The rural architectonic heritage of the province of Mantua and the 2012 earthquake: Chronicle of a death foretold

The research concerns the study of the rural architectonic heritage in the Mantua province damaged by the seismic sequence started on May 2012. Within each investigated complex, the analysis starts with the identification of the main building, structural and material typologies and the reconstruction of the recursive interventions occurred in time. These preliminary steps are fundamental for the recognising of potential weaknesses affecting the seismic response. The rural heritage in the area is arranged around courtyards and is composed by different building types: the residential building, the stable, the “barchessa” for the storing of goods and animals, one of more small building for specific activity (e.g. warehouse, woodshed, etc.). Each building type has a specific function but also clear architectonic and structural layout. Furthermore, the agriculture recent evolution has involved changes in the use of the buildings and then, important building transformations. In particular, the agricultural machinery has required wider space but also a decreasing of the number of farmers. The result of the process is the partial or complete neglecting of several rural buildings. The following steps of the research involved a survey of selected case studies, some of them of meaningful historical and cultural importance; the study focused on the evaluation of the structural damage, recognising, when possible, the state of preservation before the earthquake, the common damage mechanism and the local vulnerabilities. The aim is both the catalogue the failures and the suggesting of possible interventions to reduce the seismic risks. This last item is strategic, bridging the safety requirements with the preservation issues respectful the historical architecture. Further observations involved the post seismic interventions for the safety of structure, some of them positive and other negative