× Europe H2020

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 760858

InnovaConcrete Decision Making Tool
for Concrete Conservation

A huge number and variety of concrete buildings, structures, plazas as well as objects and sculptures have been built since the turn of the 20th century for virtually every building typology (bridges, dams, aqueducts, warehouses, granaries, military and wartime structures, airports, train stations, industrial plants, sport facilities, hospitals, schools, churches, office buildings, housing, etc.), a broad array of formal architectural expressions and using a variety of construction techniques and technologies. However, concrete started soon to show its weaknesses. While reinforced concrete has amazing capabilities, its performance over time has revealed characteristics that if allowed to persist can threaten its long term historic, structural and aesthetic viability. Therefore, conservation and repair method for concrete heritage merits specific attention.

InnovaConcrete Project has developed a simple tool to help in the decision making process during Concrete-based cultural heritage conservation. This decision making tool has been carried out according to the Concrete Conservation Guidelines developed by ICOMOS International Scientific Committee on Twentieth Century Working Group also in the framework of InnovaConcrete project. Includes information and knowledge resources to assess the significance and cultural value of concrete buildings and structures and also to understand the history, building materials and construction techniques used, to assess the current conditions and context of concrete, and to develop a repair approach that follows conservation criteria.

About the project

InnovaConcrete Project has developed a simple tool to help in the decision making process during Concrete-based cultural heritage conservation. This decision making tool has been carried out according to the Concrete Conservation Guidelines developed by ICOMOS International Scientific Committee on Twentieth Century Working Group also in the framework of InnovaConcrete project. Includes information and knowledge resources to assess the significance and cultural value of concrete buildings and structures and also to understand the history, building materials and construction techniques used, to assess the current conditions and context of concrete, and to develop a repair approach that follows conservation criteria.

Significant 20th century monuments, such as the spectacular building, Centennial Hall, the open-air sculptures of Eduardo Chillida, War Memorial Towers and concrete shell structures, typical construction in communist period have been used as case studies to validate the performance of the solutions proposed. These monuments, a clear representation of European CH, have been employed to study economic and other societal effects of the proposal and to promote citizens' awareness of 20th century European heritage.