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This information is useful not only for future reference but also
makes it possible to define the scale of the project and to identify
the main problems to be resolved. For this reason it is necessary
to carry out a thorough inspection of the present state of the buildings,
verified by careful documentation. This preliminary activity took
about one year of work to complete.
The preservation and maintenance of the Cloisters is a complex project
and involves diverse tasks. Some of these are immediately visible,
such as the cleaning the dirt from the building, but others are
not so obvious, such as the underpinning required in some areas
to avoid future subsidence. The cleaning of the stonework is important
because the black deposits and mould are damaging the stone. The
harmful black deposits are the unattractive result of the corrosion
of the stone from pollution, whereas the biological colonisation
such as algae, lichens, and mould, as well as larger vegetation,
cause physical deterioration of the stones and also the stonework.
The stabilization of the structure is required where blocks of stone
have moved, either because of biological attack or seismic activity,
and are putting the building at risk structurally.
This plan began with a thorough survey of the present state of
the building. The causes of damage to the stone were analysed, as
were the methods and materials to clean and maintain it. The basic
principles of the work to be done were defined as:
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- making
sound all constructional parts which showed any signs of instability
- eliminating
all causative agents causing damage to the surfaces
- providing
better conditions for resistance to damage by environmental
pollutants
- cleaning-off
of all existing dirt
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The conservation
work will be carried out over a period of two years, in four sections
corresponding to the four sides of the Cloisters. All the surfaces
require treatment, including walls, cloister vaults, arches, columns,
balustrades, pavements, and decorative elements. The total surface
area requiring attention is 21,800 m2, and there are about 20,900
metres of mortar/plastering to be made sound as well as 2773 metal
elements, which require treatment.
The various
problems identified and the current state of the limestone surfaces
of the Cloisters required a special approach, particularly in areas
that show signs of instability. There are four basic stages to the
conservation process: firstly, the elimination of destructive agents,
followed by treatment to prevent further damage. Next will come
one of the most delicate aspects of the works - repair and restoration
to provide an aesthetic and historical unity to the surfaces. Last
but not least will be the documentation of all aspects of the work,
recording the data that will later be included in a final report.
The restoration
of the Cloisters has to conserve structures, surfaces, and decoration
originating in three different periods of time - the fifteenth century,
Mannerist and eighteenth century. The condition of the surfaces
varies most due to contact with the external environment, varied
uses and various levels of maintenance. These factors create a conservation
situation which is far from homogeneous, but that is partly intrinsic
to the stone and pertinent to the Cloisters history. It is clear
that the cleaning phase requires delicate care. The search for a
balance in the restoration process requires sensitivity and clarity
in choosing methods and determining end results.
The process
of carrying out these works of restoration may result also in clarifying
details of the history of the buildings and decoration.
The conservation
activities to be carried out on the Cloisters can be divided into
four main categories:
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Cleaning
of the surfaces
Treatment
of jointing and filling
Structural
interventions
Various
activities and actions to be implemented during the development
of the works
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Divulgation
of the conservation works of the Cloister
All
the results, studies and documents of the conservation
intervention of the cloister were published, since 2006
in the Colecção Cadernos
from IPPAR, in a bilingual edition.
Mosteiro dos Jerónimos a intervenção
de conservação do claustro
Português e Inglês, 1 Ed., Lisboa, 2006, 304
pags; il. cores
Edição: Ippar/Soc.Agric.Valle-Flôr/Tribunal
Administrativo C.Lisboa
ISBN 989-8052-00-7 |
Colecção Cadernos |
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