Table Of ContentThe Restoration of the Nativity Church
in Bethlehem
The Restoration of the Nativity
Church in Bethlehem
Edited by Claudio Alessandri
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Applied for
Published by: CRC Press/Balkema
Schipholweg 107C, 2316 XC Leiden, The Netherlands
e-mail: [email protected]
www.crcpress.com – www.taylorandfrancis.com
ISBN: 978-1-138-48899-1 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-351-02326-9 (ebk)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1201/9781351023269
Contents
Authors and their affiliations xi
Technical staff and acknowledgements xiii
1 Introduction 1
Presidential Committee for the restoration of the ChurCh of the
nativity and C. alessandri
references 9
2 The restoration site 11
PiaCenti s.P.a., C.d.G. – Community develoPment GrouP
and C. alessandri
2.1 Team configuration 11
2.2 Preliminary on-site tests 12
2.3 Organization of the work site 19
2.4 Supply of materials and facilities 20
reference 21
3 Roof and windows 23
3.1 Historical analysis 23
G. a. fiChera
references 25
3.2 Morphologic and structural characteristics of the roof 25
C. alessandri, n. maCChioni, m. mannuCCi,
m. martinelli and B. Pizzo
3.2.1 Trusses of nave, transept and apse 26
3.2.2 End trusses 38
3.2.3 Trusses of the central area 38
3.2.4 Trusses of aisles and corners 49
Appendix 53
Angle joints 53
Transversal joints 54
Corner joints 55
Longitudinal joints 56
vi Contents
3.3 The scaffolding 57
C. alessandri and m. martinelli
References 68
3.4 State of conservation of the wooden structures 69
n. maCChioni, m. mannuCCi, m. martinelli and B. Pizzo
Reference 76
3.5 Wooden species and dating of the wooden structural components 76
m. BernaBei, J. Bontadi, n. maCChioni and m. mannuCCi
3.6 Interventions on trusses, purlins and boards 78
C. alessandri, v. mallardo, m. martinelli and B. Pizzo
3.6.1 Selection of the timber used for the repair interventions 79
3.6.2 Intervention typologies 81
3.6.2.1 Repair of the damaged beams with timber prostheses
connected with glued-in rods 83
3.6.2.2 Repair of damaged beams with pinned half-lap joint 85
3.6.2.3 Repair of damaged beams with fully threaded
self-tapping screws 86
3.6.2.4 Repair of weakened elements with glued-in rods
(without any substitution) 87
3.6.2.5 Replacement of totally decayed members with new members 90
3.6.2.6 Replacement of damaged boards and purlins 91
3.6.3 Structural adhesive used for the repair interventions 94
references 95
3.7 Archaeological analysis 95
G. a. fiChera
References 104
3.8 Vulnerability analysis and seismic reinforcement 104
C. alessandri, v. mallardo and m. martinelli
3.8.1 Interventions of seismic improvements 112
References 120
3.9 Old and new roof covering 120
C. alessandri and m. martinelli
References 130
3.10 Windows 130
s. Palanti
References 136
3.11 Maintenance 136
C. alessandri, n. maCChioni, m. martinelli and B. Pizzo
3.11.1 Lead sheets 137
3.11.2 Eaves and rainwater drainage system 138
3.11.3 Flashings and ridge elements 140
3.11.4 Substructure (boards, joists, plywood) 142
3.11.5 Wooden structure (trusses, cantilevers, purlins, timber plank) 144
3.11.6 Connectors 146
Contents vii
3.11.7 Metal carpentry 148
3.11.8 Prostheses 149
Remarks 151
references 152
4 Mosaics 153
4.1 Historical analysis 153
m. BaCCi
4.2 Materials and techniques 154
s. sarmati, n. santoPuoli and e. ConCina
4.2.1 Wall mosaics description 154
