Tiled vaults in western Sicily. Originality and continuity of an imported building technique

AbstractThe search for alternatives to wood for floorings has led to very interesting experiments onvaulted structures, with diffusion in specific areas. We analyze the Sicilian ones consisting ofthree layers of tiles with plaster, introduced in the mid-eighteenth century, reinterpreted with thelocal materials and building culture, with original and ingenious solutions as to seismicity of area.The oldest examples in Palermo date back to the period following the earthquake of 1726,considered a good solution because of their lightness and presumed monolithic structure, able toreduce the pressure on walls.This report is an assessment of this building system, that we found during many restorationworks. Totally ignored by official current technical culture, tiled vaults usually are demolished ortransformed into decorative ceilings. A comparative examination of several cases has enabled usto properly assess the actual possibility for maintenance, rehabilitation or re-proposal, whilstpreserving the structural function.