Earthquake-resistant timber frame techniques in the Calabrian valleys of Gallico and Catona after the 1908 Messina earthquake: analysis and typological classification

The catastrophic earthquake that hit the area of the Strait of Messina on 28 December 1908 stimulated an immediate re-evaluation of historical anti-seismic construction techniques, the memory of which had been gradually lost following the experiences of the late 18th century. The adoption in seismic contexts of the baraccata system, based on the use of timber framing embedded in the masonry, was in fact already regulated in 1784, but the absence of subsequent major earthquakes disincentivised its use in southern Calabria over the following century. The effects of the earthquakes in Palmi in 1894, southern Calabria in 1905 and, lastly, that of 1908, however, highlighted the vulnerability of masonry buildings in the Reggio Calabria area, thus representing the spur for a reconstruction marked by the extensive use of timber as a structural material. In the fifteen years following the earthquake, there was a constant and diversified use of anti-seismic timber frame construction techniques: from slender intelaiata structures without masonry cladding to baraccata buildings built in accordance with regulatory requirements, including different typological variants depending on the form and position of the frame and the type of masonry used. The survey of the buildings in the settlements along the Gallico and Catona valleys to the north of Reggio Calabria – in particular, an analysis of the numerous ruined buildings scattered throughout the territory and of some recent restoration works – highlights the widespread use of these building systems. Regulated by building codes but resulting from an often spontaneous andemergency constructive practice, it constitutes a cultural heritage of considerable importance; its knowledge, also aimed at a greater understanding of its conservation features, is therefore an essential condition for the valorisation of the entire territory.