Assessing Typological Variants in Existing Prefabricated Industrial Buildings: Case Study of Casentino in Tuscany, Italy | Journal of Architectural Engineering | Vol 28, No 4

AbstractPrecast reinforced concrete technology has been widely applied in Italy for industrial facilities throughout the years and nowadays older buildings show structure and energy-related deficiencies. In order to promote integrated redevelopment interventions, the research sets a methodological framework to investigate such a vast building stock and proposes a classification of the different typological variants registered according to structural, architectural, and technological aspects. This paper focuses on the industrial building stock realized recurring to prefabrication techniques in the geographical cluster of Casentino, in Tuscany. The research involved 675 buildings intended for production activities whose specifications were collected in a GIS database as alphanumerical parameters. Data, obtained through digital surveys, aerial views, and on-field recognitions, were postprocessed to provide a general overview of the most recurring characteristics and highlight evolutionary trends over years. Seven typological declinations were identified for prefabricated reinforced concrete industrial buildings and their diffusion was related to the different periods of constructions. Roofing systems, structural solutions, and external wall components were chosen as key parameters for the classification procedures. The definition of recurrent typological solutions in industrial buildings is meant as a preparatory operation that will facilitate the assessment of their current architectural, technological, structural, and specifically energy and environmental performances. This research paves the way toward the development of protocols and guidelines containing integrated retrofitting strategies and solutions tailored on the specific issues of each variant.

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