Structural Surveying And Diagnosis Of TheCentral Market Of Valencia, Spain

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of the structural problems of an important and significant historic building of Valencia city. This building could be ascribed to the Modernist style, though it is a rather late example. The metallic structure of the ground floor covers 7,200 square metres, defining a very simple plan in Latin cross shape. In the same architectural ensemble there are included several pavilions which belong to the eclecticist movement. The brick vaulted basement of the building, covering the same surface of the market is also very interesting. Although the building has been looked after its functional aspects, it has not been maintained from a structural and constructive point of view. This case study is presented to examine the application of non-destructive investigative techniques to historic buildings, without interfering in their every day use. INTRODUCTION The Central Market of Valencia was built between 1918 and 1929, based on the plans of a project dated 1914. It is a Modernist Style building, located on the site of a demolished abbey, within the historic area of the city. The polygonal perimeter adapts to the complex medieval urban layout (Fig. 1). The plan, of basilic design, is organised by means of two symmetrical axes, which are the arms of the Latin cross. The plan is completed by means of secondary bays, parallel to the longer bay. The Fish Market area, with an octagonal plan, is attached to one of the sides of the General Market area. In this way, the plan of the Transactions on the Built Environment vol 4, © 1993 WIT Press, www.witpress.com, ISSN 1743-3509 194 Structural Repair and Maintenance of Historical Buildings building adapts to the irregular shape of the site. Its height is respectful with the four storeyed buildings of the surroundings. The principal bays, coinciding with the arms of the cross are 107 and 51 metres long. The width of the central bays is 23.80 metres, and 13.60 metres for the secondary ones. The ground floor space is used for the daily retail market sale, and the basement, created for the wholesale of fish, is used at the moment as a parking area. There are two pavilions built in brick, on each side of the principal entrance of the Market, and another one attached to the opposite facade (Fig. 2). All these pavilions have an administrative use. This large and complex building maintains its original use. No maintenance works have been done on it, except those to provide the supplies which are necessary to develop the activity of daily market. Several damages have been detected on the walls and stone decorative elements, that we recommend should be studied. CONSTRUCTIVE DESCRIPTION The structure of the ground floor is made of metallic trusses, with riveted unions, separated from one another by 6.80 metres. A dome with a 14.00 metres diameter is located over the transept, being the keystone at 27.00 metres high. A square grid formed by depressed arches, defines the vaulted structure of the basement. The arches are supported by circular columns, made of moulded bricks. Tensile rods are embedded in the floor depth. Masonry is used for the foundations. The pentagonal shaped facades, are defined by means of stone ashlars. The facades are made of brick, dressed with stone up to the basement, and with decorated tiles up to the window sill. Big arched openings with metallic windows (3 or 5 depending on the width of the facade), are shut in its upper part with stained glass allowing the sales area to be illuminated by the sunlight, and with horizontal glass fittings in its lower part, to allow natural ventilation. The roofing, supported by means of metallic beams fixed between the trusses, is composed of prefabricated concrete slabs, 4 cm thick, and tiled with ceramic plane tiles. The vaults of the basement, formed by three sheets of bricks supports the floor of the sales area by means of brick walls of irregular height. Transactions on the Built Environment vol 4, © 1993 WIT Press, www.witpress.com, ISSN 1743-3509 Structural Repair and Maintenance of Historical Buildings 195