Technology, Diagnosis and Structural Assessment on Timber Composite Beams in Venice Arsenal at the Biennale

In the architectural and cultural heritage of the Arsenale of Venice, the authors have worked on several interventions for diagnosis and recovery of roofs, foundations and floors of the so-called “woods of Venice”. The work refers to the complex of the “Sale d’Armi” located in the central area of the Arsenale, currently used as exhibition space for the Biennale of Venice. The original nucleus (1460) was used as weapons deposit of the Serenissima. The South “Sala d’Armi”, three buildings on two levels realized in the 17th century, were rebuilt after the fire of 1728. This article describes the diagnostic assessment, including dendrochronological and mechanical assessment, carried out in one of these buildings, the largest one, a large room at full height, which currently preserves original timber elements left in place after the fire: composite beams belonging to a timber floor supported by timber columns. The paper focuses on a very interesting construction system such as the historical composite wooden beams. This technology, although in frequent use in different parts of Italy for the realization of tie-beams of the trusses that were covering large spans, can be found specifically in the area of Venice for the construction of timber floors during the 17th century.