What do buildings hide?

Abstract

This was the base question for a project of innovative pedagogical practices in the field of Civil Engineering. The idea is to ensure a more active role for students in the teaching and learning process, using experimental setups and diagnostic equipment, which allow them to work in a living laboratory, applying innovative diagnostic tools to see what is "hidden" by the most superficial layers of buildings.

However, the question "What do buildings hide?" is pertinent, not only from a pedagogical point of view, but also from a professional point of view, both for those who work in the construction and rehabilitation of buildings sector and for those who carry out research in this area. Indeed, buildings are very complex systems, made up by several overlapping layers, of which only the outermost ones being directly observable. However, it is often the inner layers that most influence the performance of buildings and that make it possible to guarantee the fundamental and indispensable requirements for them to be used with quality.

This aspect is even more relevant when we talk about building rehabilitation. According to the dictionary, the word "rehabilitate" means to regenerate or recover, on its whole or just partly. Although this concept emerged in other scientific and social fields, it was quickly adopted with great success in the construction sector, especially buildings.