Application:
Ancient and modern fortifications were designed by the best available military engineers and designers. They were places of technological and logistic innovation, planned to be autonomous in case of siege. These places of defence and attack can educate us on solid building techniques, on economic use of materials, as well as on water management. From the 16th to the 20th century, the architecture of war includes massive amounts of earthworks, spread to wide areas, which today are ecological reserves much needed in the preservation of biodiversity.
European Project
Erasmus + project named Resilient Fortress -application, presented by the Governing Body of Suomenlinna as lead partner with Stichting Monumentenbezit for the fortifications of Naarden (NL), Centre des monuments nationaux for the stronghold of Mont-Dauphin (F) and EFFORTS, European Federation of Fortified Sites (EU & B) with experts from France (Atelier d’Architecture Philippe Prost with Anibes and St Tropez) and Italy (Studio Architettura Meneghelli), Sweden (Bomarsund) was chosen to be funded in June 2024.
A symposium was organized at Naarden on the 4-7 of May with a meeting on the 6th to present a part of the results of the project and the contribution of a lot of specialists from 5 countries (Finland, France, Netherland, Sweden, Italy)
All of this work allows for a series of reflections and constraints that are imposed on restorers and managers of fortified sites.
THE REPAIR OF DISORDERS AND THE RESTORATION OF WORKS
Apart from the restoration approaches that must meet the requirements of the Venice Charter of 1964, supplemented in 2000 by the Krakow Charter, which emphasizes the importance of keeping remarkable buildings functional (without affecting their layout or decor), it also deepens the principles and broadens their scope.
Taking into account the fauna and flora : Often featuring significant open areas, fortified spaces and their neglected areas host a fauna and flora that must be inventoried to identify elements that are dangerous for the conservation of monuments (notably with the development of roots that loosen stones and bricks) as well as those that should be preserved, or even prioritized.
The fight against climatic éléments : A change in climate is particularly evident on fortifications at high latitudes (Finland) or at high altitudes. At Suomenlinna, it is noted that the periods of drought are more significant and longer. In addition, there are alternating periods of freezing that are no longer continuous during winter and are followed by snowfall and rain, which damages the faces of the bastions.
The fight against erosion : Soil erosion is comparable to the erosion of masonry structures. If the grassy surface of a rampart or parapet has dense growth and there is a sufficient slope, the vegetation acts as a waterproofing agent. Rainwater only moistens it from the surface. But if the vegetation is worn and eroded, water also moistens the soil. The fortifications have masses of earth and sand to protect them from artillery fire. If this volume is loaded with water, its weight doubles. When the wet soil freezes, the pressure of the ice is enormous and can cause dangerous collapses.
The choice of materials : The restoration work should be preceded by an analysis of the production sites of the initial materials to understand the choices made during the initial construction. This is the approach that was initiated by Mont Dauphin, which thus identified all the extraction sites of the stones and materials used during the construction of the square and thus located the materials to be used during the restorations or at least identical materials.
THE MAINTENANCE AND CARE OF SPACES
Maintenance : The maintenance of fortified sites poses numerous problems. « The cultivation » of lawns in order to later harvest them in slabs raises the issue of production (where to produce them and how to protect them from trampling as soon as they are laid? To what extent can this production be ensured?). Restoration periods and construction zones also impose access restrictions.
Monitoring : The monitoring of the vegetation condition and the effects of maintenance must be continuous. One could speak of a so-called observational maintenance. Moreover, through continuous monitoring, maintenance methods can be adjusted according to the effects caused by climate change.
The management of overtourism The overcrowding of certain points at heritage sites raises difficulties. The trampling and the creation of pathways outside marked trails, or the incivility of visitors contribute to the creation of disorder or modifications of spaces.
CONCLUSIONS
Despite fundamentally different sites, the working group found many common issues. Sharing experiences often allows for saving time in searching for solutions.It also appears that knowledge of the conditions for constructing works, however, until the mid-20th century, engineers worked for several countries, bringing their methodologies and knowledge, which also partly explains the identical nature of the observed disorders and the use of identical materials, often relying on wood, quarries, sands, or lime produced not far from the completed works..
You can you can refer to the booklet we made about the project.
Program and objective (in french and english) :
https://www.monuments-nationaux.fr/actualites-du-cmn/projet-europeen-forteresse-resiliente
the final report is available for download at: https://monumentenbezit.nl/publicaties/publicatie-resilient-fortress/
All the informations about the project : Resilient Fortress, report, Erasmus + 2025, 124 p.
. Resilient Fortress, Antibes, Erasmus +, 2025, 8 p.
. Resilient Fortress, Mont Dauphin, Erasmus + 2025, 12 p.
. resilient Fortress ; Naarden, 5-7 mai 2025, Erasmus +, 12 p.
. Resilient fortress guidelines, Erasmus + project, 2025, 12p.
. The program and objective in video (french and english) on the website :
https://www.monuments-nationaux.fr/actualites-du-cmn/projet-europeen-forteresse-resiliente
. The publications of Resilient Fortress are available on the website :
https://monumentenbezit.nl/en/publicaties-onderzoek-monumenten/