Portugal’s architecture reflects a rich history influenced by Roman, Moorish, Neoclassical and Romantic styles, with the 20th century marked by Art Deco and colonial influences. Regional styles vary, with white-painted buildings commonly experiencing color changes due to biofilm formation. Visually striking are the red-colored biological patinascommon in the coastal areas. A survey of 120 historical buildings a...
Bowing, a significant form of decay, poses a crucial challenge in the preservation of historical and contemporary structures, necessitating comprehensive study and analysis. This research focuses on the mechanical alterations induced by aging cycles of temperature and moisture on three distinct marbles—Portuguese, Greek, and Italian— emphasizing their susceptibility to bowing-associated effects. The prevalence ...
This study reports the first results of the analysis carried out in 2022 on deteriorated green paint layers from the mural paintings made by Almada Negreiros at the Maritime Station of Alcantara, in Lisbon (Portugal). These murals painted in 1945 are one of the most emblematic painting sets done by the modernist artist and exhibit a bright chromatic palette that displays different states of conservation, with t...
This paper reports the preliminary diagnostic survey of the six controversial mural paintings painted in 1946–49 at the Maritime Station of Rocha do Conde de Óbidos in Lisbon, considered the artistic epitome of Almada Negreiros mural painting art. Four research questions drove this research: a) What are the main decay phenomena present and their sources? b) Which are the paint layers most affected, and are they...
Biodeterioration of construction materials is still a major challenge that conservator-restorers face, especially in historic monuments with high cultural value. Natural stone is highly susceptible to deterioration through physical, chemical, and biological ways, whereas biological proliferation may potentiate both chemical and physical deterioration. The composition of the colonizers and their proliferation ar...
The decay diagnosis and conservation of stone-built heritage is becoming a worldwide concern, especially when stone decay causes chromatic changes in the original stone aesthetics, which directly impacts its sociocultural value. Among all the causes of stone decay, water action is identified as the major cause of stone decay and chromatic changes in stone building materials; hence, protective eco-friendly hydro...
The recent global warming started at the end of the 19th century, causing an increase in the average temperature of Earth and posing environmental, social, economic, and cultural repercussions. Much tangible cultural heritage is composed of natural stones, which decay due to the combination of chemical, physical, and biological factors. Biodeterioration leads to a loss of the performance requirements and socio-...
A seleção de pedra natural como material de construção é, na grande maioria das situações, baseada nas suas características únicas, nos seus elevados padrões de beleza ornamental distintos, na pluralidade de tons e acabamentos e de resistência mecânica e durabilidade elevadas que esta tipologia de materiais apresenta. As características naturais, tão próprias desta matéria-prima, fascinam a maioria daqueles que...
Os incêndios rurais são um fenómeno recorrente em Portugal. Muitas vezes as cinzas produzidas por estes incêndios atingem as massas de água utilizadas para o abastecimento público, comprometendo a sua qualidade. Num exemplo recente, as cinzas resultantes dos incêndios de 2017 levaram à interrupção do abastecimento de água a algumas localidades, e à implementação de programas de monitorização adicional em outras...
ABSTRACT: Fabrica de Loica de Sacavem (ca. 1858-1994) was among the first to produce white earthenware in Portugal, becoming one of the country's leading ceramic manufacturers during the late 19th to early 20th centuries. Research on white earthenware has accompanied the growing interest in post-industrial archaeology but is still poorly explored compared to more ancient ceramic productions. This study focused ...