Concrete facade conservation of the Peru Pavilion of Seville (1927). Analysis of decay

Abstract

The Peru Pavilion of the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929 is a building designed in 1927 by the architect Manuel Piqueras Cotoli (1886-1937). It is located near the Maria Luisa Park and is subject to conditions of great humidity. The building is included in the Ibero-American Exposition and Maria Luisa Park Cultural Interest Catalogue. The aim of this study was to analyse and determine the origin of the pathologies observed in the original concrete constituting the ornamental pieces of the elements integrated in the brick facade of the Pavilion. The results of the chemical analysis carried out did not allow us to confirm the existence of a sufficient amount of soluble salts to have caused degradation by crystallization and efflorescence formation, nor to determine a clear influence in the oxidation of the steel bars used to assemble the concrete structure. Carbonation on the facade has progressed significantly, causing steel depassivation, subsequently undermining protection against atmospheric agents with oxidant capacity. With respect to future treatments, the most decisive property observed from the perspective of conservation of the materials was permeability to liquid water. It is essential to protect the concrete with water repellent products that mitigate oxidation, which is favoured by concrete carbonation and accelerated by the availability of rainwater.