Search Results (35)

The Augustan Aqueduct, built between 33 and 12 BC at the command of Augustus and designed by Marcus Vipsanio Agrippa, stands as one of the most remarkable hydraulic engineering feats of the Roman era. The main route of the aqueduct extends over 100 km, starting from the caput aquae, represented by the Acquaro-Pelosi springs located at the foot of the Terminio karst massif, near the village of Serino (Campania region) and ending at Castellum Aquae, which corresponds to the Piscina Mirabilis in Bacoli, near Neapolis. Hydrogeological and hydrological features have been analyzed to reconstruct the rationale behind the selection of the aqueduct’s water sources: flow rate, ground level, and quality of the karst waters of the Serino springs best met the supply requirements. These characteristics, and others of historical and archaeological nature, suggest that the Augustan Aqueduct had a hydraulic connection with the Sannitico Aqueduct, also fed by Serino springs. The Sannitico Aqueduct fed the town of Benevento towards Nord, and it is believed to have been built in the first century AD. As shown by this study, both aqueduct systems could be part of a unique and great hydraulic system, built in the 1st century BC to supply areas of great residential importance (cities and patrician villas) or military importance (Miseno harbor and Benevento). The several studies available on the Augustan Aqueduct primarily focus on archaeological, architectural, and engineering aspects and less on hydrogeological aspects. In this paper we highlight that the hydrogeological perspective represents a key to understand the rationale behind the selection of the water sources feeding both aqueducts, built probably at the same time, and their interconnection. Full article

Bagheria, located on the northern coast of Sicily, is home to one of the Mediterranean’s most remarkable ensembles of Baroque villas, constructed between the 17th and 18th centuries by the aristocracy of Palermo. Originally situated within a highly structured rural landscape of citrus groves, gardens, and visual axes, these monumental residences have undergone substantial degradation due to uncontrolled urban expansion throughout the 20th century. This study presents a diachronic spatial analysis of Bagheria’s territorial transformation from 1850 to 2018, integrating historical cartography, aerial photography, satellite imagery, and Geographic Information System (GIS) tools. A total of 33 villas were identified, georeferenced, and assessed based on their spatial integrity, architectural condition, and relationship with the evolving urban fabric. The results reveal a progressive marginalization of the villa system, with many heritage assets now embedded within dense residential development, severed from their original landscape context and deprived of their formal gardens and visual prominence. Comparative insights drawn from analogous Mediterranean heritage landscapes, such as Ortigia (Siracusa), the Appian Way (Rome), and Athens, highlight the urgency of adopting integrated conservation frameworks that reconcile urban development with cultural and ecological continuity. As a strategic response, the study proposes the creation of a thematic cultural route, La città delle ville, to enhance the visibility, accessibility, and socio-economic relevance of Bagheria’s heritage system. This initiative, supported by adaptive reuse policies, smart heritage technologies, and participatory planning, offers a replicable model for sustainable territorial regeneration and heritage-led urban resilience. Full article

The villa of the Veneto is a complex that includes the manor house, the agricultural buildings, as well as the green spaces of the garden, the orchard and the fields. The research presented in this article focuses on the case of Villa Giusti-Puttini at Santa Maria in Stelle (Verona, Italy), with the aim of unravelling the history and state of conservation of the villa’s park, which has never been studied before. The research has been carried out by interconnecting the historical archival documentation (written documents and maps) with the current state, always considering the possible interpretations suggested by the specialised related bibliography. The result has been the identification of the elements of permanence and transformation of the territory and landscape of the villa. Elements such as its boundaries, interior paths, vegetation and watercourses make it possible to outline guidelines aimed at recovering the memory of this historic landscape which has been largely preserved over the centuries, and which constitutes one of the most significant heritage aspects of this area of Italy. In addition to providing in-depth knowledge of a specific object, this research can serve as an example for the study of other cultural landscapes. Full article

Since the early 21st century, BIM technology has enhanced building design, construction and management, while continuously evolving to create new specializations. Despite this, its full potential remains untapped. Today, BIM offers diverse applications in construction and related industries, incorporating advanced techniques such as laser scanning and photogrammetry. A specialized approach, HBIM (Heritage Building Information Modeling), enables the digital mapping, documentation, analysis and management of historic architecture. This study focuses on the Koprowski Family Villa in Celestynów, known as “Koprówka”, demolished twenty years ago. Despite its cultural significance, the property disappeared from the village. Using LiDAR survey data, preserved window frames, archival photographs and documents, this engineering study reconstructs “Koprówka” as an HBIM model, integrated into the existing landscape. The resulting 3D model can aid municipal authorities and potential investors in rebuilding “Koprówka”, while emphasizing the importance of cultural heritage in shaping local identity and raising awareness of historical structures’ value. Full article

