TUSCANY - SIENA - WATCHTOWER PLACED IN THE WALLS OF SAN QUIRICO D'ORCIA
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It's an element of a monumental complex that's a part of the system of the city walls including doors and towers dating at 1472, in its current configuration. The first configuration dates back to 11th century, with a rich medieval architecture of round or Gothic arches, well-delineated mullioned windows with two openings. The upper fortification and the lower part of S. Quirico were separated by walls which were subsequently pulled down by the Sienese people in 1254.
In a map dating back to 16th century, drawn by Francesco Ferrati, we can see the most important constructions existing in S. Quirico d'Orcia and we can find our estate recorded as an ancient Watchtower where soldiers were lodged, presumably for the defence of the town. On the second level of the structure we reach the access to a part of the ancient communication path of the walls. This access is now walled-up. The property was obtained by the thickening of the wall system and is part of the ancient watchtower of this system.
It's on three levels.
Ground floor:
There is a service area, perhaps an ancient kitchen, with external access on via delle Oliviere. Inside this space there is a place used as a woodshed, when the structure was dwelt. Really, this area was used in ancient times as an internal staircase connecting the ground floor and first floor, and with another internal staircase it was possible to get to the upper floor and to the walls.
This level is divided into two zones. The original zone, obtained in the cavity wall and the next part jutting out on via delle Oliviere. This is an addition to the original structure and was built later with an external staircase. This is clear just looking at the internal floors. The original part is supported by round arch while in the added part there's a flat floor with a framework in chestnut wood. Originally it was used to reach the first floor of the tower as an internal staircase, placed in the existing triangular area. Today the upper part is filled with rubble from the period of enlargement works of the building on via delle Oliviere for the realization of the external staircase and the porch.
First floor:
The entrance to this level is through the external staircase, it currently includes small porch-entrance-services-kitchen and stairs. On this level there is a walled-up door through which it was possible to reach an internal staircase that previously led to the ground floor. Today that area is filled with rubble probably deriving from demolition works at the top of the watchtower, which presumably was higher, as evidenced by the other watchtowers still existing (especially those in the opposite side of the town facing Pienza).
Second Floor:
An area used as a room, previously it had an entrance to the walls but now it's walled-up.
Total net internal area of the entire estate is 55.10 m². From the second floor, by removing the brickwork that walls-up the ancient entrance, there is the access to the walkway above the medieval wall system for a length of m. 32.00, approximately.
Ground Floor:
Realization of a kitchen with a small secondary bathroom placed in the area subsequently enlarged towards via delle Oliviere and the restoration of the old internal staircase to the structure with cleaning-up of the concerned area. It's proposed a wooden staircase that follows the current shape of the perimeter walls with a slight enlargement of the triangular area. The kitchen floor, currently on the ground level, will be made with Campigiana, a handmade Tuscan terracotta brick. The outer door will be made of wood according the original configuration. Present wooden fixtures, completely deteriorated, will be remade with the same features and dimensions in chestnut wood and glass.
First floor:
Realization of a living room and restoration of the old fireplace. The floor will be restored to its original condition by replacing the deteriorated batten. The floor will be remade using as much as possible the original existing terracotta. Will be removed the existing brickwork to regain the door that connects the first floor with the ground floor, this operation involves the demolition of a corbel added when people lived in the tower. As a matter of fact this corbel simply leans against the walled-up door without any joint. This shows the non-originality of the corbel. Will be realized a new bathroom instead of the existing one. The current wooden fixtures completely deteriorated will be remade with the same features and dimensions in chestnut wood and glass.
