Understanding Ca'Granda by renarama

UNDERSTANDING CA’GRANDA GROUP 4 FINAL REPORT 2021

HISTORICAL BUILDING PRESERVATION STUDIO Prof. Alessandra Kluzer – Prof. Sara Goidanich Group 4: Renata Ramazanova, Tamar Tavadze, Mehmet Emin Ege, Ziwen Wei, Ayessa Marie Villamin

CONTENT 01

on site diary

decay patterns

photographic survey column column base openings photomosaic

new stucture

general Information of the site Ubiety Historical Notes and Photographs

report bearing structure masonry openings architectural elements finishings systems

bibliography

site diary

12 / 10

02 / 11

Visit to Ca’Granda

Mehmet - sills, stairs, frames measurments Ziwen - column base, frames measurments Renata - CAD drawing Ayessa - CAD drawing Tamar - CAD drawing

19 / 10

09 / 11

Renata - photo survey

Renata - stratigraphic units identiffcation

Tamar - sketches of elevations and plan

Tamar - section sketches

Mehmet - measurments of horizontal parts

Mehmet - materials identification

Ayessa - measurments of horizontal parts

Ziwen - photo survey Ayessa - last measurments

26/ 10

23 / 11

Renata - measurments of details and openings

Renata - stratigrphic units and decays

Tamar - measurments of details and openings

Tamar - decays identification

Mehmet - measurments of vertical parts

Mehmet- materials, decays identification

Ziwen - levelling of target points

Ziwen- materials, decays identification

Ayessa - CAD drawing

photo survey COLUMN BASE

COLUMN

c-c1

c-5

c-1

c-6

c-2

c-7

c-3

c-7

c-5

b-2

b-3

b-4

b-5

b-6

b-7

b-8

b-10

b-11

b-12

c-4

c-c1’

c-1’

c-2’

c-3’

c-4’

c-5’

c-6’

c-7’

c-8’

c-9’

c-10’

c-11’

c-c2’

c-c1

c-1

c-2

c-3

c-4

c-5

c-6

c-7

c-8

c-9

c-10

c-11

c-c2

b-c1

c-6

b-1

b-2

annotation catalogue

b-3

b-4

b-5

b-6

b-7

b-8

b-9

b-10

b-11

b-c2

b-c1

photo survey

OPENINGS

PHOTOMOSAICS

foor

d-1

w-4

o-2

w-1

w-5

w-5’

w-7’

w-9

w-10

w-2

d-2

w-6

w-8

w-9’

o-3

w-3

w-11’

d-3

d-4

vaults

inner facade

outer facade

general Information of the site

UBIETY

HISTORICAL NOTES

Ca’Granda is located within the Circle of Navigli (the central ring road around Milan’s Old Center) in the south-east part. (fig. 5) It is borded by Via Francesco Sforza and Via Festa del Perdono from two long sides. The studied area is north-west wall of Cortile della Farmacia, in the south-west wing of Ospedale Maggiore. (fig. 6)

Ca’Granda

(fig. 5)

Since it’s foundation, Ospdale Maggiore was conceived as a monument, which was a symbol of the power of Sforza family and the greatness of Ambrosian city. Complexity of the building is characterised by overlapping and layering of different constructive and structural characteristics, that were built in different time and with different realisation methods (palimpsest). We can ditinguish 3 main phases of Ca’Granda’s construction.

1. 1456 - XV c. (Sforza peri-

3. entrance from Via Festa del Perdono

od) - The building started to be relised according to the projct of Filarete. Only southern crociera with courtyards and a church in the north part was built. Durng that time the studied courtyard (Farmacia) was used as a Cortile per gli officiali. XV c - XVI (Carcano period) - Hospital continued to develop according to F.M. Richini’s plan that enlarges the central courtyard and places the church in the back of it. The main courtyard, Sale Capitolari, northern crocera and cortile degli balie were realised. 1791 - Pietro Castelli completed the northern courtyards, therefore finished the building construction overall. (fig. 7)

At the beginning of the 20th century, it was decided that the hospital would be moved to a location beyond the canal (where work had already been started on its expansion). This move coincided with the founding of the state University, which took over the old buildings of the Ca’ Granda, where it remains today. During the WWII the hospital was bombed in 1943. The studied Cortile della farmacia have survived, however, the chemical storage in the middle of it was pulled down. After that Liliana Grassi (and other historians and architects) worked on the restoration of it.

