Improving indoor conditions in an Italian historical Church: the case study of Donnaregina Vecchia

Preserving the historical and artistic heritage is a topic of central interest, especially in countries that have particularly old heritage such as Italy. This study concerns the monitoring of environmental conditions of an ancient church in the center of Naples, a beautiful example of Italian Gothics, which, besides the absolute value of the architecture, even preserves works of art of special significance. The measurement campaign, performed during two typical winter weeks, was necessary to calibrate a dynamic energy model of the church. Then, a radiant floor was designed, to provide a space heating service for the Choir, used for conferences and events, so that the improvement of microclimatic conditions, in winter, can contribute to preserving artifacts (e.g., too cold conditions can induce cracks of wooden materials) and improve occupants' thermal comfort, without compromising the historical/artistic value of the church. The monitoring revealed that the indoor microclimatic conditions do not satisfy the ideal ranges for the conservation of the artistic heritage, and that the indoor environment is uncomfortable for the occupants. The positive effects of the new heating systems were also evaluated, by means of simulations performed starting from the calibrated energy model.