4.2.2 Execution technique 168
4.2.3 Tesserae and mosaic texture 172
References 187
4.3 Mosaics materials analysis 189
m. verità, l. lazzarini and P. santoPadre
4.3.1 Mortar analysis (P.S.) 189
4.3.2 Stone tesserae analysis (L.L.) 192
4.3.3 Glass tesserae analysis (M.V.) 194
4.3.3.1 Results 197
4.3.3.1.1 Glass composition 197
4.3.3.1.2 Ground quartz tesserae 202
4.3.3.1.3 Bone ash tesserae 203
4.3.3.1.4 Turquoise, green, and yellow tesserae 204
4.3.3.1.5 Red and black tesserae 207
4.3.3.1.6 Metal leaf tesserae 209
4.3.3.1.7 Reused tesserae 212
4.3.3.2 Summary 212
references 214
4.4 The photogrammetric survey of the mosaics 216
G. Caratelli and C. GiorGi
references 223
4.5 State of conservation 224
s. sarmati, n. santoPuoli and e. ConCina
4.6 Interventions 229
s. sarmati, n. santoPuoli and e. ConCina
4.7 Floor mosaics – archaeological excavations 235
G.a. fiChera
4.7.1 Introduction 235
4.7.2 Area 1 237
4.7.3 Area 2 239
4.7.4 Area 3 242
viii Contents
4.7.5 Area 4 249
4.7.6 Area 5 253
4.7.7 Summary of the main periods identified during the excavations 254
4.7.7.1 Period I (before the fourth century) 254
4.7.7.2 Period II (fourth century) 254
4.7.7.3 Period III (before the sixth century) 255
4.7.7.4 Period IV (sixth–seventh centuries) 255
4.7.7.5 Period V (1930s) 255
References 256
5 Plasters 257
s. sarmati and n. santoPuoli
5.1 Material composition 257
5.2 State of conservation 261
5.3 Interventions 267
6 Paintings on columns 271
6.1 The figurative cycle 271
m. BaCCi
6.2 State of conservation 280
s. sarmati
References 290
6.3 Interventions 290
s. sarmati
references 295
7 Exterior wall surfaces 297
7.1 Materials and their state of conservation 297
s. sarmati and G. a. fiChera
7.1.1 Archaeological analysis of the architectures 297
7.1.2 State of conservation of the surface 300
References 301
7.2 Intervention techniques on stones and mortar joints 302
s. sarmati
8 Wooden architraves 307
C. alessandri, n. maCChioni, m. mannuCCi,
m. martinelli and B. Pizzo
8.1 Internal geometry, material and technical characteristics 307
8.2 External decorations 314
8.3 State of conservation and past interventions 316
8.4 The new interventions 326
8.5 The problem of the corners 340
Contents ix
8.6 Maintenance 349
8.6.1 Wooden elements 349
8.6.2 Prostheses 350
references 352
9 The narthex 353
9.1 Archaeological analysis and preliminary
structural survey 353
C. alessandri, G. a. fiChera and m. martinelli
9.2 On-site material survey 373
C. alessandri and m. martinelli
IQM 375
9.2.1 Sonic tests 375
9.2.2 Hygrometric test 377
9.2.3 Thermography 384
9.2.4 Tests on mortar samples 387
9.2.5 Tests on stone cores 390
9.3 Interventions of restoration inside the narthex 390
C. alessandri and m. martinelli
9.4 Interventions of structural consolidation 398
C. alessandri and m. martinelli
9.5 Numerical simulations and on-site tests 406
C. alessandri and m. martinelli
9.5.1 Vaults and walls 406
9.5.2 Anchorage and on-site tests 411
9.6 The Armenian door 412
m. BaCCi and s. sarmati
9.6.1 Main features 412
9.6.2 Interventions of consolidation 421
9.7 Maintenance 424
C. alessandri and m. martinelli
9.7.1 Steel structure 424
9.7.2 Reinforced plaster 425
References 428
10 Monitoring 429
C. alessandri, n. maCChioni, m. martinelli and B. Pizzo
10.1 Narthex 430
10.2 Church façade 431
10.3 Walls of the nave 432
10.4 Orthodox wall (south wall) 433
10.5 Corners 434
10.6 Columns 436
