The design and construction of wholesale and retail commercial structures, for the cities of the late nineteenth century in full expansion, were often ground for experimentation of new materials and technologies that, over time, have faced the construction site: from reinforced concrete to steel, from glass blocks to prefabricated elements. The innovation and experimentation concerned not only the structural aspects but also the adaptation to hygiene regulations in emanation or change, the use of modern machinery and plants, and, from the compositional point of view, the adoption of new parameters and distribution schemes. The case of Genoa is particularly interesting as it amplifies the theme quantitatively enunciated, since between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the city went from an extension of about four kmq to 240 kmq, to lead in 1926 to the constitution of the «Grande Genova.» For slaughterhouses and covered markets between 1868 and 1902 throughout Europe, the first legislative measures were enacted, and health inspections spread. Until 1898 the markets of Genoa were held only in the open air, but between 1895 and 1933, twelve covered markets were built and two slaughterhouses. These new facilities complete, and in some cases to replace, the nine already existing in the mid-nineteenth century. The contribution considers in detail the Abatoio del Campasso in San Pier d’Arena (1904-07), which has been closed since 1989 and the fruit and vegetable market of Corso Sardegna in Marassi (1925-30), closed since 2009. In both cases, the initial projects, drawn up by the public administration, provided for tested materials and structural types (the load-bearing masonry for the slaughterhouse and the iron for the market). However, the realization of the works betrayed the initial projects by introducing, in whole or in part, reinforced concrete in the structures. All this, on the one hand, makes the study of such structures fascinating and should impose their conservation, as examples of a historical period of great technical depth, On the other hand, a detailed knowledge campaign is essential and requires maximum attention for any re-use project. Unfortunately, it must be noted that, to date, in neither of the two cases examined, both still owned by the public, the administration has given only project responses that provide for the demolition of part of the structure.

Traguardando la "Grande Genova": le infrastrutture commerciali come terreno di sperimentazione

Rita Vecchiattini
2020-01-01

Abstract

The design and construction of wholesale and retail commercial structures, for the cities of the late nineteenth century in full expansion, were often ground for experimentation of new materials and technologies that, over time, have faced the construction site: from reinforced concrete to steel, from glass blocks to prefabricated elements. The innovation and experimentation concerned not only the structural aspects but also the adaptation to hygiene regulations in emanation or change, the use of modern machinery and plants, and, from the compositional point of view, the adoption of new parameters and distribution schemes. The case of Genoa is particularly interesting as it amplifies the theme quantitatively enunciated, since between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the city went from an extension of about four kmq to 240 kmq, to lead in 1926 to the constitution of the «Grande Genova.» For slaughterhouses and covered markets between 1868 and 1902 throughout Europe, the first legislative measures were enacted, and health inspections spread. Until 1898 the markets of Genoa were held only in the open air, but between 1895 and 1933, twelve covered markets were built and two slaughterhouses. These new facilities complete, and in some cases to replace, the nine already existing in the mid-nineteenth century. The contribution considers in detail the Abatoio del Campasso in San Pier d’Arena (1904-07), which has been closed since 1989 and the fruit and vegetable market of Corso Sardegna in Marassi (1925-30), closed since 2009. In both cases, the initial projects, drawn up by the public administration, provided for tested materials and structural types (the load-bearing masonry for the slaughterhouse and the iron for the market). However, the realization of the works betrayed the initial projects by introducing, in whole or in part, reinforced concrete in the structures. All this, on the one hand, makes the study of such structures fascinating and should impose their conservation, as examples of a historical period of great technical depth, On the other hand, a detailed knowledge campaign is essential and requires maximum attention for any re-use project. Unfortunately, it must be noted that, to date, in neither of the two cases examined, both still owned by the public, the administration has given only project responses that provide for the demolition of part of the structure.
2020
978-88-2970-628-0
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11567/1026140
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