Aloïs Riegl e il valore dell’antico (o dell’alterazione) nel 'Restauro del Moderno' / Aloïs Riegl and the ‘Age-value’ (or alteration) in the 'Restoration of Modern Architecture'

Abstract

The restoration of contemporary architecture, in terms of design practice and construction outcomes, seems to follow rules that differentiate it from the restoration of historical architecture. The signs of aging, which in restoration theory are one of the main elements of appreciation, bearing witness to the passage of architecture through the ages, are often considered, specifically, elements that reduce the value of the work. Looking at the issue through the theoretical lens produced by one of the most brilliant scholars on the subject, Aloïs Riegl, it seems that the ‘Age-value’ Alterwert, theorized by the Austrian as the great novelty in the modern appreciation of the products of the past, cannot in any way be applied to contemporary architecture. This is due both to technical problems (the behavior of most of the new materials with which contemporary architecture is built seems to be different from that of traditional materials) and to an attitude that tends to favor, for various reasons, solutions aimed at restoring the original situation when defining restoration programs, without, however, this happening without problems and contradictions. The central point seems to be the need to carry out regular maintenance activities to ensure the alteration of new materials, delaying their definitive deterioration as much as possible. This paper aims to focus on some of the issues mentioned here, in the hope of contributing to overcoming what currently appears to be an impasse that could pose many risks to the protection of this segment of our heritage.