Description:
The conservation of outdoor cultural heritage presents specific criticalities related to direct exposure to environmental agents and the effects of climate change, which accelerate the physical, chemical and biological degradation processes of materials. Among these, biodeterioration represents one of the risk factors with the greatest impact for works preserved in parks, historical gardens, landscape contexts and public spaces.
The advanced course aims to provide a methodological and operational framework on green conservation strategies, with particular reference to cleaning and consolidation treatments with the use of low environmental impact biological growth inhibitors. Attention is specifically directed to works made with inorganic materials, considered within complex systems in which materials, environment, climate and cultural values interact. The course is based on the most recent scientific research in the field of green chemistry and sustainable conservation, and proposes an integrated approach that combines conservation efficacy, material compatibility, reduction of environmental impact and evaluation of the durability of interventions over time.
Programme divided into modules:
Module 1: Theory
- Marta Gómez – Biodeterioration of cultural heritage: processes, risks and challenges for green conservation
- Patricia Sanmartín – Green strategies for controlling biodeterioration: from biofilm understanding to sustainable treatments as illumination (English-language presentation)
- Emmanuele Morezzi – Tools and methods for environmental sustainability in heritage conservation (online presentation)
- Marta Cicardi – Innovative and sustainable materials for conservation: from research to application (online presentation)
- Miguel Serrano – Renaturalisation of heritage cities: biodiversity conservation in historic areas (English-language presentation)
Module 2: Laboratories
- Rodorico Giorgi – Nanomaterials and green approaches for conservation: advances and applications
- Chiara Alisi – Biotechnological approaches for green conservation: biocleaning and biodeterioration control
- Marta Gómez – From green methods to practice: application in biodeterioration control
Mode
Online and in-person for the theoretical part at Fondazione Biblioteche, Via Maurizio Bufalini 6 – 50122 Florence; the practical part requires in-person attendance only at Laboratorio Materiali Lapidei, Via Alfani 78 – 50121 Florence.
