Restoration of the Palace of the Public Prosecutor of the Republic
Year: 2019
Location: Bergamo
The Palace of the Public Prosecutor of the Republic in Bergamo, located in Piazza Dante, is part of a broader redevelopment project for the city center of Bergamo Bassa. Before this project, the area was occupied by the Sant’Alessandro Fair, an important commercial hub since the Middle Ages. The redevelopment was initiated through a competition in 1906, aiming to create a new administrative center. The winning project, named Panorama, was designed by engineer Giuseppe Quaroni and architect Marcello Piacentini.
Piacentini planned a city center based on a strict grid layout, designated for key service buildings, including municipal offices and the new Palace of Justice. The Palace of Justice was built between 1919 and 1925 and inaugurated in 1925 to replace the old courthouse in the Upper City (Città Alta), which had become inadequate. The building features a quadrangular floor plan and a symmetrical design.
In 2019, conservation restoration works were carried out on the main façade of the building, including the two lateral sections on the east and west sides. The main objective was to eliminate the deterioration caused by urban environmental factors. The interventions were divided into different categories:
NATURAL STONE SURFACES AND ARTIFICIAL STONE
• Condition Assessment: The Ceppo, in both gentile and mezzano varieties, showed surface deposits, erosion, black crusts, cracks, detachments, and biological patina. The medallions in Rezzato stone displayed washing effects, cracks, and black crusts. The artificial stone suffered from erosive processes and biological damage.
· Interventions:
– Cleaning with water-spray systems and finishing with micro-abrasive techniques.
– Treatment of black crusts on the medallions using ammonium carbonate poultices.
– Consolidation using epoxy resins, reinforcements with fiberglass bars, and reconstruction of missing parts.
– Sealing of cracks and joint repointing with hydraulic lime-based mortar.
– Application of a nanosiloxane protective coating.
PLASTERED SURFACES
• Condition Assessment: The lateral sections, plastered with lime mortar, showed detachment and material loss.
• Interventions:
– Removal of deteriorated plaster sections and consolidation of detached portions.
– Integration with rough and finish coats similar to the original.
– Application of a nanosiloxane protective coating.
STATUES AND BRONZE ELEMENTS
• Condition Assessment: The bronze statues exhibited deposits, corrosion, and chromatic alterations.
• Interventions:
– Cleaning with water and non-ionic surfactants.
– Removal of encrustations with brushes and scalpels.
– Application of corrosion inhibitors (benzotriazole), protective coatings (Incralac), and wax (SOTER).
• Wooden Door:
Filling, sanding, anti-fungal and anti-woodworm treatment, and protective finishing.
• Metal Railings:
Removal of paint and oxidation, application of rust converter, and transparent varnish.
• Maintenance/Building Works:
– Restoration of the former caretaker’s residence.
– Removal of an asbestos-containing fiber cement chimney.
– Restoration of interior plaster and repainting.
– Restoration of the entrance staircase.
The restoration works have successfully restored the balance of the monument, eliminating deterioration and protecting the surfaces with innovative materials. A regular maintenance plan has been suggested, including an annual inspection of the façade, checking the joints, and assessing the water-repellent properties of the surfaces. Additionally, an annual dusting of the bronze statues and a biennial reapplication of the protective coating on the wooden door have been recommended.