studied wall Cortile della Farmacia

(fig. 8)

(fig. 7)

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BEARING STRUCTURE

MASONRY state of conservation

The two-story facade of the courtyard is composed of a porch made of bricks on the ground floor, a terrace on the first floor and a shed roof above. Loads are supported by a series of cross-vaults which are rested on a sequence of columns towards the courtyard and corbels attached to the masonry wall on the other side. Vaults are reinforced by iron tie-rods fised between column and masonry wall. The columns are standing on the low-rise walls (dimension) made of bricks that are aligned with a foundation outline, as can be seen on the archive drawings.

Structural decays are not detected. The masonry is solid in all its parts and it can be assumed that there are no cavities between the different layers. The only crack that is continuous is represented on Fig.14, it is a vertical crack of 1 in the bottom and around 4 mm atop.

(fig. 8) section shows how the structure of porch and terrace are supported by foundation

(fig. 9) iron rods reinforsing vault

The main masonry decays: 1. Scaling (fig. 16) 2. Deposit (fig. 17) 3. Crack (fig. 18) 4. Disintegration (fig. 19) 5. Peeling (fig. 20) 6. Soiling (fig. 21) 7. Missing part (fig. 22)

(fig. 10) structural crack

(fig. 11)

(fig. 12) scaling

(fig. 13) deposit

(fig. 14) not continuous crack

(fig. 16) peeling

(fig. 17) soiling

(fig. 15) disintagration

(fig. 18) missing part

report MASONRY The masonry of the internal facade is a part of the bearing structure, supporting the vaults from the counter side of the columns. It is composed of clay, bricks, and mortar (with an exception of lintels and jambs made of stone around particular openings). Most parts of the masonry’s brickwork are random and the brick’s condition and shape change where openings are located, yet some pieces of Flemish bonds can be identified. The bricks are connected by mortar joints with an average thickness of 2 cm.

C (fig. 19) Type A+B+C

(fig. 20) Type D

(fig. 21) Type E

(fig. 22) Type F

(fig. 23) Type G

(fig. 27) Type L

(fig. 28) Type M

(fig. 24) Type H

ABCD

(fig. 25) Type I

EFG

(fig. 26) Type J+K

1456 hypothetical timeline The types of bricks are distinuished by the appearence of bricks (colors), their composition (aggregates dimension), shape, courses and bonds, also surrouned mortars were taken in consideration. Hypothetical timeline was formed according to evidences like brick shape and colors (the less homogenius color is, the older it is), presence of plaster particles (before ww2 walls were covered with plaster), layering and edges roundness.

Type A (fig. 19) - rowlock course intentionally defected. Color varies from dark red to ochreous. It has visible, but small aggregates. (MSU 128, 118, 89, 75) Type B (fig. 19) - header course, colored from dark red to ochreous with a small aggregates. (MSU 85, 97, 114, 127) Type C (fig. 19) - closer bricks that were used to complete the bond at the bottom of the wall. The shape is very different from others, it is thinner. (MSU 73, 92, 113) Type D (fig. 20) - is a sailor course that is used on the lower part, hypothetically as a defined closer for the bottom part, bricks of that type were mechanically cut off in some parts (MSU 70, 74, 80, 83, 86, 96, 103, 109, 120, 131)

M today

Type E (fig. 21) - filles the gaps in between type D. The course is made of two headers and one stretcher. The color is dark red and surfaces contain plaster particles. (MSU 72, 76, 83, 84, 101, 115) Type F (fig. 22) - frames the ground windows. Color is pinkish, contains plaster particles. (MSU 81, 87, 88, 104, 106, 111, 112, 121, 122) Type G - three columns of bricks framing the opening. Shapes (fig. 23) - and colors varies. (MSU 65, 66, 67, 68, 69) Type H - (fig. 24) dark red bricks of flemish with a bid aggregates and particales of plaster on the surface. (MSU 9, 26, 27, 38, 50, 53, 59) Type I - (fig. 25) - the material composition similar to type H, but the courses a variable and random, the mortar around is darker. (MSU 7, 16, 20, 34, 47, 57)

