BRICK STAIRCASES AT THE HEART OF ANCIENT NAPLES BUILDING RESTORATION

The research is based on the brick staircases at the heart of Ancient Naples. The staircases are among the most interesting expressions of a building, in which architectural and structural functions come together in a wonderful marriage from which springs a variety of types of staircases that require a knowing approach, which differs from the traditional classifications. This study is based on these considerations and aims to provide elements for a correct reading and typological classification of brick staircases. However, its field of investigation is limited to the heart of ancient Naples. The great powers of expression of the masonry and the technical skill of the workers of the past have given rise to a vast array of staircases, which are truly a challenge for modern architecture of reinforced concrete that is still anchored to the small number of rigid patterns of traditionally types. Unfortunately, these fine structures of the past are often threatened by severe degradation conditions, which also affect their stability, often requiring emergency measures that end up not taking into account the extraordinary complexity of these building elements. On the other hand, the remedies proposed by the recovery and consolidation manuals are limited to a few types (scale with central partition and scale to open pit). Therefore, they are completely generic. This study focuses on the typological and technological knowledge and on the possible maintenance and consolidation of these scales of the ancient plant.