INTONACO SURFACES
 
 

Introduction

The intonaco surfaces in question are those of the cloister itself and of the adjoining rooms that have undergone functional transformations and been subject to humidity.

The problems of these surfaces are diverse because their historical and figurative significance is also different, as is the use of the rooms in which they are found.

It must be underlined that restoration works on the intonaco presume prior treatment of the supporting masonry affected by humidity and full of salts. Once this latter operation has been carried out, before working on the surface layer it will be necessary to wait a sufficient period of time for the humidity to diminish in the walls. During this period monitoring of the effectiveness of the treatment already adopted will be carried out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjoining rooms: indications for treatment

The intonaco surfaces of the adjoining rooms of the cloister are of different types and belong to different periods. With every probability the majority of them date from the 19th century, the epoch in which it seems the last restructuring phase of the zone surrounding the cloister took place, before Muñoz’s restoration.

Tests have shown the presence of a limited number of paint layers that in rooms for everyday use would not suggest any great age. It is however true that in other parts of the complex, surfaces of a similar nature have concealed decorations from the 15th century. During treatment it will therefore be necessary to proceed step by step with a precise evaluation of the historical nature of each individual surface layer.

Having stated this, these rooms foresee the removal of parts of the intonaco seriously threatened by humidity, while those simply detached from their masonry support will be re-adhered. Removal will take place of the modern repairs carried out with incoherent materials such as the impermeable mortars or patches of cement mortar used in the lower part of the walls on the west side of the building.

In order to respect the context, the intonaco both for replacement and for the new partitions will be made with lime and pozzolana based mortar and applied in such a way that the surfaces do not appear too smooth or ‘mirrored’, which would conflict with this context.

The existing paint layers will preferably be maintained as an integral part of the history of the structure, excluding therefore any smoothing down and sand papering.

The final decisions on treatment will in any case be deferred to a further study once the operational phase is under way and after the removal of the furnishings and plastic cladding that currently exists on many of the walls.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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