New Concept of Historical Indoor Microclimate - Learning From the Past for a More Sustainable Future

Historical architecture is a long time studied subject in Europe. We know building techniques, materials and problems linked to the decay about most of it, and even solution for the restoration project, depending on the goal of the restoration itself and the intended usage. A less studied aspect of Historical architecture is their historic microclimates: researches currently carried on in the Department of Architecture of Università di Bologna aim specifically to study this field of architecture, considering it highly relevant to accomplish the goals of any restoration intervention. Thanks to monitoring campaigns, we have data related to three distinct buildings, different in their construction times, typology, location and techniques used. These data show that historical microclimate guaranteed by these architectures are surprisingly overlapping to the parameters considered, nowadays, appropriate to conserve them and the historical patrimony they contain. Monitoring moreover, allowed developing the analysis further, from survey to simulation. This way was possible to verify the effects of minimal variations in the architecture characteristics, such as opining or closing a window, covering an open yard, or else, removing a cover, reducing the source of light etc. All of these interventions have a significant effect on the microclimate of buildings and can improve the conservation status of architecture, sometimes to such an extent that costlier and invasive restorations become unnecessary.