CURRENT CONDITION

The building dates back to the late 19th or early 20th century, as it already appears on the original cadastral map of 1926.

The property currently consists of two real estate units and a cellar. The units were formerly used as residences, while one room on the ground floor was used as a barber shop. Each unit comprises a ground floor and a first floor, and the rooms are not internally connected. Both units have their main entrances from Via S. Satta, Nos. 59–61, while one unit also has a rear entrance from Via Lamarmora.

The building requires thorough restoration work, both in relation to its load-bearing structure and its external and internal finishes. The load-bearing structure of one unit is made of Sardinian granite rubble masonry, while the other unit is partly constructed with dressed granite blocks and partly with concrete blocks. The intermediate floor and roof structure of one unit are made of timber, whereas those of the other unit consist of steel beams and hollow clay blocks.

At present, the main façades affected by the proposed works, namely the façade on Via S. Satta and the façade on Via Lamarmora, are finished with standard cement-based plaster.

Internally, the building is in a very poor state of preservation.

The balcony is constructed with steel beams and concrete.

The proposed restoration works are intended to enhance the building’s principal characteristics as a traditional dwelling within the historic centre of Barbagia, while respecting its socio-cultural, historical, architectural and urban values.

Current condition:

• The roofs are severely damaged and, in one section, are at risk of collapse because the internal wall supporting the main structural beams is particularly unstable and has already collapsed in several places. Rainwater penetrates through the roof, causing structural damage to the perimeter walls, the intermediate timber floor, which is now almost entirely missing, and the internal spaces in general.

• The timber window and door frames are deteriorated and, in some areas, are practically non-existent.

• The façades have been covered with standard cement-based plaster.

The oldest real estate unit, which includes a front courtyard, has not undergone any maintenance over time and is in a severely deteriorated condition. It consists of two rooms, one on the ground floor and one on the first floor. The rooms are not internally connected but can be accessed by means of the external granite staircase.

The other real estate unit, with direct access from Via S. Satta, has undergone alterations over time. Part of its masonry is, in fact, constructed using concrete blocks. It consists of two rooms that are not internally connected: one is located on the ground floor and is directly accessible from the public street, while the other is located on the first floor and is accessible via the external granite staircase.

Lastly, the adjoining storage room or cellar, with access from the public street, forms an integral part of the building units.

PROPOSED CONDITION

PRIMARY RESTORATION WORKS

The works to be carried out on the building may be summarised as follows:

• The ground-floor paving will be removed. The existing floor level will then be lowered by excavation, and a ventilated crawl space will be constructed using permanent plastic formwork modules placed on a reinforced-concrete foundation slab. A reinforced slab, screed and final floor finish will subsequently be laid above it. This work is intended to improve the health and indoor environmental conditions of the dwelling.

• The existing stone masonry will be restored. Where necessary, reconstruction work will be carried out using the “toothing and bonding” method, involving the selective removal and replacement of damaged masonry. Internally, openings will be formed in the load-bearing granite masonry to connect the rooms and the different floor levels. IPE 120 steel beams will be installed above these openings.

• A portion of Building Unit No. 9C will be raised by 1.50 m, as provided for in the Detailed Development Plan, using lightweight load-bearing blocks in order to reduce the structural load.

• Part of the external masonry will be finished with lime-based plaster and paint containing natural earth pigments in the colours permitted by the Plan. At ground-floor level, along the section directly facing the public street, the stone masonry will be restored and left exposed.

• The existing windows and doors will be replaced with new timber units fitted with internal shutters. The height of the existing first-floor doorway will be increased, while two existing door openings will be converted into windows.

• The roofs will be reconstructed using timber. The double-pitched roof will consist of primary 10 × 28 cm glued-laminated timber beams and secondary 8 × 16 cm glued-laminated timber joists. The single-pitched roof will be constructed using 12 × 16 cm glued-laminated timber beams. Both roof structures will be completed with 3 cm-thick timber boarding, a vapour-control membrane, a 12 cm-thick expanded-polystyrene insulation panel, a breathable vapour-control membrane and, finally, a covering of traditional curved roof tiles. The eaves gutter will be formed using concave tiles projecting by 15–20 cm, with lower rows of convex tiles set back from the tiles above.

• An internal spiral staircase will be constructed to connect the ground floor and the first floor. Internal steps will also be installed to connect rooms located at different levels on the same floor.

• The existing external granite staircase will be sandblasted. The balcony constructed with steel beams and concrete will be demolished and rebuilt in granite. A wrought-iron railing with traditional designs, as specified in the Detailed Development Plan, will be installed.

• A chimney stack will be constructed in brick or stone.

• A timber mezzanine will be constructed on the first floor.

• Internal partition walls will be built using 8 × 15 × 30 cm hollow clay blocks laid on edge with cement mortar, in order to reconfigure the internal spaces.

• An internal insulation system will be installed along the perimeter walls using approximately 10 cm-thick expanded-polystyrene panels. The panels will be bonded to the walls with spot-applied adhesive mortar and mechanical fixings, followed by adhesive mortar, fibreglass mesh, lightweight thermal-insulating plaster containing EPS microspheres, such as a Weber-type product, and a final painted finish.

• Internal finishes will be installed, including horizontal and vertical surface finishes, plastering and painting.

• Building services will be installed, including electrical, water-supply and drainage systems, all in compliance with current regulations.

Internal Layout of the Building Unit

The ground floor will be used as the sleeping area, while the first floor will be used as the living area.

The first floor will consist of a living room measuring 13.40 sq m, with direct access from the external granite staircase located in the private courtyard. The living room will include a timber mezzanine. An adjoining kitchen measuring 9.00 sq m will be accessible by means of a small timber staircase. A spiral staircase will connect the first floor to the ground floor.

The ground floor will consist of two bedrooms measuring 9.35 sq m and 9.45 sq m, each with an adjoining bathroom. The rooms will be connected by a corridor accessible by means of connecting steps. The bedroom overlooking the courtyard will have direct access from it.

A separate storage room, not internally connected to the dwelling and measuring 2.30 sq m, will have direct access from the public street.