Gennaro Tampone, Italian expert in historic wood structures and long-time ICCROM collaborator, has died in Florence at the age of 81. His involvement in the preservation and enhancement of architectural heritage was of great importance, not only for specialists but also for the entire restoration community. Prof Tampone was an authoritative member of ICOMOS, and a notable scholar who made significant contributions in the field of historic wooden structure conservation.
Born in Bari, Tampone received his first degree in civil engineering in 1961 in Bari, and a second degree in architecture in 1969 in Florence, the city where he settled permanently.
A long-term member of ICCROM’s teaching team on all editions of its Built Heritage course from 2007 to 2016, Tampone shared his knowledge on the conservation of ancient timber structures. He also guided ICCROM’s course participants on site visits to historic structures in Florence such as the Spedale degli Innocenti (architect Filippo Brunelleschi, 1419) Palazzo Vecchio (architect Giorgio Vasari, 1563), and Palazzo Medici Riccardi, where he explained the techniques used to reinforce the roof timber constructions. Tampone also taught at ICCROM’s International Course for the Conservation of Wood, held in Oslo, Norway in 2000.
In addition to lecturing on ICCROM courses, Tampone taught at the University of Florence and at multiple Italian and international universities. These included Columbia University (New York, USA); NTU-Norwegian Technical University (Trondheim, Norway); Spanish universities including Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, Granada, and Valencia; the Universidad de la Habana (Havana, Cuba); MSIDA-University of Malta (Malta), and the Scuola archeologica italiana di Atene (Italian archaeological school of Athens, Greece).
Prof Tampone practiced and consulted nationally and internationally on architectural conservation, with multiple projects to his name, including those carried out for the Italian Soprintendenze per i Beni Architettonici (Italian Authority for the Preservation of the Architectural Heritage), and as Chief Engineer of the Ufficio del Genio Civile (Ministry of Public Works) of Florence. In addition to his architectural conservation practice, Tampone conducted research on ancient building techniques, the strengthening of ancient timber structures (with three invention patents), and prehistoric architecture. He also spoke at multiple conferences and symposia, including the ICCROM symposium ‘Ironworks and Iron Monuments: Study, Conservation and Adaptive Use’, held at the Institute of Industrial Archaeology in Coalbrookdale (Shropshire, England), in 1984.
Tampone published more than 170 papers, including books and essays. Some of his major works include Conservation of Historic Wooden Structures (2005), and the Rescuing the Hidden European Wood Churches Heritage. An International Methodology for Implementing a Database for Restoration Projects (2006). His latest work, the bilingual Atlante dei dissesti delle strutture lignee – Atlas of the Failures of Timber Structures, was published by Nardini Publishers in 2016.
Additionally, Tampone was President of the Collegio Ingegneri della Toscana (Council of Engineers of Tuscany), a non-profit cultural and educational association founded in 1876. He was a Full Academician and Professor at the Accademia delle Arti del Disegno (Academy of the Arts of Drawing) in Florence. An ICOMOS member since 1978, Tampone served from 2008 as President of its Wood International Committee. He was also an Honorary Member of the Associazione Nazionale Club UNESCO (UNESCO National Association Club), Italy.
ICCROM offers deepest condolences to Prof Tampone’s family, friends and professional colleagues worldwide.