HBIM-Based Multicriteria Method for Assessing Internal Insulation in Heritage Buildings

Energy retrofitting of historic buildings presents complex challenges, particularly when using internal insulation strategies. While such interventions can enhance thermal comfort and reduce energy demand, they can also pose risks of condensation and mold formation, thereby reducing usable space. Th...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Angelo Massafra, Luca Mattioli, Iuliia Kozlova, Cecilia Mazzoli, Giorgia Predari, Riccardo Gulli
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Heritage
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/8/7/259
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849246367012093952
author Angelo Massafra
Luca Mattioli
Iuliia Kozlova
Cecilia Mazzoli
Giorgia Predari
Riccardo Gulli
author_facet Angelo Massafra
Luca Mattioli
Iuliia Kozlova
Cecilia Mazzoli
Giorgia Predari
Riccardo Gulli
author_sort Angelo Massafra
collection DOAJ
description Energy retrofitting of historic buildings presents complex challenges, particularly when using internal insulation strategies. While such interventions can enhance thermal comfort and reduce energy demand, they can also pose risks of condensation and mold formation, thereby reducing usable space. This paper proposes an evaluation methodology for assessing the performance of internal insulating panels within a multicriteria framework to support decision-making during the design phase. The approach, scalable to various contexts, is grounded in a digital workflow that integrates heritage building information modeling (HBIM), visual programming (VP), and building energy modeling (BEM) to create a decision-support tool for renovation designers. The methodology, tested on a building located in Bologna (Italy), allows for assessing internal insulation systems with varying thermophysical properties and performance characteristics, and evaluating how they affect space- and wall-level key performance indicators, including condensation risk, energy efficiency improvement, and usable space reduction. The research was conducted under the Horizon Europe HERIT4AGES project, which aims to develop reversible, innovative insulation panels fabricated from local and recycled materials for historic building retrofitting.
format Article
id doaj-art-e405590ec7754cac88de04f8971ba996
institution Kabale University
issn 2571-9408
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Heritage
spelling doaj-art-e405590ec7754cac88de04f8971ba9962025-08-20T03:58:31ZengMDPI AGHeritage2571-94082025-07-018725910.3390/heritage8070259HBIM-Based Multicriteria Method for Assessing Internal Insulation in Heritage BuildingsAngelo Massafra0Luca Mattioli1Iuliia Kozlova2Cecilia Mazzoli3Giorgia Predari4Riccardo Gulli5Department of Architecture, University of Bologna, 40136 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Architecture, University of Bologna, 40136 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Architecture, University of Bologna, 40136 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Architecture, University of Bologna, 40136 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Architecture, University of Bologna, 40136 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Architecture, University of Bologna, 40136 Bologna, ItalyEnergy retrofitting of historic buildings presents complex challenges, particularly when using internal insulation strategies. While such interventions can enhance thermal comfort and reduce energy demand, they can also pose risks of condensation and mold formation, thereby reducing usable space. This paper proposes an evaluation methodology for assessing the performance of internal insulating panels within a multicriteria framework to support decision-making during the design phase. The approach, scalable to various contexts, is grounded in a digital workflow that integrates heritage building information modeling (HBIM), visual programming (VP), and building energy modeling (BEM) to create a decision-support tool for renovation designers. The methodology, tested on a building located in Bologna (Italy), allows for assessing internal insulation systems with varying thermophysical properties and performance characteristics, and evaluating how they affect space- and wall-level key performance indicators, including condensation risk, energy efficiency improvement, and usable space reduction. The research was conducted under the Horizon Europe HERIT4AGES project, which aims to develop reversible, innovative insulation panels fabricated from local and recycled materials for historic building retrofitting.https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/8/7/259historic buildingsdecision support systemenergy retrofitinternal insulationmulticriteria analysisheritage building information modeling
spellingShingle Angelo Massafra
Luca Mattioli
Iuliia Kozlova
Cecilia Mazzoli
Giorgia Predari
Riccardo Gulli
HBIM-Based Multicriteria Method for Assessing Internal Insulation in Heritage Buildings
Heritage
historic buildings
decision support system
energy retrofit
internal insulation
multicriteria analysis
heritage building information modeling
title HBIM-Based Multicriteria Method for Assessing Internal Insulation in Heritage Buildings
title_full HBIM-Based Multicriteria Method for Assessing Internal Insulation in Heritage Buildings
title_fullStr HBIM-Based Multicriteria Method for Assessing Internal Insulation in Heritage Buildings
title_full_unstemmed HBIM-Based Multicriteria Method for Assessing Internal Insulation in Heritage Buildings
title_short HBIM-Based Multicriteria Method for Assessing Internal Insulation in Heritage Buildings
title_sort hbim based multicriteria method for assessing internal insulation in heritage buildings
topic historic buildings
decision support system
energy retrofit
internal insulation
multicriteria analysis
heritage building information modeling
url https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/8/7/259
work_keys_str_mv AT angelomassafra hbimbasedmulticriteriamethodforassessinginternalinsulationinheritagebuildings
AT lucamattioli hbimbasedmulticriteriamethodforassessinginternalinsulationinheritagebuildings
AT iuliiakozlova hbimbasedmulticriteriamethodforassessinginternalinsulationinheritagebuildings
AT ceciliamazzoli hbimbasedmulticriteriamethodforassessinginternalinsulationinheritagebuildings
AT giorgiapredari hbimbasedmulticriteriamethodforassessinginternalinsulationinheritagebuildings
AT riccardogulli hbimbasedmulticriteriamethodforassessinginternalinsulationinheritagebuildings