Knowledge path and analysis of the Binishell structures. The case study of villa La Cupola in Paradise Coast (Sardinia)

The Binishell construction, introduced in the early 1960s by architect Dante Bini, is a patented system realized by inflating and shaping a reinforced concrete membrane to form large, efficient domes. This technology gained great interest, as testified by the construction of more than 1500 structures worldwide since 1964. Efficiency, cost-effectiveness and structural stability were the main features of a system that embodies an innovative approach in the field of construction. From the preservationists’ point of view, Binishells represent a research and operational challenge for the conservation of unconventional concrete structures, important examples of 20th-century heritage. The research analyzes the case-study of the villa ‘La Cupola’ of director Michelangelo Antonioni, a Binishell structure located in Sardinia (Italy). In-depth information on the building has emerged from the analysis of the original patents, the photogrammetric survey and some information about materials of the dome. Linear finite element analyses also provided an understanding of the structural behavior of the Binishell structure. The research contributes to the understating of the safety level needed to define an informed conservation strategy, opening up innovative methodological scenarios for other similar examples of Modern heritage.