| CODE | BLH3421 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Traditional Building Materials | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 6 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Conservation and Built Heritage | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit will deal with traditional materials used in the construction of historic buildings, both locally and abroad. Materials discussed will include stone (especially limestone), as well as lime-based mortars and plasters. The choice and use of materials in relation to the local geology will be explained. Information will be given on the origin, manufacture, composition and properties of these materials, also to understand their behaviour in relation to a given environment. The compatibility and durability of these materials will also be discussed. Study-unit Aims: To provide a comprehensive introduction to traditional materials used in the construction of historic buildings, including stone, mortars and plasters. The study-unit aims to provide the students with information pertaining to the origin, manufacture, composition and properties of these materials, to understand their behaviour also in relation to a given environment. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - List and describe the important characteristics of traditional building materials which dictate their behaviour, including their origin, manufacture, composition and properties; - Explain why these materials are compatible with each other; - Explain in broad terms why/how these materials degrade. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Describe how a given material is related to the geology of the surrounding area; - List the traditional materials, tools and methods used in local building construction; - Explain how lime is made. Main Text/s: - Ashurst J. and Dimes, F. G. 1990. Conservation of Building and Decorative Stone. Butterworth-Heinemann - Cassar J. 2004. “Composition and property data of Malta’s building stone for the construction of a database.” In: Architectural and sculptural stone in cultural landscape. Prikryl, R., and Siegl, P. (eds) pp. 11-28 - Cowper A.D. 1927 (reprinted 1998). Lime and Lime Mortars. Donhead - Torraca G. 1982. Porous Building Materials. ICCROM, Rome Supplementary readings: - Adam J.P. 1994. Roman Buildings, Materials and Techniques. Indiana University Press - Ashurst J. 1983. Mortars, Plasters and Renders in Conservation: A Basic Guide. EASA. - Ashurst J. and Ashurst N. 1988. Practical Building Conservation. Vol. 3. Mortars, Plasters and Renders. Gower Technical Press - Cassar J. 2010. “The use of limestone in a historic context – the experience of Malta”. In: Limestone in the Built Environment: Present Day Challenges for Preservation of the Past. Smith, Gomez-Heras, Viles & Cassar eds. - Geological Society, London, Special Publications 2010; v. 331; p. 13-25 - Cassar J. 2004. “Comparing visual and geochemical classification of limestone types: the Maltese Globigerina Limestone.” In: Stone 2004, 10th - International Congress on Deterioration and Conservation of Stone, 27 June – 2 July 2004, Stockholm, Sweden, pp. 569-577 |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture, Seminar & Independent Study | ||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Mark Azzopardi Jo Ann Cassar Amanda Jane DeGiovanni |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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