Il Materiale ceramico della ca' Granda di Milano

The last conservation works at Milan Ca' Granda building, formerly hosting an hospital designed by Filarete, is proposed as a model to conceive a knowledge plan on architectural brick and terracotta surfaces. Conservation works were carried out in between 2008-2012, planning a characterization analytical campaign followed by an in situ evaluation of limits and benefits of conservation treatments. The ceramic substrates have been characterized in their main components; the state of conservation of the ceramic elements has been studied and several decay patterns have been individuated such as exfoliation, pulverization and scaling. Red finishes have been detected on the ceramic substrate. Their composition is different, basing on gypsum and lead white respectively, both pigmented with red ochre. Both of them are of extreme interest in reconstructing some elements of the building conservation history: for this main reason the cleaning approach ought to safeguard those residues of red finishes presents on the surface. Nd:YAG laser source proved to be fruitful at this aim. Moreover some conservation products, including both surface consolidants and water repellent treatments, have been evaluated. The study could be assumed as a overall knowledge model to serve as an example in approaching the conservation works of an important monument faced with brick and terracotta tiles.