Type J (fig. 26)- closer bricks were used to cut or finish a course, to frame the type K (MSU 13, 18, 22, 33). Type K (fig. 26) - is the soldier course , that is used as a flat arches above openings (MSU 14, 19, 21, 30, 49) Type L (fig. 27)- stretchers&headers with a defined shape and not very rounded edges, it has mostly a light pinkish brown color and small aggregates usually without plaster particles, quite often they are located around openings. (MSU 12, 17, 79, 34, 44, 45, 50) Type M (fig. 28)- gap filling bricks withoud a dafinit shape, varied in color and placed mostly in the gaps between vaults and other SU. (MSU 25, 31, 28, 32, 33, 36, 35, 40, 46, 48, 52, 55)

report

MASONRY stratigraphical notes

OPENINGS In total along the studied facade, on the ground floor, there are 21 openings. They can be defined as 14 windows,5 doors, and 2 other openings.

(fig. 29) W1943, North-West facade of Cortile della farmacia

Looking at the archive photos it is noticeable that the masonry had been covered with plaster before the bombing in WWII. Therefore, it could be assumed that, since the masonry was not meant to be exposed, the brickwork arrangements were not taken into consideration.

Archive photos also provide obvious evidence that the openings changed their locations by filling some of the old ones with brickwork and making a new one by knocking out some bricks. It led to the creation of various stratigraphic units. (fig. 29 ), (fig. 30)

(fig. 30) 2021, North-West facade of Cortile della farmacia

(fig. 31)

(fig. 32)

Type A (W. 1): Openable rectangular window finished by a flat arch made of 12 soldier course bricks on the top and outlined by irregular masonry.The frame of glass is made of wood and steel and is hidden behind the wall.

Type B (W. 5)- Openable window with barrel vault structure on top, outlined with a terracotta tile frame. The glass is inserted in a wooden-steel frame, that is hidden behind the wall.

(fig. 33) Type C (W. 5') Not openable rectangular basement window finished by a flat arch made of stretchers supported by a metal lintel and covered by metal grid. The outline is characterized by irregular masonry.

(fig. 34) Type D (W. 6') Not openable rectangular basement window finished by stone lintels on the top and on the bottom, outlined by irregular masonry

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OPENINGS

ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS

Type F (D. 1)Openable wooden door made by a stone lintel, jambs, and sill. The door is characterized by a wooden frame and metal lock

Type G (D.2) Openable rectangular door made by wooden frame and glass and metal handle. The opening is made of a flat arch and stone sill, outlined by irregular masonry.

columns Type 1: (C-C1): Column composed of AE. 1, AE. 2, AE. 3 (capital, shaft, basement respectively) on the cubical pedestal AE. 4 The column’s structure is composed of an ionic capital, the shaft with entasis, and the ionic base. (fig. 39)

Type 2: (C-1): Column composed of AE. 1, AE. 2, AE. 3 (capital, shaft, basement respectively) on the pedestal that is aligned with the Angera stone of the low seating wall. The column’s structure is composed of an hypothetically ionic capital, the shaft with entasis, and the ionic base. The column does not directly rest on the low seating wall but sits on a square granite element. (fig. 40) (fig. 35)

(fig. 37)

(fig. 40)

(fig. 41)

(fig. 42)

arches

(fig. 36) Type H (D.3)Empty door opening made of two rows of the flat arch and irregular masonries on the sides. It is entered in that seems to be covered with bricks after the intervention. The glass door was removed recently, but the rotation mechanism is still left as an evdence on the top.

(fig. 39)

Type I (D.4): Openable door, that was placed after WW2. It is a metal door made with a metal frame and plastic handle. Outlined by irregular plaster.

The columns are linked with arches made of decorated terracotta tiles with floral motifs. Each capital has two lines of tiles, however, where the corner arches meet column C3, the tiles are deformed and cut in order to join at the corner. The arch and column form a module that is repeated along the facades of the courtyard. However, the distances between the columns are different. Some tiles are replaced. (fig. 41), (fig. 42) pilastars The pilasters (AE – 5) are located on the exterior facades between the start and the end of the columns. (fig. 43), (fig. 44), (fig. 45)

(fig. 38)

(fig. 43)

(fig. 44)

(fig. 45)

report

ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS

FINISHINGS

main materials

plaster - csu

Starting from the lower part of elevations A and B, a row of bricks is laid on the ground. At the bottom of the low wall, there is a row of terracotta tiles (fig. 51). The low wall is composed of bricks – as in some parts they show due to blistering – covered with plaster on top of which Angera stone slabs rest. Between the Angera stone and the montorfano granite columns (fig. 46), column C-C1 contains a simply decorated cubical pedestal made of Angera stone. Round arches between the columns are made of decorated terracotta tiles (fig. 52). Pilasters, which are placed between the columns are covered with plasters.