Second floor:
The current floor will be restored by replacing the deteriorated battens and beams with chestnut wood ones. The floor will be restored with Tuscan terracotta as on the first floor. The roof will be disassembled and deteriorated battens replaced with chestnut wood battens. The open view hollow flat tiles will be completely recovered, cleaned and newly placed. The covering floor will be restored and put back in place with substitution of old broken roof tiles with old aspect tiles. The floor will be realized by laying a 4 cm concrete slab reinforced with an iron mesh, on this slab, under the covering will be placed thermal insulating material. Will be removed the brickwork at the door that leads to the walkway and placed a door in solid chestnut wood with the same features as those used for the fixtures on via delle Oliviere. The eaves will be restored in features and dimensions as those existing using the same materials. Wooden fixtures completely deteriorated will be remade with the same features of chestnut wood and glass.
FACADES:
There will be works on the facades with a conservative aim restoration. It will be used the technique that replaces each broken stone and fastens every unfastened stone, with local stone. The facade fillings will be made with mortar and colours as on the adjoining walls restored by the municipal administration in the past decade, according to the Soprintendenza (Monuments and Fine Arts Department) of Siena. On the side that overlooks public park opposite to via delle Oliviere will be restored the old cornice between the levels with salvaged tiles in lateral parts, where missing.
WALKWAY:
The walkway over the walls that connects this structure, object of restoration, and the structure with entrance on Piazza della Libertà, will be rearranged with a cleanup of spontaneous existing vegetation and with the restoration of ancient Tuscan terracotta flooring and the replacement of parts of the destroyed floor with terracotta of same dimensions and features. The internal masonry-work of the walkway, in some parts, lacks stones or stones are not tied with mortar and unfastened. It's proposed to adopt the technique that replaces each broken stone with local stone and fastens every unfastened stone where missing by using for the fillings both mortar and colour equal to the external masonry of the walls.
INTERNAL WORKS:
Plasters: with concrete, traditional type;
Paintworks: mezza tempera;
Electrical system: in chase with light and heat;
Heating system: underfloor;
Solid chestnut wood doors;
Sewage system: traditional type with connections to the existing sanitary and drain sewers on via delle Olviere;
High quality ceramic sanitary fitting.
This structure is part of artefacts and monumental complexes. Planned works are:
This property for residential use is situated in the historic centre of San Quirico d'Orcia.
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Historical description of the property and its historical context
It's an element of a monumental complex that's a part of the system of the city walls including doors and towers dating at 1472, in its current configuration. The first configuration dates back to 11th century, with a rich medieval architecture of round or Gothic arches, well-delineated mullioned windows with two openings. The upper fortification and the lower part of S. Quirico were separated by walls which were subsequently pulled down by the Sienese people in 1254.
In a map dating back to 16th century, drawn by Francesco Ferrati, we can see the most important constructions existing in S. Quirico d'Orcia and we can find our estate recorded as an ancient Watchtower where soldiers were lodged, presumably for the defence of the town. On the second level of the structure we reach the access to a part of the ancient communication path of the walls. This access is now walled-up. The property was obtained by the thickening of the wall system and is part of the ancient watchtower of this system.
It's on three levels.
Ground floor:
There is a service area, perhaps an ancient kitchen, with external access on via delle Oliviere. Inside this space there is a place used as a woodshed, when the structure was dwelt. Really, this area was used in ancient times as an internal staircase connecting the ground floor and first floor, and with another internal staircase it was possible to get to the upper floor and to the walls.
This level is divided into two zones. The original zone, obtained in the cavity wall and the next part jutting out on via delle Oliviere. This is an addition to the original structure and was built later with an external staircase. This is clear just looking at the internal floors. The original part is supported by round arch while in the added part there's a flat floor with a framework in chestnut wood. Originally it was used to reach the first floor of the tower as an internal staircase, placed in the existing triangular area. Today the upper part is filled with rubble from the period of enlargement works of the building on via delle Oliviere for the realization of the external staircase and the porch.
First floor:
The entrance to this level is through the external staircase, it currently includes small porch-entrance-services-kitchen and stairs. On this level there is a walled-up door through which it was possible to reach an internal staircase that previously led to the ground floor. Today that area is filled with rubble probably deriving from demolition works at the top of the watchtower, which presumably was higher, as evidenced by the other watchtowers still existing (especially those in the opposite side of the town facing Pienza).
