Shali is an historical citadel made in earthen construction in the Siwa Oasis in the Egyptian desert. The traditional construction technique is based on the use of earthen binders and salt blocks. the increased rainfall of the last half century create a point of crisis for these materials which rapidly dissolve. Meanwhile the introduction of new materials and new forms for housing caused the abandonment of the historic town in the Shali hill for the new districts in the valley. Under these conditions the cycle of continuous ordinary maintenance which so far have kept alive this architecture is no longer guaranteed, and degradation is leading this heritage to a total loss in a few decades. The international restorers community has recently tried, unsuccessfully, several conservation techniques, based on local interventions on the collapsed structures, aimed at the musealization and at the maintaining of the ruins. On the other hand, we are now proposing a partial reconstruction of some structures, re-using the vernacular constructive techniques and reactivating the cycle in construction, usage and maintenance that has so far ensured the survival of the site.
Relazione del Progetto sviluppato nell’ambito del Programma di sostegno alla Cooperazione Regionale finanziato con Fondi dello Stato e delle Regioni italiane. Accordo di Programma Quadro Paesi della Sponda Sud del Mediterraneo - Linea di intervento 2.4 “Dialogo e Cultura” - Progetto Integrato Diarcheo | Sub-Progetto Siwa
L’insediamento di Shali nell’Oasi di Siwa – l’innovazione ed il ritorno al passato / Martines, Giacomo. - In: SCIENZA E BENI CULTURALI. - ISSN 2039-9790. - STAMPA. - 27:(2011), pp. 85-97. (Intervento presentato al convegno Governare l'innovazione tenutosi a Bressanone, Brixen nel June 21-24, 2011).
L’insediamento di Shali nell’Oasi di Siwa – l’innovazione ed il ritorno al passato
Martines, Giacomo
2011-01-01
Abstract
Shali is an historical citadel made in earthen construction in the Siwa Oasis in the Egyptian desert. The traditional construction technique is based on the use of earthen binders and salt blocks. the increased rainfall of the last half century create a point of crisis for these materials which rapidly dissolve. Meanwhile the introduction of new materials and new forms for housing caused the abandonment of the historic town in the Shali hill for the new districts in the valley. Under these conditions the cycle of continuous ordinary maintenance which so far have kept alive this architecture is no longer guaranteed, and degradation is leading this heritage to a total loss in a few decades. The international restorers community has recently tried, unsuccessfully, several conservation techniques, based on local interventions on the collapsed structures, aimed at the musealization and at the maintaining of the ruins. On the other hand, we are now proposing a partial reconstruction of some structures, re-using the vernacular constructive techniques and reactivating the cycle in construction, usage and maintenance that has so far ensured the survival of the site.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