Italy is internationally renowned for its cultural heritage, a testament to its rich history. Many of these structures, built before the advent of modern engineering principles, were constructed based on empirical knowledge and lack seismic design considerations, making them highly vulnerable to earthquakes. This vulnerability presents a significant challenge to preserving Italy’s architectural legacy. A notable example is Villa Vannucchi, located in the seismically active Vesuvius region. Given its historical and cultural significance, enhancing its structural resilience while preserving its architectural authenticity is imperative. This study investigates the seismic vulnerability of Villa Vannucchi through a comprehensive analysis of its structural deficiencies and proposes a targeted retrofitting strategy in accordance with the Italian Guidelines for Cultural Heritage (IGCH). The evaluation is conducted in three phases: 1 Preliminary structural assessment—Calculation of two critical safety factors to evaluate the villa’s overall stability. 2 Local collapse mechanism analysis—Examination of the structure’s susceptibility to localized failures. 3 Advanced computational modelling—Detailed simulations revealing critically low seismic coefficients. Based on these findings, a consolidation plan is developed, integrating traditional and minimally invasive techniques. Key interventions include reinforcing the masonry and reducing floor deformability to improve overall structural stability. The implementation of these retrofitting measures significantly enhances the villa’s seismic resilience, as evidenced by the increased safety coefficients. This reduction in vulnerability not only ensures the preservation of Villa Vannucchi, but also safeguards its cultural and historical legacy for future generations. Full article

Based on literature data and new field investigations, a checklist of the ornamental vascular flora of Sicily is presented. Trees, shrubs, herbaceous, and succulent plants growing in street trees, parks, private gardens, and historic villas of Sicily are included in the checklist. For each taxon, information on growth forms, geographical and biome origin, resident time, and status (native/alien) in Italy is provided. A total of 928 taxa (including 823 species s. str., 33 cultivars, 31 hybrids, 24 varieties, 9 subspecies, and 8 forms), belonging to 486 genera included in 138 families, were recorded. Fabaceae, Rosaceae, Asteraceae, Cactaceae, Asparagaceae, Arecaceae, and Malvaceae are the richest families in taxa. Phanerophytes are the prevalent growth form, and the main part of such flora consists of Asiatic and American taxa. Taxa from subtropical and tropical biomes showed a prevalent presence; this is a peculiarity which characterizes the Sicilian ornamental flora. Delonix regia emerges as a peculiar case, representing the only documented cases of open-air cultivation in both Sicily and the entire country. A significant percentage of taxa (41%) is included in the list of alien vascular flora of Italy, showing a strong predominance of casual and naturalized neophytes alien species. Full article

Villa Cicogna Mozzoni, located in Bisuschio near Varese and Lake Lugano, on the border between Lombardy and Switzerland, has origins dating back to the 1540s as a hunting lodge owned by the Mozzoni family. In the 16th century, significant renovations transformed it into a “villa di delizia”, adding gardens and elaborate decorative features to the interior and exterior, many of which are still preserved today. This article focuses on a precise geometric analysis of the building’s wooden ceilings, based on laser scanning and photogrammetric data surveying. The ongoing research particularly examines the wooden coffered ceilings on the first floor and the camorcanna wooden fake vault of the Grand Staircase of Honor. By analyzing the geometric data and comparing it with historical, archival, and recent manuals, the study has provided valuable morphological, construction, and conservation insights, forming the basis for the diagnostic and restoration project. Full article

