The Evolution of Construction Techniques in Italian Barracks after National Unification

During the years between the Unification of Italy (1861) and Fascism (1922-1943) there was a great development of military buildings. The designer's technical skills combined competence in the disciplines of fortification and military and civil architecture, and took place under the teacher's guidance – officials of the Engineer Corps themselves – whose notoriety and cultural influence often extended to the civil field. At the same time the construction field followed a gradual but radical evolution process, thanks to the progressive change of traditional buildings techniques and materials – masonry elevation structures, vaulted or wooden floors and roofs – with ones: cast iron, steel, and reinforced concrete. In accordance with technological evolution there was a progressive shift from projects based on empiricism and the well-established ‘rules of art', to scientific analysis of structures, which had become essential to optimize the use of these new materials.