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Abstract: Throughout history, people have always faced challenges in the collection and distribution of water in its various forms. The collection and transportation of ice, in particular, posed significant difficulties. Since antiquity ice storage and distribution systems, such as ice-houses, have been employed worldwide. Mediterranean countries have, over time, developed extensive ice storage and distribution networks. Snow was collected at high altitudes and stored in mountain ice-houses, while artificial lakes were constructed specially for ice production. Icehouses belonged to two main categories: those strategically located near production areas, serving as summer storage facilities, and those situated in villages on the plains, where ice was stored after purchase. Today, ice-houses risk being forgotten. While a few of them are still used, for example for aging wine, most have long been abandoned, lost to memory, or fallen into disrepair. Only a very small number of ice-houses, such as the Madonnina ice-house in the Ecomuseum of the Pistoia Mountain, are currently being protected and enhanced as part of the local built heritage. This contribution aims to raise awareness of the heritage value of ice-houses to foster their preservation and promote their enhancement. This can be achieved through the systematic documentation of ice-houses and of the systems historically employed for ice preservation, thereby ensuring the long-term conservation and effective appreciation of these structures.
Keywords: ice-houses, built heritage, heritage conservation, construction materials
Published in ReVIS: 09.06.2026; Views: 91; Downloads: 2
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Abstract: Palermo is undergoing a prolonged period of transformation. Beginning with the redevelopment of its historic center more than twenty years ago, citizens have gradually reclaimed the city’s historic spaces and public areas. This process has also encouraged the renewal of green spaces, with an – hopefully – increasingly sustainable approach. At the same time, the growth of tourism has contributed to changes in settlement patterns and urban dynamics.Moreover, the recent effects of climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic have highlighted, worldwide, the importance of proper water resource management of water resources and the presence of green areas within inhabited centers, particularly historic gardens of great monumental and naturalistic value, of which Palermo is especially rich. These concerns intersect and reinforce one another as the specter of drought looms, with consequences for both residents and for the conservation of gardens and monumental parks. Within the historic city of Palermo, several episodes demonstrate the need to rethink the management of green spaces and water resources, starting from virtuous examples such as the Botanical Garden and initiatives aimed at the redevelopment of the Oreto river and its long-forgotten ecosystem, to the broader issue of redeveloping the city’s southern Coast, including the so-called Cala, the ancient port of Palermo with the remains of Castellammare. This process requires a necessary dialogue – although not always pursued or fully considered – with preexisting structures and with the sea. This study argues that Palermo must develop shared policies, grounded in dialogue with its historical contexts, the better address the demands of environmental sustainability. Such policies will also influence restoration strategies for monumental heritage, contributing to an overall improvement in the quality of life in the historic city.
Keywords: Palermo, water, river, historic gardens, resource management
Published in ReVIS: 09.06.2026; Views: 86; Downloads: 2
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Abstract: The Gualchiere di Remole represent a rare example of a late medieval industrial mill still standing in Italy. Built in 1327 by the Albizzi family, these structures were dedicated to the fulling of wool, a crucial process in Florentine textile manufacturing. Despite their historical and architectural significance, the Gualchiere are currently in an advanced state of decay. Declared a site of historical and artistic interest in 2013, the complex has undergone various interventions and transformations over the centuries but has never been subject to a structured restoration. Previous studies have focused on analyzing the mechanics of the mills and documenting the architectural conditions of the buildings. The research project began in 2009 with 3D laser scanner surveys to document the structure and understand the operation of the hydraulic fulling stocks. This initial phase utilized TLS instruments capable ofproducing a sufficiently complete and detailed point cloud, allowing for the mapping of both the interior and exterior and for assessing the state of conservation and functionality of the site. In 2024, a new photogrammetric survey using drones and high-resolution cameras updated the data on the condition of the mill and its hydrographic context. The combination of data collected in 2009 and 2024 enabled a direct comparison to evaluate the progression of degradation. This research provides a significant contribution to the knowledge and conservation of the Gualchiere di Remole, demonstrating the effectiveness of integrating 3D digital surveying techniques with modern digital photogrammetry (SfM) technologies. The comparison between laser scanning and photogrammetric surveys has produced a detailed picture of the mill’s condition and its critical issues. The results may support future restoration and enhancement efforts, promoting the potential museumization and reuse of the complex for cultural and public purposes. The applied methodology has proven to be valuable for this type of industrial heritage, offering a replicable model for the preservation of medieval industrial sites. 
Keywords: Conservation, Heritage, Survey, Remole Gualchiere, Photo modeling, Wool Art
Published in ReVIS: 09.06.2026; Views: 91; Downloads: 2
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Abstract: Dar Belamri is considered one of the emerging centers in the Sidi Slimane region, but it suffers from the spread of slums in the center, especially in the Ouled Abdel Sadek area, part of which is located on the edge of a cliff near scattered quarries, in addition to the Fajr area, which is located near the Beht River. What distinguishes these areas is that they are located in a natural flood zone, which requires proactive management of these risks by local planners and decision-makers. This study provides a flood risk assessment tool that is adapted to the conditions of these specific areas. The methodology combines flood frequency and flood impacts using a hydrological and hydraulic approach. This approach uses a hydrological model to analyze the spatio-temporal evolution of hydraulic properties (such as flow rate, velocity, water height, and inundated areas) during design flood events, while assessing the effects of hydraulic developments on flow dynamics. The study focuses on two main watercourses, Wadi Beht and Wadi Oum El Zein. Comprehensive topographic surveys provided detailed morphological data, allowing for accurate hydraulic simulation of floods at different return periods. This helped accurately identify flood zones and contributed decisively to the delineation of areas suitable for urbanization and construction, thus producing a flood risk map. It is a crucial tool for targeted flood risk management and mitigation efforts, ultimately supporting the development of a final urban suitability map and, through it, identifying appropriate solutions for informal housing and avoiding various risks in the center of Dar Belamri, with the potential for application across other high-risk areas.
Keywords: urban planning, flood, slums, topography, land use, remote sensing
Published in ReVIS: 09.06.2026; Views: 87; Downloads: 2
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Abstract: The aim of this paper is to analyse the various forms of differentiated integration and to map the geopolitical intentions of two clearly identified groups of European Union Member States: those in Southern Europe (MED7 and MED9) and those in Central and Eastern Europe (the Visegrad Group), within the framework of permanent structured cooperation (PESCO). In the literature, differentiated integration is described in several ways. Terms such as core Europe, Europe à la carte, two-speed Europe or multi-speed Europe, enhanced cooperation, and variable geometry integration are commonly used. Although these terms are often treated as synonyms, these expressions refer to distinct forms of differentiated integration. This study focuses on two case studies of regional groupings within the EU. The central research question is how PESCO can facilitate differentiated integration in these subregional forms of cooperation and what types of differentiated integration emerge as a result. This paper does not assess the effectiveness of PESCO itself but instead examines statistical data concerning membership and leadership roles held by Member States. The research is based on official statements and publications relating to Member State collaboration, EU documents, and data published on the official PESCO website.
Keywords: European Union, differentiated integration, PESCO, Visegrad 4, MED7 and MED9
Published in ReVIS: 09.06.2026; Views: 85; Downloads: 2
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