THE "BALL" CHURCH OF LUDOVICO QUARONI IN GIBELLINA: CONSERVATION AND MAINTENANCE PROBLEMS OF MODERN ARCHITECTURE

The foundation of a new city is never a painless event and the birth of the new Gibellina is linked to the events of the Belice earthquake. The reconstruction is characterized by the decision to make a clear break with the past, both from a social and cultural point of view. The new city, born from the project of Marcello Fabbri, is characterized by a strong utopian tension, linked to the experimentation of the city of the future. The usual and popular image of Gibellina is in fact the oleographic one of its timeless architecture. But time cannot stop and it continues inexorably to settle on surfaces to remind us of the inestable cycle of life.The contribution aims to show the relationships between use, maintenance and conservation of the work. Specifically, the construction difficulties caused by Ludovico Quaroni's audacious project contributed to creating distrust in the citizens. The church is experienced more as a monument than as a fulcrum of the religious community. The preservation of the "ball" church therefore requires in the first place full recognition by the community. If this did not happen, the risk of demolition would be ever greater. The conservation of a building is inextricably linked to the reasons for its use and constant maintenance. Secondly, the research highlights the need for constant maintenance of the structures, reporting the technical-diagnostic strategies necessary to ensure maximum durability of reinforced concrete structures. Last but not least, there is the legislative problem of protection.