CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES AND ARCHITECTURAL STRATIFICATION: A study for enhanced digital heritage documentation.

• Grant number: 24/21906-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2025
• End date: February 28, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Applied Social Sciences - Architecture and Town Planning - Fundamentals of Architecture and Urbanism
• Principal Investigator: Maisa Fonseca de Almeida
• Grantee: Ana Júlia Paduan Tristante
• Supervisor: Claudio Varagnoli
• Host Institution: Instituto de Arquitetura e Urbanismo de São Carlos (IAU). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Università degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza, Italy
• Associated to the scholarship: 24/03806-0 - Building, architecture, material, meanders of construction: Research into the building of the former Società Dante Alighieri for the production of digital documentation, BP.IC

Abstract

This undergraduate research internship abroad seeks to analyze architectural materials and interpretative frameworks within heritage building interventions, focusing on their historical stratification and the ways knowledge transfer and construction techniques have shaped their form. By situating these materials within their cultural and conceptual contexts, the project aims to deepen the semantic richness of digital heritage documentation through the development of a detailed, structured timeline. This approach also intends to advance understanding in architectural restoration, particularly through Italy's established practices in the field, offering valuable insights for Brazilian heritage conservation. A core part of this research involves a comparative analysis between the Scientific and Cultural Dissemination Center of the University of São Paulo (CDCC) building, built by Italian immigrants, and the Palazzo Pamphilj facade in Rome. These cases are used to explore the architectural links between Brazil and Italy, revealing the assimilation of Italian construction techniques and the cross-cultural transfer of knowledge over time. The CDCC building, as a cultural asset listed by CONDEPHAAT, provides a model for studying the historic layers, architectural details, and technical evolution that signify its heritage value, while the Palazzo Pamphilj, through direct site visits and collaboration with Prof. Claudio Varagnoli at the Università di Roma, will serve as an Italian counterpart, allowing for an in-depth investigation of stratification and architectural continuity in a European context. By examining archival materials and conducting on-site fieldwork, particularly through archival research on the Palazzo Pamphilj, the project aims to establish a methodology for documenting and analyzing architectural stratification and structural evolution. This work will also include investigation of historical archives to uncover insights into original construction practices and subsequent restoration choices, providing a comprehensive understanding of how historic and aesthetic values have informed Italian restoration practices over time. The internship's activities, supported by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Università di Roma, will allow the construction of a digital timeline that integrates contemporary innovations while preserving essential architectural elements. This timeline will serve as a tool for understanding the technical and architectural evolution of these buildings but will also contribute to a broader methodological framework for digital inventory and data management in architectural heritage. Ultimately, this project seeks to support the development of preservation policies and actions that enhance the maintenance, conservation, and management of historic buildings, emphasizing their cultural significance. By promoting access to heritage knowledge through digital platforms, the research aligns with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically those in arts and culture, with a commitment to bolstering social and economic development and enhancing community quality of life. (AU)