A comprehensive evaluation of the repair of the roof of the Royal Palace at the Castle of Točník, impact on heritage values, benefits and economic efficiency

Abstract

Anglès: The Castle of Točník was built in 1398 by the order of the Czech King Wenceslas IV to function as both a defensive fortress and a representative residence of the king. Točník has also witnessed different phases of evolution, abandoned conditions, uses and intervention works. Partial renovations during the Renaissance era did not change its Gothic temperament. The original medieval roof of the palace was later replaced by a hipped roof. The existing hipped roof of the Royal Palace which was possibly built around 1820 based on the information obtained from dendrochronology studies. Further detailed studies showed major deflections of the tie-beams and this resulted the beginning of restoration works in 2007. The objective of this thesis is to evaluate the conservation works on structural members of the timber roof of the Royal Palace of the castle in a comprehensive manner considering: technical/design work, heritage values, economic impacts and benefits, site attractivity, public education and scientific research gains to assess the actual project and works done and compare them with other possible conservation approaches, methods and practices. An assortment of rationalizations, inferences, causes and solutions are detailed out in the forthcoming chapters.