S. Romerio church in Brusio (Switzerland) - structural improvement

Testing showed particular stress on the buttress of the church towards the cliff face. The buttress was well out of axis with a continuously increasing breach. Together with the Graubunden Canton Heritage Directorate, a decision was taken to act immediately in October 2013 creating a temporary waterproof protection for the wall, positioned working through the use of rope access techniques.

The following reinforcement was carried out on the two buttresses of primary and secondary importance in differing ways. The main buttress had 4 metal tie rods installed at the central height with counter plates at the level of the external wall. Operations were carried out on replacing all damaged parts. The secondary buttress foresaw the removal of all superficially detached elements from the rock face it is built on and the set up of a curb in reinforced slurry wall concrete at the breach and positioned undercutting the external wall parameter. Results were checked through the installed monitoring system.

This is the first step for the complete restoration of the building that shall be carried out including the bell-tower and the internal and external surfaces of the church.