Paola Pesaresi
Paola Matilde Pesaresi is a conservation architect with over 20 years of experience, most of them dedicated to preservation and management of major archaeological sites. One of her current roles sees her now co-leading the contribution of the Packard Humanities Institute to one of the world’s most significant public-private partnerships for archaeological heritage at Herculaneum (Italy) in an innovative management structure aimed at harnessing key interdisciplinary contributions, while providing sustainable future for the large site and its neighborhoods (the Herculaneum Conservation Project, ‘HCP’). Among her assignments as the HCP main architect, since 2008 she designed and then became the coordinator of the 'Via Mare' initiative, a complex multilateral operation for the enhancement of the boundaries between the site, the modern city and the Vesuvius, one of the most visited Italian natural parks, and one of the highest volcanic risk territories on earth. In the last 13 years, in parallel to her involvement in Herculaneum, she has continued to meet invitations to provide her expert input into major international programs of such complex institutional realities as the World Bank and the European Commission. Among her commitments in Italy and abroad, she is constantly combining site experience with research and management activities, working on developing strategies for cultural heritage sites and their natural assets in a wide range of sites: Turkey, Ethiopia, India, Algeria, Caribbean. In the last two years, this has translated into a leadership role for the technical assistance of the project PAST, which aims to create a structured program for lasting change, the case of “La Citadelle/Sans Souci”, the WHS of Haiti. Her specialization in consolidating ancient structures has focused in recent years on the process of preventing seismic risks. The experience gained with pilot activities in Herculaneum was crucial to design approaches (form diagnosis to realization) for archaeological structures and similar delicate sites in seismic areas. Currently she is leading a pilot conservation project in Milano (Cascina Cuccagna) and building up a program of courses on seismic hazards for cultural heritage sites/buildings. In addition to the activities in the field, she is continuously involved in teaching and training in specialization courses: ICCROM, Politecnico of Milan, Bocconi University.
Address: Italy
Address: Italy
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Papers by Paola Pesaresi
and the results obtained, the authors believe that – even without the catalysing effect of the public-private partnership –the methodological and management approaches adopted at Herculaneum can be replicated elsewhere and similar results obtained.
could potentially play in contemporary society – not just looking to reduce threats but seeking to transform them, wherever possible, into opportunities for ensuring that cultural heritage can contribute benefits to the modern world and, within a reciprocal relationship, gain benefits from a society that is more involved in its management and conservation. This drives to the heart of the sustainability debate, but in order to ground what risks being a theoretical discussion in reality, this paper will use the example of Herculaneum to quantify and qualify
current and potential ‘reciprocal heritage benefits’ with the information available today that builds on strategic research, including the development of improved visitor and engagement strategies. However, ultimately it shows how much more needs to be done not just in terms of measuring progress but also in terms of identifying the correct indicators to measure in the first place.
incredible wealth of rediscovered heritage is extremely fragile: this is the case, for example, of carbonized timber left in situ, but also of frescoes, mosaic and beaten earth floors, which are continually trodden on by visitors. Site morphology is also a factor that contributes to
exacerbating the conservation challenges posed by the preserved heritage: the street level of the ancient city is located approximately 10-20 m below that of the modern city, which itself was built on a ridge formed from successive eruptions of Vesuvius. This means both difficulty in ensuring that the excavated escarpments are structurally sound and maintained, as well as difficulties in draining rainwater and groundwater that accumulates within the site. Pesaresi and Massari provide examples of provisional shelters that have been trialled at Herculaneum (Italy) which were specifically designed to address immediate conservation issues but to last longer than ‘temporary’ shelters thereby reducing the additional risk that temporary shelters can cause to archaeology when left in situ too long. They contrast these with other shelter typologies at the site in particular early twentieth century reconstructions that used the original Roman floor slabs or roofs as protective shelters.
and the results obtained, the authors believe that – even without the catalysing effect of the public-private partnership –the methodological and management approaches adopted at Herculaneum can be replicated elsewhere and similar results obtained.
could potentially play in contemporary society – not just looking to reduce threats but seeking to transform them, wherever possible, into opportunities for ensuring that cultural heritage can contribute benefits to the modern world and, within a reciprocal relationship, gain benefits from a society that is more involved in its management and conservation. This drives to the heart of the sustainability debate, but in order to ground what risks being a theoretical discussion in reality, this paper will use the example of Herculaneum to quantify and qualify
current and potential ‘reciprocal heritage benefits’ with the information available today that builds on strategic research, including the development of improved visitor and engagement strategies. However, ultimately it shows how much more needs to be done not just in terms of measuring progress but also in terms of identifying the correct indicators to measure in the first place.
incredible wealth of rediscovered heritage is extremely fragile: this is the case, for example, of carbonized timber left in situ, but also of frescoes, mosaic and beaten earth floors, which are continually trodden on by visitors. Site morphology is also a factor that contributes to
exacerbating the conservation challenges posed by the preserved heritage: the street level of the ancient city is located approximately 10-20 m below that of the modern city, which itself was built on a ridge formed from successive eruptions of Vesuvius. This means both difficulty in ensuring that the excavated escarpments are structurally sound and maintained, as well as difficulties in draining rainwater and groundwater that accumulates within the site. Pesaresi and Massari provide examples of provisional shelters that have been trialled at Herculaneum (Italy) which were specifically designed to address immediate conservation issues but to last longer than ‘temporary’ shelters thereby reducing the additional risk that temporary shelters can cause to archaeology when left in situ too long. They contrast these with other shelter typologies at the site in particular early twentieth century reconstructions that used the original Roman floor slabs or roofs as protective shelters.