Traditional T-F Masonries in the City Centre of L’Aquila – The Baraccato Aquilano

Abstract

Several baraccate houses, which date back to the eighteenth century, were discovered in the historical center of L’Aquila, Italy. Among traditional earthquake-resistant timber frames (T-F) in the Mediterranean Area, the baraccato of L’Aquila embodies an important step in the development of the baraccato technology. A significant variety of T-F structures emerged during the reconstruction works following the 2009 earthquake in L’Aquila. In the current paper, the diffusion as well as the different configurations of similar structures are reported. A systematic investigation of the baraccato was carried out; thus, a map of such structures has been drawn up. The baraccato aquilano does not unambiguously define a constructive typology, as in the baraccato borbonico, but it expresses the intuition-based attempt of master builders to protect masonry buildings from earthquakes.