Pietromaria Davoli1, Paola Boarin2, Antonio Martinez 3, Federico Arieti4

1 University of Ferrara – Department of Architecture – Architettura>Energia Research Centre, via della Ghiara n.36 – Ferrara (IT), pietromaria.davoli@unife.it

2 University of Ferrara – Department of Architecture – Architettura>Energia Research Centre, via della Ghiara n.36 – Ferrara (IT), paola.boarin@unife.it

3 Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV) – Faculty of Building Engineering ETSIE (ES), anmarmo4@arqt.upv.es

4 University of Ferrara – Department of Architecture – Architettura>Energia Research Centre, via della Ghiara n.36 – Ferrara (IT), federico.arieti@alice.it

The paper presents the results of two studies that Architettura>Energia Research Centre accomplished for Public Administrations as instrument for orienting a sustainable retrofit of historic settlements hit by earthquakes. The study has focused on Caporciano, a small town within the area around L’Aquila struck by the earthquake in 2009, and Apice Vecchia, near Benevento, damaged by two earthquakes in 1962 and 1980, which forced the population to leave the whole settlement.

The research consists in a preliminary on-site survey aimed at simplifying the acquisition of a large amount of data, which will facilitate a subsequent in-depth survey focused on the energy and environmental characteristics of the towns. Those data are analysed to establish dimensional parameters useful for energy simulation and for setting-up a database of building technologies and materials. Then, a framework of intervention strategies is developed for improving energy and environmental conditions of the urban system as a whole, considering different levels of impacts due to the different historical values.

To complete the procedure, a case study has been analysed in depth in order to evaluate technical feasibility as well as the energy consumption reduction of the suggested strategy. The case study, the Perriello Palace, is located in the historic centre of Apice Vecchia and it is considered as one of the town’s most important buildings because of its architectural features.

Preliminary audit, energy retrofit, historic settlements, case study.