Restoration

The restoration of churches and worshipping sites is technically challenging, both for the amount of work that this type of renovation often requires and because of the technical difficulties of restoring to their ancient splendor buildings constructed with very different techniques from those adopted today . The cathedral of the town of Chiusi, whose original structure dates back to the VI century, is our pride. Its restoration lasted a few years and involved the entire structure as well as the buildings overlooking the square: the Palazzo Vescovile and the Museo della Cattedrale. Particularly significant was the restoration of the frescoes and decorations inside the cathedral and the Palazzo Vescovile. Noteworthy also the renovation of the Church of St. Francis in Chiusi.

ICERM also carried out the renovation of the chapel of the Abbazia di Spineto estate, of the churches of San Lorenzo and San Francesco, of San Martino and of the private church of Count Fanelli. All these works were realized in the commune of Sarteano.

Experience, equipment and special machinery are the ingredients which allow us to face even the most challenging restoration in historical centres in the shortest possible time and with excellent results. ICERM knows well that restoration in historical centres entails working easily in a restricted environment, occupying a street or passage for the shortest possible time, reducing to a minimum noise and inconvenience for the inhabitants. Mini-diggers, cranes, freight elevators, scaffolding; ICERM owns the machinery which, combined with the staff’s experience, guarantees a solution to all problems in the shortest possible time.

ICERM has always undertaken jobs on historical buildings, an activity which requires constant research into new techniques capable of respecting and preserving the work of art while following the example and work of the original master craftsmen. Growth in this field is undoubtedly due to the strong cultural and technical contribution from the Department of Cultural and Artistic Heritage.

The purpose of restoring façades is to protect buildings from the damages caused by a constant exposure to atmospheric agents. The success of the restoration depends basically on the skills of its executor, who must be capable of identifying, establishing and solving the problems which an exposed surface may pose. Today, materials used in masonry are technologically advanced and allow the recovery of any kind of surface in full respect of the hygroscopic properties of the building. We are therefore capable of: reconstructing areas of degraded façades, protecting concrete risers, corbels and parapets from deterioration, (mainly caused by smog, acid substances and rain water), renovating ancient decorated façades with plastic coating, plastering the façades of restored buildings, modifying internal cladding, polishing and waterproofing façades.

The combination of the uniqueness of classicism with modern requirements is achieved through the respect for antiquity and a perfect reproduction of marble and precious wood. Our professionalism and experience allow the client to achieve a personal aesthetic ideal. The same objective determines our choice of materials, by which we try to create a balance between those currently in use and ancient pictorial techniques, guaranteeing the quality and endurance of the work. Knowledge of materials and pictorial methods is fundamental for any type of decoration: pictorial decorations, trompe l’oeil, painting on less traditional supports such as plastic, PVC and metals. Regarding interior decoration, the current need for wider and more comfortable spaces finds an important ally in pictorial decoration. Special attention is given to the choice of colours and materials for each single environment, essential in making each space welcoming and comfortable. Knowledge of conservation methods and materials allows us to operate on frescoes and decorations in churches, public structures and private buildings, restoring to full life works which have undergone alterations or damage due to historical or natural causes. By eliminating the causes of degradation, conservation aims at recovering a work of art to make it more lasting and introduce it into a new maintenance and safeguard system against negligence and natural deterioration. Enhancing the antique lends it new significance.