Restoration and enhancement project of the convent of San Bernardino in Ivrea
8 August 2022
The San Bernardino complex in Ivrea was built between 1455 and 1465 and consists of the conventual church, organized into two naves, and the convent area itself, arranged around the cloister, which was originally divided into two twin courtyards.
The history of the convent is intrinsically linked to that of the Olivetti family and the industrial activity it introduced to the Ivrea area. After decades of abandonment, the entire convent area was purchased in 1907 by engineer Olivetti, who adapted the building as his residence and developed the adjacent land into the industrial hub of the famous brand. This was a visionary approach for the time, initiating an activity with extraordinary contemporary relevance that left a lasting mark on Italian history.
The FAI (Fondo Ambiente Italiano) is coordinating a project for the restoration and enhancement of the San Bernardino Convent in Ivrea, aimed at opening the site to the public to showcase the exceptional human, cultural, and entrepreneurial story of the Olivetti family. In this context, our company was commissioned to carry out diagnostic investigations and assess the structural vulnerability of the complex.
In order to identify construction details and structural issues of the building, a comprehensive on-site survey was conducted in recent days. This included foundation and floor slab investigations, both flat and vaulted; single and double flat-jack tests; mechanical characterization of mortars; endoscopic inspections; core drilling; sonic tests; Resistograph tests on timber structures; SonReb tests on reinforced concrete elements; and tests for the characterization of concrete and steel. The data obtained will be used to assess the building’s seismic vulnerability and provide essential information for defining the restoration project.
