Constructive Techniques in Historical Buildings

The construction of the Albergo dei Poveri complex, begun in 1656, ground to a halt in 1740, leaving the original project incomplete; at the beginning of the nineteenth century, it was decided to close the courtyards to the west through a hallway across two floors and, between 1834 and 1838, the main fac¸ade was completed through the erection of the western tower. Since the mid-twentieth century, the complex, in its material substance, was affected by three important alteration phases: the first one is associated with the post-war reconstruction, the second one with the unavoidable need to modernize the welfare structure (1960–1970s), while the third one (currently underway) entails theconversion of the building into university campus. The Albergo dei Poveri complex offers a wide range of building techniques used in Genoa between the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries; within this context, we will focus in particular on the closing elements, such as perimeter walls, floors, roofs, and windows. The information set out hereunder is drawn first and foremost from a direct observation of the building (building techniques, morphology, materials) and from perusal of the archive documents (both textual and iconographic), which enable us to also understand what is no longer there or what cannot be seen as it is concealed by finishes and coatings