Urbanization poses significant challenges to ecosystems, resources, and human well-being, necessitating sustainable planning. Urban vegetation, particularly trees, provides critical ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, air quality improvement, and biodiversity conservation. Traditional tree assessments are resource-intensive and time-consuming. Recent advances in remote sensing, especially high-resolution multispectral imagery and object-based image analysis (OBIA), offer efficient alternatives for mapping urban vegetation. This study evaluates and compares the efficacy of Sentinel-2 and Pléiades satellite imagery in classifying tree species within historic urban parks in Rome—Villa Borghese, Villa Ada Savoia, and Villa Doria Pamphilj. Pléiades imagery demonstrated superior classification accuracy, achieving an overall accuracy (OA) of 89% and a Kappa index of 0.84 in Villa Ada Savoia, compared to Sentinel-2’s OA of 66% and Kappa index of 0.47. Specific tree species, such as Pinus pinea (Stone Pine), reached a user accuracy (UA) of 84% with Pléiades versus 53% with Sentinel-2. These insights underscore the potential of integrating high-resolution remote sensing data into urban forestry practices to support sustainable urban management and planning. Full article

This study delves into the multifaceted realm of citrus fruits, exploring their significance and socioeconomic implications from their early introduction to Western Muslim and Renaissance gardens, tracing their journey throughout history. Employing a multidisciplinary approach, drawing from biological, archaeobotanical, iconographic, and textual sources, our study offers a comprehensive exploration of citrus symbolism and cultural significance, integrating historical, artistic, horticultural, and socioeconomic viewpoints. The genus Citrus (Rutaceae) comprises around thirty species and its natural habitat spans from the southern slopes of the Himalayas to China, Southeast Asia, nearby islands, and Queensland. Originating from only four of these species, humans have cultivated hundreds of hybrids and thousands of varieties, harnessing their culinary, medicinal, and ornamental potential worldwide. We delve into the symbolic value of citrus fruits, which have served as indicators of economic status and power. From their early presence in Mediterranean religious rituals to their depiction in opulent Roman art and mythical narratives like the Garden of the Hesperides, citrus fruits have epitomized luxury and desire. Christian lore intertwines them with the forbidden fruit of Eden, while Islamic and Sicilian gardens and Renaissance villas signify their prestige. We analyze diverse perspectives, from moralists to hedonists, and examine their role in shaping global agriculture, exemplified by rare varieties like aurantii foetiferi. Full article

The current research methods employed in the study of gardens are largely concentrated in the fields of landscape architecture, architecture, and ecology. However, there is a paucity of analytical methods dedicated to the domain of garden design. However, the design content of gardens is within the scope of design studies. It is therefore imperative to develop or refine research methods for the analysis of gardens that are firmly grounded in design principles. The primary contribution of this study is the development of a design analysis framework, centered on the interrelationships between ‘user–garden–environment’, which can be applied to the analysis and investigation of gardens from a ‘people, objects, and environment’ perspective, in alignment with design studies. Influenced by similar geography, environment, culture, customs, etc., the garden design of China, Japan, and South Korea presents a very East Asian design style of forms, elements, features, etc., but also formed the differences of each characteristic. This paper takes China’s Chengde Mountain Resort, Japan’s Shugakuin Imperial Villa, and South Korea’s Changdeokgung, which are listed on the World Heritage List, as examples Based on the design analysis method proposed in this paper, a relevant design comparative study is conducted in three aspects: users of East Asia’s royal gardens, the design object—the gardens—and the external environment, and the similarities and differences between the Chinese, Japanese, and Korean royal gardens are analyzed. This study aims to verify the feasibility of the analytical framework of ‘user–garden–environment’ design by analyzing typical cases of royal gardens in China, Japan, and South Korea. This will enable the creation of multiple values conducive to the development of gardens. Furthermore, the analytical framework of ‘user–garden–environment’ is subjected to a process of deconstruction through the case studies of typical royal gardens in the three East Asian countries. This is done to overcome the limitations of existing research methodologies, provide a novel systematic research methodology for garden research, and facilitate the protection and inheritance of the historical and cultural heritage of gardens in East Asia. Additionally, this approach offers a reference point for related garden research in the context of modern lifestyles. Full article

The Sorrento Peninsula is characterized by a significant occurrence of examples of vernacular architecture, which exhibit distinctive morphological and constructive features. These have been the subject of numerous studies. However, some buildings have undergone a process of transformation over time, the details of which have yet to be investigated. Architectures that initially held a rural character were enlarged and ennobled, thereby becoming what could be termed as “villas of delights”. However, these clearly manifest their origin based on the permanence of some vernacular features. This paper focuses on the analysis of a case study, Villa Murat, which is exemplary in illustrating this process. This thorough interdisciplinary research combines historical investigation, based mainly on archival documents, with a direct examination of the Villa. This has enabled the retracing of the building’s evolution and of the events that occurred in it. An integrated survey, which employed photogrammetry and laser scanning, enabled the assessment of the current state of conservation. The ultimate objective of this research is to propose conservative interventions which, in conjunction with the suggested new intended use, could ensure the preservation of the Villa. Full article

