TRULLO RESTORATION WORKSHOP SEPTEMBER 2016 CEGLIE MESSAPICA, PUGLIA, ITALY
In September 2015, ten people from five countries came together for ten days of hands-on, experiential learning of the vernacular, dry-stone construction typology called "trulli" that exists in the Valle d'Itria area of Puglia, southern Italy.
Photos by: Amanda Roelle, Kelly Murray, Jacqui Jeffers, Thea Alvin Copyright 2016 Amanda Roelle
MARIO SANTORO Trullaro Ceglie Messapica Italy
AMANDA ROELLE Workshop Coordinator Ceglie Messapica Italy (USA)
TONINO TUMA Chef, Host, Owner Ceglie Messapica Italy
THEA ALVIN Instructor Vermont USA
MARIA DI GIULIO Owner + Host Ceglie Messapica Italy
THE PEOPLE
THE INSTRUCTORS
MICHAEL CLOOKEY Instructor Vermont USA
BILL JEFFERS Toronto Canada
SOLANGE MBANEFO Mendrisio Switzerland (Nigeria)
EMILY JEFFERS Madrid Spain (Canada)
LILY MANK Wisconsin USA
THE STUDENTS
KELLY MURRAY Wales United Kingdom
JACQUI JEFFERS Toronto Canada
THE WORKSHOP
The workshop trullo is part of a larger complex of structures constructed sometime around the 1870's in the countryside of Ceglie Messapica. The trullo was built for two purposes. On one side there is an oven used for baking bread, and on the other side there is a fireplace with a large hearth used for making cheese. In 1999 two families purchased the property and have been preserving and restoring the structures. The trullo is still used for baking bread as well as for food storage. The workshop project was to restore the roof system of the trullo. Overtime, the limestone roof shingles, the "chianche", had begun to slip and were becoming displaced. The team began by removing all of the existing chianche and inner layer of rubble. Then, they dressed new slabs of limestone from a nearby quarry into new chianche with the traditional trullo building tools. They then reinstalled the original chianche that could be salvaged and replaced the damaged chianche with new. Students learned the techniques of this unique limestone shingle roof construction, from dressing the chianche to installing them correctly so that the roof would shed water. Trullaro Mario Santoro and Stone Mason and Artist Thea Alvin lead the project. Michael Clookey was an additional Instructor and Amanda Roelle was the Workshop Coordinator. Accommodation was at Casa Cilona, a nearby B & B complex of trulli and other stone structures owned and operated by Tonino Tuma and Maria Di Giulio. Tonino Tuma was the workshop chef.
THE TRULLO PROJECT
The trullo before the restoration - the chianche, or stone shingles, of the cone were slipping and becoming displaced. There were patches of cement plaster, and growing ivy around the cone.
THE TRULLO PROJECT
Mario, Thea, Mike, and Amanda began preparing the cone one day before the students arrived. The first step was to remove the ivy and cement plaster from the cone. Then the chianche were removed one at a time and organized by shape and size.
Most all of the original chianche were in good condition and could be reused. New slabs of limestone were delivered from a nearby quarry to be dressed and used as new chianche. Mario is demonstrating how to use the trullaro hammer and make a chiancha.
THE TRULLO PROJECT
Kelly, Solange, Lily, and Jacqui making chianche.
Mario setting the high point, which determines the height and center of the cone.
Mario and Thea laying the first course, and the indispensable trullaro hammer.
THE TRULLO PROJECT
New chianche, dressed and ready to be installed.
Original chianche, organized by shape and size, ready to be reinstalled.
Original and new chianche are alternated and installed together in a random fashion. There is a layer of rubble, or hearting, in between the structural system of the cone and the water shedding system of the chianche. A small dab of lime-based mortar, and small pieces of hearting are placed under each chiancha to create a slight pitch to shed water.
THE TRULLO PROJECT
A string is dropped from the high point, the piece of wood installed at the top of the cone. The string determines the overall slope of the cone as well as the angle of the beveled edge of each chiancha.
Hearting is also placed in the spaces between the chianche.
Eugenio, the fotografo
Jacqui collecting hearting
Thea in bianca and nero
THE TRULLO PROJECT
Kelly and Lily's dry-stone arch
Amanda sourcing original chianche
Solange carving the new stone scupper
Emily and Lily passing chianche
Thea and Bill placing chianche
The cone grows, course by course.
THE TRULLO PROJECT
A stone stair was built to access the roof. Lily and Solange measured and laid out the location, and Bill and Jacqui lead the construction.
THE TRULLO PROJECT - THE STAIRS
The treads were cut from new slabs of local limestone. The stones for the structure were sourced from the land around the property, much like the way the structure of a trullo would have originally been built.
Lunch under the olive trees
How low can you go
Tonino, lo chef stupendo, prepared a bounty of delicious, local, seasonal food that kept everyone smiling at meal times.
THE TRULLO PROJECT
On-site sketching and documentation
Lily Mank
Lily Mank
Emily Jeffers
Solange Mbanefo
The stair was built in the location where water drained from the roof, therefore, a new drainage system was needed.
THE TRULLO PROJECT - THE SCUPPER
A stone scupper was designed and carved, inspired from the new and old drainage techniques in the towns of Alberobello and Matera.
Mike carved a beautiful date stone to be placed at the top of the stair.
THE TRULLO PROJECT - THE DATE STONE
After removing the "high-point" post, the last courses of chianche were installed and a temporary pinnacolo, or decorative ball, was placed.
THE TEMPORARY PINNACOLO
The last day - a prosecco toast to the cone and each other! The cone is complete except for the plaster on the top courses and the installment of the new pinnacolo.
THE TRULLO PROJECT
Mario giving a speech and being presented with Emily's drawing of how the trullo looked on the final day.
The following day Mario applied a coat of plaster to the top courses and installed the new pinnacolo.
THE TRULLO PROJECT
Tonino painted the finished areas with the traditional limewash.
THE TRULLO PROJECT
Before - front view
Before - back view
After - front view
After - back view
EXCURSIONS - MATERA
A walking introduction to the area, stone walls and trulli, in Pascarosa
Trullo Sovrano
EXCURSIONS
Exploring trulli near Martina Franca, after a morning of picking grapes for winemaking
The Rupestrian cave dwellings in the ravine outside of Grottaglie
Climbing Torre Pozzella after an evening of swimming in the Adriatic sea
EXCURSIONS