Stainless steel is often at the heart of contemporary architecture and building projects, which in recent years often involve adding on to, conserving, or modernising pre-existing structures. The aim of these projects is to increase security, improve the buildings’ functionality, and very often, to conserve their cultural value. But is it possible to renovate “old” spaces while maintaining their original integrity?

In Italy there are numerous examples of historic buildings that for safety reasons require structural renovation, and in many of these stainless steel is an essential material for their modernisation. Naturally, renovation projects with the most evident use of stainless steel include those in which the buildings are younger than 100 years old, however there are also excellent engineering examples where steel has been used to reinforce antique buildings’ safety and improve their internal structure. In Friuli Venezia Giulia, there is the example of Basilica di Aquileia where tourists are now able to view the splendid mosaic floors thanks to a glass and stainless steel platform, leaving the mosaics protected from humans’ footsteps.