History and analysis of coffered ceilings: the case study of Palazzo Raimondi in Cremona

All Coffered ceilings are an, often sumptuous, cladding which conceals the underlying load bearing structure. In Cremona from the Middle Ages to the XVIth century, woodworking and carving – sometimes used in place of stucco, even in masonry construction – produced majestic wooden ceilings, based on a double structure, often gilded or painted. Coffered ceilings built towards the end of XVIth century are numerous and it is therefore possible to review a large number of different cases and construction techniques. In terms of construction and use of materials they offer original variations of a common element in the XVIth century European architecture. Palazzo Raimondi in Cremona is a masterpiece of Lombard Renaissance architecture: a coffered ceiling on the ground floor evokes the more famous ceiling in the Gallery of Fontainebleau, designed by Primaticcio. The ceiling in Palazzo Raimondi is composed of various elements, such as beams, boards, cornices etc., which cover the two main square beams, superimposed one on the other. The beams are placed in parallel to the longitudinal sides of the hall and are over 9 metres in length. This choice, seemingly unreasonable, can be explained by an analysis of the structural decay of the ceiling: in the XIXth century a thin wall which supported the middle of the beams, was demolished. Further maintenance in the last century and the yet more recent (and inadequate) restoration of the building have increased the decay. Therefore appropriate technical solutions must be identified from an accurate assessment of the “history of decay” and the current state of the building.