity" of the cement has been proven untrue, and many façade or elements realized with artificial stone elements have already shown signs of advanced degradation and they need appropriate interventions.

Cultural and technical recovery is essential today for the conservation of these artefacts, through a necessary knowledge of these techniques, forming and installation work.

The artificial stone artefacts are the result of a fine technological process, but also the product of a craft. This duality requires a careful consideration during the project for the intervention, not only restoration one but also a simple maintenance.

Key-words: cement, artificial stone, false stone, fascist autarchy, conservation.