“ARCHITECTES ÉCLAIRÉS PAR LES LUMIÈRES DE LA PHISIQUE” : LA SICUREZZA NEL PROGETTO DEI TEATRI TRA XVIII E XIX SECOLO. IL CASO DEL TEATRO ALLA SCALA DI MILANO

This paper focuses on the debate on danger due to fire in theatres and the devices or solutions suggested by architects and scholars in order to prevent and decrease damages between XVIII and XIX centuries. The main treatises on construction and on theatres architecture devoted specific attention to this issue and tried to respond to an increasing demand for security and comfort in public buildings, giving rise to a general re-thinking of theatre architecture as a complex machine. The advancement of knowledge in the field of Physics and Chemistry gave to the architects new opportunities of improving building construction with fireproofing treatments, experimental techniques, new heating systems. The essay focuses on Piermarini’s design for the Teatro alla Scala showing an original solution in order to prevent from the danger of fire by introducing an innovative air heating system integrated with new fire-pomps.