On the exterior facade of the building, we see that the use of plaster is between the columns and the ground, and between two consecutive columns. From some types of decay seen on the exterior, it appears that this plaster was made on masonry. In the interior, we see that it is used on the upper parts of the windows decorated with tiles and on the ceiling consisting of cross vaults.

main decays The main masonry decays: 1. Scaling (fig. 46) (fig. 48) 2. Bio colonisation (fig. 47) (fig. 51) 3. Blistering (fig. 48) 4. Soiling (fig.49) 5. Staining (fig. 50) 6. Discoloration (fig. 52) 7. Moist area (fig. 53)

(fig. 49) Soiling on granite column

(fig. 47) biological colonisation and fragmentation of angerastone

(fig. 50) Staining on granite column

In the exterior facade, the plaster in the outermost layer, Type 1, is the last layer of plasters which covers most of the exterior façade. We see (fig. 54) that this plaster detachs at some parts on the wall and this allows us to see the other layers, type 3 even the bricks at some points, from the outside with the human eye. Thus, there are 4 types of layers on the exterior facade and therefore 4 types of plasters. Under the first layer Type1, the second layer, Type 4 appears. The most visible feature that makes it easier to distinguish Type 4 plaster from Type 1 plaster is that Type 1 has a more whitish color, while Type 4 has a dark color, such as brown and gray. The plaster mixture where the Type 1 plaster did not completely fall off from the surface and its residues could be seen on type 4 which is like a mixture, were determined as Type 2. Othe other hand, Type 3 is a white plaster type that is seen on the surfaces which Type 1 has detached and sometimes it has a im(fig. 55) age that can be considered as a deposit on the type 2 other plasters. As a result, we have come to the conclusion that Type 1, Type 2 and Type 4 are the three layers of the first plaster work, from the outermost to the inner, respectively. Type 3 can be thought of as an additional layer made to cover the later detachments of Type1 from the surface. In the interior façade, there are 2 types of plaster. One of them, Type 1, is located at the top of the opening on the far right, which provides access to the interior space with stairs. This plaster is the same type used on the ceiling. The other plaster, Type 2, is the tile around some windows, in the part between the arch and the frame. This plaster can be distinguished from type 1 by its dark appearance.

(fig. 51) biological colonisation on terracotta tile

type 1

Types and layers

(fig. 46) Scaling on granite column

(fig. 48) Scaling and blistering on plaster

type 4

(fig. 52) discoloration of terracotta tile

(fig. 53) moist area on plaster

(fig. 56)

type 2

type 1

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FINISHINGS

SYSTEMS

flooring The floor in the given area is composed of two types of stone: Black Anzola granite (in the part of the entrance and Beola granite in the rest. It is difficult to find two tiles with the same dimensions. Besides this the left part is paved with ceramic tiles and the slab leading to it is covered with a rubber sheet. The covering of low seating wall is made of angera stone. The pebbled paving on the outside has a general width of 40 cm. It is bounded by terracotta tiles on the low seating wall side.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Electricity is conducted by wires hidden in the vault. we can detect wires at some points. (fig. 52)

(fig. 57) Black Anzola granite

(fig. 52)

WATER COLLECTION SYSTEM A water collection system is present running along the roof around the courtyard. It is composed of a steel gutter, visible from the courtyard, as well as a drainage pipe, seen over the roof. On the ground and first floors square section pipes which stick out of the facade can be observed. It is probably used to drain the water which can be collected on the floor on the exterior of the covered arcade. (fig. 57)Beola granitte and rubber sheet

(fig. 52)

VENTILATION SYSTEM On the arcade that shares a wall with a bathroom, ventilation hole can be observed.

(fig. 52)

(fig. 57)Pebble paving, terracotta tiles, angera stone

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DECAY PATTERNS AND HYPOTEHSIS ABOUT THE MECHANISMS OF DETERIORATION

scaling

deposit Scaling is a detachment of stone as a scale or a stack of scales, not following any stone structure and detaching like fish scales or parallel to the stone surface. The thickness of a scale is generally of millimetric to centimetric scale, and is negligeable compared to its surface dimension.

