New materials to facilitate accessibility to paving and its use

The evocative atmosphere in many cities and historical centres is often conjured up by the streets and squares made in stone as this material gives an old-fashioned feel to these places. The choice of the material to use for paving is dictated by its physical and mechanical properties without giving due consideration to the prime purpose that it must fulfil, i.e. to ensure ease of transit for everyone. Paving surfaces are often unsuitable, uneven, dangerousand tiring to walk on. Furthermore, they may compromise people’s right to enjoy the intangible emotional benefits deriving from the use of architectural spaces. The aim of this project is to study materials that can be used to resolve the above problems and which respect, and are compatible with, the pre-existing structures so as to provide a new removable and long lasting “overlay”. When the use of new paving material requires that the surface to which it is to be applied be reduced, then techniques such asflame treatment, bush-hammering, hammering are suggested. These techniques affect the surface texture and improve its performance. Traditional and innovative forms of paving that ensure ease of transit even for people in wheel chairs, the blind and people with visual impairments, are reviewed aswell as the importance of maintaining the appearance and form of paving as this will conserve the architectural and urban identity of the place in which they are used. The outcome of such an approach which involves using stone material in a rational and considered manner is that it will enable everyone to perceive the characteristic atmosphere pervading the place where it is to be applied. This ongoing research project forms part of the PhD course on construction engineering: “The building recovery project” (Tutor: Prof. Raffaella Lione).