Prospection of the Red Biological Patinas Influencing the Urban Scenery Architecture in Portuguese Territory

Portugal’s architecture reflects a rich history influenced by Roman, Moorish, Neoclassical and Romantic styles, with the 20th century marked by Art Deco and colonial influences. Regional styles vary, with white-painted buildings commonly experiencing color changes due to biofilm formation. Visually...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Fabio Sitzia, Carla Lisci, Luis Dias, Silvia Macedo Arantes, Ana Teresa Caldeira
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Heritage
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/7/12/334
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Summary:Portugal’s architecture reflects a rich history influenced by Roman, Moorish, Neoclassical and Romantic styles, with the 20th century marked by Art Deco and colonial influences. Regional styles vary, with white-painted buildings commonly experiencing color changes due to biofilm formation. Visually striking are the red-colored biological patinascommon in the coastal areas. A survey of 120 historical buildings affected by bio-colonization helps to understand the reasons for the patinas’ growing, which beyond natural factors, is often linked to construction defects. A characterization of four samples utilizes Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) to identify the microorganisms composing the red biofilm, while the SEM-EDS, FTIR-ATR and XRD techniques provide further insights into the biofilm and substrate features. The comprehensive data of biochemical characterization indicate a wide variety of microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi, some of which exhibit potential as producers of a UV-tolerant red/yellow pigment (carotenoid) responsible for the macroscopic coloration of bio-colonization.
ISSN:2571-9408