Italy to help Mexico restore historic buildings

Roma Tre University

gave two restoration projects to Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) that will be used for the restoration of historic buildings that were affected by the earthquakes of September 7 and 19, 2017.

These architectural plans will be used as a guide for the restoration of the Former Augustin Convent of the Immaculate Conception , in Zacualpan de Amilpas, Morelos, and the Gualupita Temple in Sacromonte de Amecameca, State of Mexico, as it was informed in a release .

Restoration of historic buildings in Mexico shows progress

Anthropologist Diego Prieto , general director of INAH, asserted that over 950 buildings have already been restored and that they are about to take action in the buildings with the most severe damage.

The collaboration of the Mission of the Italian university took place through INAH’s National Coordination of Historical Monuments (CNMH) , whose head, Valeria Valero Pié , highlighted the contribution was done by sharing the experience of circulation of technologies in the restoration and preservation of Mexican cultural heritage , through the follow up, supervision, and assessment of the activities of international technical cooperation.

Architectural projects are the product of four work stays done in the buildings. In addition, in months to come, another one will be included: the Former Franciscan Convent of St. John the Baptists in Tetela del Volcán, Morelos .

About it, architect Juana Gómez Badillo from the CNMH said the guiding principles could be subject to adaptations. “In restoration, there always are counterproposals , which are posed according to what is discovered with fieldwork, if this is not the case, the way is not the correct one. Hence, the important thing is to keep a productive dialogue like the one we have had.”

María Margarita Segarra Lagunas

, professor on Architectural Restoration of Roma Tre University, was who coordinated the work which conjugate recovery of constructive tradition, local material, wide technical experience, and innovative solutions that have been applied in historical buildings in Italy.

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Two years from the earthquakes of September 7 and 19, 2017, the reconstruction of cultural heritage has a progress of 42% in the recovery of 2,340 buildings that had some level of damage in 11 states of the country. A total of 990 buildings have been repaired, and there are enough resources to attend the other 1,350 damaged buildings .

Through a release, INAH informed that, in addition to the 990 finished buildings, there are 565 actions or properties in process of restoration , and preliminary studies, as well as the elaboration of intervention projects, are being carried out for other 785.

According to the INAH, they already have all the financial system to continue and conclude the attention to the missing damaged buildings, money from the insurance hired by the institution, by the Natural Disasters Fund (Fonden) or by third parties, such as foundations ( Slim, Harp Helú, and Mary Street Jenkins among them), organizations, business groups, and even the own communities.

Likewise, some governments are collaborating in solidarity with the recovery of damaged cultural heritage, such as Hungary, Italy, Spain, and the U.S. embassy in Mexico .

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