The S.O.C.R.A.T.E.S. Project
As part of the project for revitalising the Castello di Zena, a study and research operation has been put in place on the subject of utilising the historic building.
For this purpose, a research programme has been started that creates a strong synergy between the owners of the complex and qualified institutional subjects.
The priority object of study in this project is the castle and its close surroundings, but it also aims to construct models and methods of general interest, and to establish forms of regular cooperation that can be applied to the area of functional recovery of buildings of high historic and architectural value.
The project has been calledS.O.C.R.A.T.E.S.,which stands for Sistema Operativo Coordinato di Ricerca sull’Adeguamento Tecnologico degli Edifici Storici (Operating system for coordinated research on the technological updating of historic buildings).
TheS.O.C.R.A.T.E.S. project is sponsored by:
Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities, Regional Board for Architectural Heritage and for the Landscape of Parma and Piacenza
Emilia-Romagna Region, Institute for Artistic, Cultural and Natural Heritage
Piacenza Province
Municipality of Carpaneto Piacentino
The aim of the S.O.C.R.A.T.E.S. project is to meet a general need often expressed by public and private owners of historic buildings of having the appropriate means and tools available in terms of methods and contents for embarking on restoration work.
At the same time, there is also noted a widespread need, which also involves the industrial sectors, particularly those for systems design, to develop research for producing technologies compatible with the actions for restoring our legacy of buildings.
Lastly there is a need in terms of regulations since decisions are often left to the discretion of all those playing a part in the restoration, leading to confusion in the interpretation of criteria that should instead provide correct information on such work.
Having ascertained these issues, the subjects taking part in the S.O.C.R.A.T.E.S.project were stimulated to focus on the following aspects:
- develop the analytical part of the building complex as widely as possible, neglecting no aspect and involving top level research establishments, also by means of using highly advance technologies,
- conduct a research programme, not in an abstract way but closely connected to real restoration work,
- focus special attention on the relationship with the specifically interested systems engineering companies, trying to create synergies not just in terms of design but also for implementation,
- try to build up a relationship with heritage protection agencies and local bodies of reciprocal support and cooperation, rather than follow the usual track of bureaucratic relations,
- dedicate time and energy as part of the project to informing and communicating, and checking the possibility of transferring the mass of experience gained to a permanent organisation.
See the Analysis of the building's historic evolution
See the Analysis of the building's conservation
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