(fig. 53)

(fig. 56)

On the studied site it was detected on three materials: Montorfano Granite Plaster Terracotta tile

(fig. 54)

On the studied site it was detected on three materials: Brick Angera stone Beola granite

(fig. 57)

It is caused by salt crystallisation inside the material layers

(fig. 55)

Deposit is an accumulation of exogenic material of variable thickness

In case of bricks, they are most probably caused by splashes of mortar durinf construction, on the Beola granite and Angera stone it seems like a particles of conservation material.

(fig. 58)

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peeling

DECAY PATTERNS AND HYPOTEHSIS ABOUT THE MECHANISMS OF DETERIORATION Peeling - shedding, coming off, or partial detachment of a superficial layer.

differential erosion

(fig. 61) (fig. 59)

Differential erosion is a loss of original surface, leading to smoothed shapes, when erosion does not proceed at the same rate from one area of the stone to the other. As a result, the stone deteriorates irregularly.

On the studied site it was detected on terracota tyle in the arches

Differential erosion happens containing harder and/or less porous zones containing harder and/or less porous zones.

On the studied site it was detected on terracota tyles on the foundation of lowrise wall and on the top of these walls biological colonisation is covering angera stone

Occures on the moist areas

On the studied site it was detected on plasters covering the stone surface and on the plasters of vaults

biological colonisation Colonization of the stone by plants and micro-organisms

(fig. 62)

This decay is caused by salt crystallization on the material surfaces

(fig. 60)

(fig. 63)

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DECAY PATTERNS AND HYPOTEHSIS ABOUT THE MECHANISMS OF DETERIORATION

missing part

soiling

(fig. 64)

(fig. 65)

Missing part is an empty space, obviously located in the place of some formerly existing stone part.

On the studied site it was detected on terracota tiles in outer facade ab=nd i =n masonry wall in the inner facade

It is caued by harmful environment and lack of meintainance.

(fig. 66)

Soilin is a deposit of a very thin layer of exogenous particles, giving a dirty appearance to the stone surface.

On the studied site it was detected on montorfano granite column and in the btton part of masonry wall

(fig. 67)

In this case deposit if=s formed because of lack of water connection.

report

new structure

DECAY PATTERNS AND HYPOTEHSIS ABOUT THE MECHANISMS OF DETERIORATION moist area

(fig. 68)

Moist area is characterised by change of the stone colour

Moist area is detected on plasters of outside facade

It is a result of a concentrated discharge and retention of moisture

staining Staining is characterised by a change of the stone colour

Staining is deteted on the granite columns.

It is produced by the corrosion of iron rods that was fixed on the column to support the vault.

(fig. 69)

Our new structure we decided to focuse on connection of the past and present of Ca’Granda. Before it was a pharmacy yard with a chemical storage in the middle, that was pulled down after the WW2 and newer restored again. While nowadays in the time when the biggest pat of Ca’Granda is the medical university, the courtyard i used rarely. We decided to use the plan of 1827 to trace the outline of the chemical storage and recover it in a way it can prerve the memory and be used niowadays. We propose to create a greenhouse for farmacological faculty of the university, where they can learn new types of medical plants and use the in crafting new medicines. The design of the greenhouse implements the details from surrounded brickwalls become a part of the context. Big window will not only ensure the sun penetretion, but also reflect everuthing round, creating the sence of belongng to the history. The white structure above will cover the open space that can be used as a summer garden.

Bibliography - Vergès-Belmin, Véronique. ICOMOS-ISCS. 15th ed., ICOMOS, 2008. - Liliana Grassi, La sede dell’Universita degli Studi di Milano. Lo’ospedale del poveri’ del Filarete, 1972 - Alessandra Kluzer, Mariangela Carlessi, Il novecento. un’inesauribile trama di storie e di architetture, di usi e di destini dieccianni di studi nel cuore dell’Ospedale Maggiore di Milano, - http://www.lastatale90.it/visita-ca-granda/post-war-reconstruction/ - http://www.architetti.san.beniculturali.it/web/architet-ti/progetti/ scheda-progetti?p_p_id=56_INSTANCE_hIz4&articleId=22121&p_p_ lifecycle=1&p_p_state=normal&groupId=10304&viewMode=normal