Architectural ruins: geoculture of the anatomy of buildings as illustrated by Casa Ippolito, Malta

Abstract

Ruins are a statement on the building materials used and the construction method employed. Casa Ippolito, now in ruins, is typical of 17th-century Maltese aristocratic country residences. It represents an illustration of secondary or anthropogenic geodiversity. This paper scrutinises these ruins as a primary source in reconstructing the building’s architecture. The methodology involved on-site geographical surveying, including visual inspection and non-invasive tests, a geological survey of the local lithostratigraphy, and examination of notarial deeds and secondary sources to support findings about the building’s history as read from its ruins. An unmanned aerial vehicle was used to digitally record the parlous state of the architectural structure and karsten tubes were used to quantify the surface porosity of the limestone. The results are expressed from four perspectives. The anatomy of Casa Ippolito, as revealed in its ruins, provides a cross-section of its building history and shows two distinct phases in its construction. The tissue of Casa Ippolito—the building elements and materials—speaks of the knowledge of raw materials and their properties among the builders who worked on both phases. The architectural history of Casa Ippolito reveals how it supported its inhabitants’ wellbeing in terms of shelter, water and food. Finally, the ruins in their present state bring to the fore the site’s potential for cultural tourism. This case study aims to show that such ruins are not just geocultural remains of historical built fabric. They are open wounds in the built structure; they underpin the anatomy of the building and support insights into its former dynamics. Ruins offer an essay in material culture and building physics. Architectural ruins of masonry structures are anthropogenic discourse rendered in stone which facilitate not only the reconstruction of spaces but also places for human users; they are a statement on the wellbeing of humanity throughout history.

Research on Historical Value Evaluation and Protection Strategies of Traditional Courtyards in Yulin Ancient City, Shaanxi Province, China

“…The protection of historical ancient cities should follow the principle of limitation, that is, determining the protection objectives, scope, and different levels of protection in different areas [53][54][55] . Residential courtyard houses in Yulin can be divided into three categories based on their historical significance and protection value level: cultural relic courtyards, historic courtyards, and ordinary residential courtyards [56][57] .…”

Architecture, Civil Engineering, Academia and Diplomacy: A Comprehensive Overview of the Work of Lino Bianco

“…His academic peer-reviewed publications fall under three broad categories: (I) history and theory of architecture, (II) philosophy and humanistic studies, and (III) geology. With respect to the history and theory of architecture, a number of research themes are present: values in architecture [32][33][34], geocultural sensitive [35,36] and sustainable [37][38][39][40] architectural design, poetics of architecture in Georgia [41][42][43][44][45], geocultural activity in seventeenth and eighteenth century Malta [46][47][48][49], the study of the Mosta Rotunda, one of the largest masonry domes in the nineteenth century [50][51][52], and the use of limestone in London [53][54][55]. Other themes are related to urbanism: philosophical approaches [56],…”

Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Textural Properties of the Lower Globigerina Limestone Used in the Built Heritage

“…Malta's numerous free-standing megalithic structures dating from the Neolithic period, a number of which are listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites [12] (Figure 2a) are examples of anthropogenic geodiversity par excellence [13]. The softness of LGL implies that it is easily hewed; as a result, there are many hypogea and catacombs carved into outcrops throughout the islands, most notably the inerals 2021, 11, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 27 93 km south of Sicily and 288 km north of Libya, and comprises several islands, the inhabited ones being Malta, Gozo and Comino.…”

“…In contemporary minerals planning alta, LGL and CL are referred to softstone and hardstone, respectively. numerous free-standing megalithic structures dating from the Neolithic peer of which are listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites [12] (Figure 2a) are anthropogenic geodiversity par excellence [13]. The softness of LGL implies ily hewed; as a result, there are many hypogea and catacombs carved into oughout the islands, most notably the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum (c. 2500 BC) aul's Catacombs (early centuries of Christianity and used until seventh or ry AD) [15].…”

“…In contemporary minerals planning red to softstone and hardstone, respectively. egalithic structures dating from the Neolithic pe-NESCO World Heritage sites [12] (Figure 2a) are ty par excellence [13]. The softness of LGL implies re are many hypogea and catacombs carved into notably the Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum (c. 2500 BC) nturies of Christianity and used until seventh or apital city which originally formed part of the analeth under the Phoenicians [16]), and in Valletta, s founded in 1566.…”