Historical construction in the 30's: the case study of the Faculty of Engineering in Bologna, Italy

Within the current research framework on the comprehension of history and construction of buildings belonging to Modern architecture, the paper deals with the analysis of the Faculty of Engineering in Bologna (Italy), designed by the architect Giuseppe Vaccaro in 1932 and built between 1933 and 1935, which is one of the first reinforced concrete frame structures in Bologna. This research study aims at understanding the relationship between architectural shape and building construction, deepening the design techniques and the structural concept of a highly significant historical and architectural example. The analysis is primarily based on an in-depth examination of the building under the architectural and construction profile, then on the personality of its designer. To better understand the design principles that have led to the construction of the building, following the architectural and structural analysis, the original calculation methodology and the design procedure have been examined. The analysis has been performed from a structural point of view, through the appropriate archival and documentary searches. These research data have allowed to acquire the original structural plants, the calculation report, the construction activities transcripts and the structural details of columns and beams for particular parts of the building, on whose basis the deduction of reinforcing bars’ features has been possible. Furthermore, on the basis of formularies of the time, hypotheses about the materials’ characteristics have been formulated. By combining the found documents with the measurements of the entire building, it has been possible to analyse it in terms of architectural and structural relevance.