Monument Preservation

Comprehensive documentation is of vital importance in the field of stone monument preservation. The approach to the protection of stone monuments can be subdivided into anamnesis, diagnosis and therapy. According to established international directives, documentation is a necessary part of all three worksteps. The particular objectives and items of documentation within the scope of anamnesis, diagnosis and therapy are presented. Evaluation and graphic documentation of stone deterioration is presented by means of examples referring to in-situ investigation of stone monuments in the framework of diagnosis.

Reconstruction of buildings has strategic importance for ensuring energy efficiency in the future. According to the current situation, it is estimated that in 2050 approximately 80% of energy consumption of buildings will be consumed by the current building stock [1]. A special category of building improvement is the reconstruction of historic buildings with structured or valuable facade surfaces or details, where insulation retrofit from the exterior side is undesirable for the loss of its cultural values. Although the architectural heritage buildings are not subject of the conditions for absolute achievement of energy efficiency, less energy consuming buildings increase the perspective of their future sustainability in all aspects. This assumption recognized that achieved effective conservation (preservation) of the existing cultural values is addition to the active use of older modernized buildings.
On the market there are new progressive materials containing aerogel, which announce an exceptional combination of properties, suitable for historic structures. The current scientific articles concentrate on research and development, however the articles do not follow the obtained results or caused effects of application on building structures. However, some insulation products based on aerogels are already offered on the construction market. The paper discusses the possibility of the use of new aerogel based materials for increasing energy efficiency while preserving the cultural values of the architectural heritage based on literature and market review.
International Charters and recommendations for the protection of cultural heritage define the principles and professional standards for the use of new materials: “Where traditional techniques prove inadequate, the consolidation of a monument can be achieved by the use of any modern technique for conservation and construction, the efficacy of which has been shown by scientific data and proved by experience.“ (Venice charter, Article 10.). In the absence of reliable information on the effects and impacts of aerogels on historic building materials, a series of experiments were conducted [2] to obtain their effects in key aspects of historic building preservation. An inventory of disposable materials based on aerogels from literature was prepared. Individual insulation materials have been classified according to the criteria for maintaining the authenticity and integrity which are the well-grounded attributes of preservation of cultural heritage values.
It seems that in the legislation or in the methodology there are no obstacles that limit the use of new materials in the restoration of monuments. As aerogels expand the variety of forms and intended use, they represent a potential material that can effectively contribute to improving of energy efficiency of historic buildings, but more targeted experiments and a long-term monitoring of impacts are required.

Results of a research project named Historical roofs constructions of sacral building in Turiec region. Project was aimed to measure, photograph and create drawings of the timber roofs, carpenter signs, joints and other features. Research results are ment to serve as a databasisi for following research - e.g. geometry designs, 3d models etc. and also as a help for buiding owners and offices for monument preservation.