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PALACE IN VIA MAGLIABECHI

Period of the monument: XX century

Place: Via Magliabechi – Florence

Year of restoration: 2016

Category of works: OS2 – A

Client: Private

Supervision: Alfredo Sansone

Work performed: Restoration work of the facades with graffiti decorations and revision of the roofs of the entire building

◆ HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:

The palace in Via Magliabechi, a private residence, is in the heart of Florence just a stone’s throw from both the ancient and wonderful Basilica of Santa Croce its square, and the modern National Library of Florence. Via Magliabechi and the surrounding streets are home to ancient buildings such as Palazzo Doni, dating back to the splendid 15th and 16th centuries, along with more recent buildings that are also of great historical and architectural interest. Many of the original buildings on the street were demolished for the construction of the Library building and in general the entire street suffered extensive damage during the 1966 flood of Florence. The palace restored by Sansone has a particular conformation, with a U-shaped recessed facade, richly decorated with geometric patterns, faux frames, and garlands.

◆ STATE OF CONSERVATION:

STATE OF CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION OBJECTIVES

The facade of the palace had become completely illegible even though decorations and graffiti could still be made out, although with difficulty, as a reminder of its former splendor. The restoration work was not limited to bringing all the facades back to their original condition: it was necessary to significantly intervene on the roof and to completely recover the stone and pictorial decorations.

MAIN INTERVENTIONS

  • Stripping and securing of plaster walls of all facades, internal and external, with particular attention to graffiti plaster
  • Cleaning with hydro washing at controlled pressure
  • Renovation of plasters with natural hydrolytic mortar and restoration of graffiti by a mixture of slaked lime and natural soils for the achievement of the original colors and color balance with watercolors
  • Restoration of stone and imitation stone elements such as thresholds, windows and sills
  • Complete renovation of the roof, roofing, and all annexes
  • Cleaning, consolidation and reintegration of the ancient plasters present inside the building and of the pictorial surfaces

◆ DURING THE RESTORATION OF THE ROOF:

◆ SOME EXAMPLES: BEFORE AND AFTER RESTORATION

◆ ELABORATION:

RESTORATION OF
ROOF:

Palace in Via Magliabechi

The infiltration of moisture, due to structural damage of roofing or poor maintenance, is often the main cause of degradation of the interior, ceilings and exterior walls. For this reason, the intervention of maintenance and waterproofing of the roof was essential for the recovery of the property.

HERE ARE
THE MAIN PHASES OF THE INTERVENTION:

Palace in Via Magliabechi
  • Dismantling of the roof covering in terracotta tiles and setting aside of materials after their cleaning for subsequent repositioning.
  • Realization of the screed for leveling the surface, laying of a layer of bituminous elastomer sheathing, laying of copper elements for gutters and downspouts, masonry of the eaves.
  • Laying of terracotta tiles.
  • Securing of and replacement of deteriorated fir wood elements constituting the overhang warping of the gutter and the roofing currents with anti-woodworm treatment.
  • Certification and testing of the roof.
  • Verification of vent pipes and their maintenance, relocation of electrical elements such as cables and antennas.

RESTORATION OF
PLASTERS AND PICTORIAL DECORATIONS:

Palace in Via Magliabechi
  • Cleaning of ancient plasters by application of water and ammonium carbonate and final rinsing, or by dry means of wishab sponges
  • Recompacting of decohesive plasters or those in a phase of detachment, thorough cleaning of hollows created between the plaster and the curl and/or masonry support, and subsequent injection of special mortar composed of acrylic resin and calcium carbonate
  • Plastering of ancient plaster on cracks, scratches, abrasions, and missing parts with a compound of slaked lime, fine sand, and soil colorings
  • Pictorial retouching with pure mineral pigment base (soils and oxides) to integrate missing patches due to abrasions or breakage of the original pictorial film: this was processed through overlapping of layers of shades in undertone in order to achieve the aesthetic value of the missing parts and return a visual integrity to the whole

STONE RESTORATION:

Palace in Via Magliabechi

The intervention on the building also saw the restoration and reconstruction of stone parts, in particular those of the small garden such as cornices, capitals, columns, and annexes.

  • Demolition of the degraded parts and thorough washing of the surfaces
  • Consolidation of the remaining parts
  • Reconstruction with appropriate products (including reinforcement where necessary) and grouting
  • Application of waterproof product on the upper part
  • Patination with faux stone
  • Application of a final hydrophobic protective layer