Platy limestone
as cultural heritage

Each partner prepared two Appendices: “Cultural heritage and limestone” (Appendix 3.I), with a general description of topics, and “Cross-border issues in conservation and restoration of platy limestone” (Appendix 3.II), which dealt with conservation issues. Results were compiled in two general Supplements (Supplement 3.I and Supplement 3.II) to this report by the responsible beneficiary. Two additional studies were provided as part of WP4: Conservation Guidelines for Platy Limestone in Architectural Cultural Heritage ( Supplement 3.III) and Analysis of Platy Limestone Chemical and Mechanical Properties (Annex 3.2).

In Supplement 3.I: “Cultural heritage and limestone” the main types and characteristics of architectures, architectural elements and decoration were discussed. A historical study of quarries was included as well as a catalogue of representative objects – Selected case studies.

Within Supplement 3.I the regions, geographic features and characteristics of urban forms within the project area were represented by locally typical building types and constructions; and photos of the present state and some historic images were often included. The characteristic elements and specificities of the local architecture are outlined on the basis of the literature. Evidence tables (descriptions sheets) for the representative objects with the address or geographical locations together with various parameters (building type, subtype, elements present, materials present, state of conservation) were provided. The most representative examples of built heritage constructed mainly of platy limestone were chosen as showcase examples, which were selected for their rarity, exceptionality, integrity, representativeness and similar (Annex 3.3).

A total of 279 buildings were identified and documented in the entire project area

A total of 279 buildings were identified and documented in the entire project area. Beneficiary partners from Kras/Carso, Istria, Dalmatia and Herzegovina have documented objects made in whole or in part of platy limestone. In order to propose a detailed description that could also be helpful for future research on architecture heritage specific Description Sheets were filled and form an integral part of the appendices of each partner.

A total of 26 showcase study buildings were selected: 5 from Carso, 5 from Kras, 5 from Zadar, 3 from Split, 3 from the Dubrovnik region and 5 from Herzegovina (see Supplement 3.I, Annex 3.I.3; Map 3.1).

Supplement 3.II: Cross-border issues in conservation and restoration of platy limestone dealt with conservation and restoration issues related to platy limestone buildings (representative cases and showcases). Some cases of bad as well as good practice in the conservation of stone buildings were highlighted, as well as some past interventions. Some differences between state and church community-owned buildings and privately-owned buildings came to the fore. The former are often protected as monuments, the second are without any particular status. Consequently, maintenance for the first group is better coordinated with offices responsible for monuments; care for the second is largely in the hands and at the initiative of the respective owners.

Activity 4.4 – Shared guidelines for conservation and restoration of platy limestone is an overview of the documented architectural objects of researched areas and an overview of existing conservation issues. Practices of heritage offices and historical architecture expertise were studied by architect Domen Zupančič, who then prepared guidelines comprehensible to both experts and laymen.

Activity 4.5 – Geo-mapping of Adriatic heritage in limestone is the result of fieldwork and investigation of archives combined with professional literature compiled together with geologists. In the selected areas we provided data for the Map of distribution of all studied buildings and platy limestone quarries in their vicinities (Map 3.1) and Map of localities of show-cases of good practice (Map 3.2).