Second Floor:
An area used as a room, previously it had an entrance to the walls but now it's walled-up.
Total net internal area of the entire estate is 55.10 m². From the second floor, by removing the brickwork that walls-up the ancient entrance, there is the access to the walkway above the medieval wall system for a length of m. 32.00, approximately.
Restoration works proposed
Ground Floor:Realization of a kitchen with a small secondary bathroom placed in the area subsequently enlarged towards via delle Oliviere and the restoration of the old internal staircase to the structure with cleaning-up of the concerned area. It's proposed a wooden staircase that follows the current shape of the perimeter walls with a slight enlargement of the triangular area. The kitchen floor, currently on the ground level, will be made with Campigiana, a handmade Tuscan terracotta brick. The outer door will be made of wood according the original configuration. Present wooden fixtures, completely deteriorated, will be remade with the same features and dimensions in chestnut wood and glass.
First floor:
Realization of a living room and restoration of the old fireplace. The floor will be restored to its original condition by replacing the deteriorated batten. The floor will be remade using as much as possible the original existing terracotta. Will be removed the existing brickwork to regain the door that connects the first floor with the ground floor, this operation involves the demolition of a corbel added when people lived in the tower. As a matter of fact this corbel simply leans against the walled-up door without any joint. This shows the non-originality of the corbel. Will be realized a new bathroom instead of the existing one. The current wooden fixtures completely deteriorated will be remade with the same features and dimensions in chestnut wood and glass.
Second floor:
The current floor will be restored by replacing the deteriorated battens and beams with chestnut wood ones. The floor will be restored with Tuscan terracotta as on the first floor. The roof will be disassembled and deteriorated battens replaced with chestnut wood battens. The open view hollow flat tiles will be completely recovered, cleaned and newly placed. The covering floor will be restored and put back in place with substitution of old broken roof tiles with old aspect tiles. The floor will be realized by laying a 4 cm concrete slab reinforced with an iron mesh, on this slab, under the covering will be placed thermal insulating material. Will be removed the brickwork at the door that leads to the walkway and placed a door in solid chestnut wood with the same features as those used for the fixtures on via delle Oliviere. The eaves will be restored in features and dimensions as those existing using the same materials. Wooden fixtures completely deteriorated will be remade with the same features of chestnut wood and glass.
FACADES:
There will be works on the facades with a conservative aim restoration. It will be used the technique that replaces each broken stone and fastens every unfastened stone, with local stone. The facade fillings will be made with mortar and colours as on the adjoining walls restored by the municipal administration in the past decade, according to the Soprintendenza (Monuments and Fine Arts Department) of Siena. On the side that overlooks public park opposite to via delle Oliviere will be restored the old cornice between the levels with salvaged tiles in lateral parts, where missing.
WALKWAY:
The walkway over the walls that connects this structure, object of restoration, and the structure with entrance on Piazza della Libertà, will be rearranged with a cleanup of spontaneous existing vegetation and with the restoration of ancient Tuscan terracotta flooring and the replacement of parts of the destroyed floor with terracotta of same dimensions and features. The internal masonry-work of the walkway, in some parts, lacks stones or stones are not tied with mortar and unfastened. It's proposed to adopt the technique that replaces each broken stone with local stone and fastens every unfastened stone where missing by using for the fillings both mortar and colour equal to the external masonry of the walls.
INTERNAL WORKS:
Plasters: with concrete, traditional type;
Paintworks: mezza tempera;
Electrical system: in chase with light and heat;
Heating system: underfloor;
Solid chestnut wood doors;
Sewage system: traditional type with connections to the existing sanitary and drain sewers on via delle Olviere;
High quality ceramic sanitary fitting.
Town Planning
This structure is part of artefacts and monumental complexes. Planned works are:
- Extraordinary repairs with restrictions.
- Conservative restoration with Restoration Project;
- There is a constraint decree on the building under the law 1089/37 notified to the property by the Ministry of Cultural and Architectural Heritage