Mixed Stone-timber Masonry in Traditional Construction: Structural, Architectural and Anti-seismic Features across Europe

Abstract

This paper investigates the stone masonry with timber reinforcement through the European traditional and historical architecture. It is a remarkable practice consisting of combining different materials to build up a masonry. This technology shows a wide variety of typological, formal, and technological types of buildings across Europe as it is strongly influenced by the nature and availability of local materials, the cultural aspects of the various communities, and the soils geological nature. As a consequence, the same constructive typology is based on different premises and leads to many interesting results. In this paper the various uses of such a mixed stone-timber masonry are shown in relation to the above mentioned factors. One of the most interesting aspect is the use of such a mix stone-timber as an anti-seismic device, especially in the Southern and Mediterranean countries, giving evidence to a great sensibility of the ancient builders to very specific topics. It is also important to stress that this traditional technology is also highly contemporary being exploited in many countries, especially in the far northern ones. Furthermore, novel regulations have been issued in order to regulate such a discipline, especially the use of timber for large structure and infrastructure. Finally, as a very common constructive technology, many historical buildings present such a mixed structural configuration, independently from the generating factors. In such a perspective, this study aims to describe the most common constructive features, as well as develop guidelines for preservation, whereas the typology is present, or design criteria for consolidation and structural improvement, whereas necessary.