The emptying of buildings while maintaining the facade

Abstract

This study, which is presented under the heading «The gutting of buildings while maintaining the facade», takes up not only the technical aspect of restructuring buildings, but also the legal aspects concerning rehabilitation and its problems. Following a brief commentary on prevailing legislation, it goes into rehabilitation in search of solutions which might lend more effectiveness to administrative work oriented towards the aim of keeping up artistic and cultural heritage. Urban standards of protection and the Municipal Bylaws for the Control of Rehabilitation Assistance are analyzed, in which one begins to see good intentions on the part of the Madrid City Council and an awareness of the problem, raising grants and financial aid, though still somewhat timidly, for the upkeep of urban patrimony. It is important to stress the distinction which is made between normal or 'ordinary* upkeep of a building and outstanding or 'extraordinary* upkeep in as much as it affects the obligations pertaining to property, as long as it does not exceed the limit of the obligation of maintenance which corresponds to it, as well as affecting the Government with respect to the obligation incumbent on it to provide the necessary assistance. Regarding the technical aspect, without trying to be rigorous, a simple and practical method is expounded for the temporary maintenance of facades while going ahead with the substitution of the interior of the building. Besides the recommendations on the precautions that should be taken and the description of the shoring-up system, the criteria for calculating the tubular metallic structure, the regulations to be applied and the approximate costs per square meter are provided.