Terranova Render: A “Polychrome Resource for Modern Aesthetics”. A Study for Analysis and Characterization

The industry,which developed into an endless source of new formulations and technologies,supported the typological innovation that took place in the architectural field in the first half of the 20th century.The world of plaster was revolutionised by the introduction of ready-mixed mortars that only required the addition of water.The plaster was no longer created on site,and the workers only dealt with the application.In Italy,the so-called“special plasters”based on cement and/or lime with the addition of various substances,the formulations of which were kept secret by the manufacturing companies,appeared in the period after the World War I.Despite being widely spread,their composition is still little known today.Samples of Terranova plaster,characterized by high durability,were investigated in this study to understand their main characteristics.The analysed samples appear to be based on dolomitic lime with characteristic iridescent aggregates and high porosity,probably due to air-entraining agents and pigments based on oxides of different nature.The aim of this paper is to compare three samples of Terranova plaster from the Emilia-Romagna region with the literature.

Acculturation and translation:Modern architectural heritage of Zhongshan Park in Xiamen from typological perspective

The modern architectural heritage is the core carrier of city’s historical inheritance and vitality.Its value is related to the spatial and temporal evolution of the urban landscape,along with the collective memory of society and transformation in public life.The contradiction between high-speed urban construction and architectural heritage preservation has proliferated,and the problems of loss of heritage culture and fading of relics are very significant,but there is a lack of research on modern architectural heritage.This study analysed indepth the artistic archetypes and evolutionary characteristics of the architecture of Zhongshan Park in Xiamen through field research and historical data collation,adopting the theory method of architectural typology.Afterwards,we analysed the architectural typology of Zhongshan Park in Xiamen and the process of acculturation and translation with foreign cultures,explored the motives of its formation and the cultural meanings of the public space embodied in it.Based on this,we proposed a sustainable development heritage approach for the modern architectural heritage of Zhongshan Park in Xiamen.Our results indicate that modern architectural art has inherited classical Chinese historical and cultural traditions and ideological foundations.Its unique characteristics reflect the spirit of the times and result from the gradual development of Western influence.Moreover,it embodies a strong sense of national identity.These findings enrich the academic research on the cultural interaction between Chinese and Western architecture,offering valuable insights for the conservation and living heritage of modern architectural heritage in other regions.

Protection and Reuse of Municipal Engineering Heritage: A Case Study of Hankou Dazhimen Railway Station

This paper introduced foreign concepts and categories in industrial heritage protection, took protection and reuse of Hankou Dazhimen Railway Station for example, analyzed signifi cance of protecting heritage of modernization and municipal engineering heritage in urban construction and development, and also learned from the success of Orsay Museum in France to propose reasonable design concepts for the reconstruction and reuse of Dazhimen Railway Station.

The Rediscovery of Polychromy in Some Le Corbusier’s Works: A Problem of Restitution

The theme of the restoration and conservation of polychrome surfaces will be addressed through several recent case studies of interventions on Le Corbusier’s work owned by the Fondation Le Corbusier:the Petite Villa sur Le Lac Léman(1923-1924),the Maisons La Roche and Jeanneret(1923-1925),and his apartment-studio in the Immeuble Molitor(1931-1934).The recent interventions allowed for numerous preliminary studies(in situ,archival,and laboratory),and proved to be an opportunity for historical and material knowledge,paying close attention to discoveries and observations during the construction phase.An important aspect of these experiences was the in-depth study of polychromes,conducted on architectural surfaces but also on furniture and fixed furnishings made of concrete,metal and wood.This was an important moment in the knowledge of the work during the restoration phase because of the richness of the stratigraphic surveys related to the many modifications made over time sometimes by Le Corbusier himself.This text exposes technical,scientific,and operational aspects specific to the study of interior and exterior polychromes,and in parallel raises theoretical-methodological questions of restoration of the polychromies and the painting.

Recent Efforts in Conserving 20^(th)-Century Heritage:The Getty Conservation Institute’s Conserving Modern Architecture Initiative

Over the last 25 years the conservation of 20^(th)-century heritage has developed into a distinct area of practice, catalysed by the efforts of dedicated international and local interest groups and the forward thinking of a number of government and inter-government organisations who identified, protected and developed approaches to its care. Much has been achieved, but more work is needed to address many of the distinct challenges to con­serving the heritage of the 20^(th) century. In 2011, the Getty Conservation Institute (GCI) launched its Conserving Modern Architecture Initiative (CMAI), which seeks to respond to the outstanding current challenges and contrib­ute to advancing practice in this emerging area of conservation. It began with a survey of the field to identify where existing efforts could be best supported and enhanced, or where knowledge gaps could be potentially filled. In re­sponse the GCI built a comprehensive program to meet these identified needs and five years later, a number of ac­tivities and projects are underway. These include a series of publications, a training program, historical and techni­cal research and two field projects at Louis Kahn’s Salk Biological Institute (1965) and the house of Ray and Charles Eames (1949), both in California. This paper outlines current GCI efforts, reports on initial outcomes and describes forthcoming activities.