The delicate intervention in the structure of historic buildings: the case of San Millán de los Balbases, Burgos

Abstract

Traditional and historic construction techniques are not currently in the curriculum of architects and engineers in universities. As a consequence, academic education does not ensure that these professionals are equipped to intervene on buildings constructed with these techniques. The church of San Millán de los Balbases, in the province of Burgos, is an example of the harmful consequences of this educational shortfall. This is one of many historic buildings in which a structure alien to its original design, in this case reinforced concrete, was used in an attempt to repair a construction originally based on principles that are incompatible with it, with disastrous consequences. This case serves to point out the need to recover the teaching of this type of constructive techniques in current educational programs.