Orientamenti, tendenze, prospettive. L'intervento sulle superfici del patrimonio architettonico del Novecento

Since the first interventions finalised to the preservation of the 20th century architectural heritage, the recognition of the testimonial value inherent in these buildings was gradually consolidated. Simultaneously, different approaches and conservative methods were followed. But what was the aim of these operations? Were strategies oriented to the conservation of the material substance of these buildings to guide the intervention or, rather, was the “cleaning of the observer’s gaze” to constitute the purpose of the planning choices? This paper focuses on the interventions carried out on the surfaces of some significant buildings of the 20th century heritage. It will be the analysis of the operations realised on plasters, floorings, stone coatings and fresco surfaces that will allow the tracing of a path useful to highlight orientations, tendencies and perspectives of the intervention on the surfaces of the 20th century architectural heritage. The aim is to underline the long way to go. At the same time, the purpose is to bring out the possibility of a gradual maturation in the field of the preservation of the 20th century heritage. Indeed, recognising the values of these architectures means understanding the testimonial relevance of their physicality. Moreover, hoping that the intervention on surfaces is guided by the requests of conservation means glimpsing the possibility of a progressive improvement in the approach for the transmission to the future of the 20th century architectural heritage.