The landscape surrounding a summer villa is, in a morphological and experiential sense, an inseparable part of the villa and its garden. This research examines the level of preservation of the historic landscapes of eight summer villas in Dubrovnik and the level of their integration into the urban fabric of the contemporary city. The research methods used include the analysis of the relevant scientific literature as well as the analysis and interpretation of graphic materials, i.e., cadastral maps from the second half of the 19th century, orthophoto maps, and spatial planning documentation. In this paper, the immediate landscape in close vicinity to the summer villas is defined as the protective zone of a summer villa (PZSV). Although the original use and extent of the summer villa landscapes have rarely been preserved, it is possible to establish PZSVs in order to preserve, i.e., reinterpret, the setting of the summer villas, which is necessary to experience them in their totality. This research establishes the general principles that enable the identification of three general models of transformation of the summer villa landscape. Furthermore, this research develops possible scenarios for the enhancement of the summer villa landscape based on the identified models. These models and scenarios are generally applicable in the context of the protection and enhancement of the summer villa landscapes in of the south of Croatia. Full article

Urbanization and urban regeneration can significantly impact cultural heritage, but a greater knowledge of the past natural and historical features is needed to value the past and understand the present. The lost Villa Peretti Montalto in Rome, once located in the area that corresponds to the current front side of Termini station, deserves great attention due to its cultural value. This work aimed to provide a floristic and functional reconstruction of the gardens of the villa during the XVI and XVII Centuries. From several bibliographic and iconographic sources, a critical analysis and interpretation of plant names was conducted. A list of 87 species and their location in the different garden sectors, during different periods with their specific uses, is provided. The arboreal design was made by classical species in the Roman context, like Cupressus sempervirens, Pinus pinea, Quercus ilex, and Ulmus glabra. In addition, ancient lost varieties of fruit trees (mainly Pyrus communis and Ficus carica) and several species of conservation interest were found. The knowledge of the ancient flora in historical gardens could be a key tool in urban greenery planning and touristic and cultural valorization. Full article

The energy efficiency of the building should be understood as the degree of preparation of the building to ensure the comfort of its use in accordance with its intended use with the lowest possible energy consumption of the building. The article presents an in-depth analysis of the possibility of changing the utility function of a historic building in such a way that ensures all aspects of comfort while meeting energy efficiency conditions. Combinatorics methods were used for this purpose. Four possible utility functions were proposed, including the reference state, i.e., the existing state. Five aspects of comfort were considered: thermal comfort, carbon footprint, energy efficiency, noise and vibration. For these five aspects of comfort, boundary conditions were adopted depending on the adopted building class. The selected utility function is therefore the result of comfort, energy efficiency and economic aspects. The purpose of the study was to verify whether the developed methodology for the selection of the utility function for historic buildings, based on combinatorial analyses, would allow the selection of the optimal function from the point of view of energy efficiency, user comfort and environmental impact. The methodology was tested on a historic building located in southern Poland. The new utility function for the analyzed building is to use the historic villa (or some part of it) as an Art Gallery. Full article

This article presents a detailed study of the stately palace of the Villa Giusti-Puttini, a building that, over the centuries, has undergone repeated transformations since its construction in the first half of the 15th century. For the study of this palace, owned between the 15th and 17th centuries by one of the most important families in the city of Verona (Italy), the authors have followed a methodology covering indirect sources (documentary and bibliographical) as well as direct ones (the building and constructive techniques, architectural and decorative elements, murals, etc.). This study expands the information available on the building as well as expanding knowledge on the history of architecture of the Veneto villa as a defining architectural phenomenon in 16th- and 17th-century architecture whose extensive influence was still felt in the 19th century. The history compiled through this research also contributes to a renewed interpretation of the phenomenon, which is viewed as a process for the transformation and adaptation of a pre-existing building to fit the needs of any given period. This methodology, which could potentially facilitate the interpretation of similar buildings, and its combination of documentary, material, constructive, decorative, and cultural elements could constitute an example for the historical and architectural reading of buildings and are not merely limited to Renaissance buildings. Full article