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THE ROLE OF FIRE IN THE MATERIAL CULTURE OF MEDITERRANEAN REGION Within the cultural panorama of the Mediterranean region – mainly aimed at artistic, architectural and more generally constructive manifestations of city and territory – it appears very complex to define the role that the element fire plays while processing appointed theory as well as practice. In the present issue of the magazine, dedicated exactly to this element, the Editorial Committee had established the following specific goals. First of all to conclude with the topic of fire the knowledge and the deep analysis of the sequence of the four elements of the cosmos, as they are indicated by the tradition of the Greek pre-Socratic philosophy, and specifically that due to Anassimene di Mileto (VI century A.C.) and then to Empedocle (around 450 A.C.). In fact in our magazine, a first issue about earth (Rammed Earth) and another one about water (Water and Construction) and on the air (Air and Environment) have been already published. And this is due to the fact that the Mediterranean culture deeply roots in the same elements: the sea which links the lands, the fire of the various volcanoes and seismic zones, finally the air itself favoured by a really unique climate in the world. Therefore, by outlining possible innovative characters in the questions about Mediterranean region, some components are defined which are common to all these man’s interventions within the construction and transformation of landscape; such elements succeed to represent a peculiar programmatic address including future actions aimed at a serious sustainable development, respectful of place’s identity. The more evident character, firstly met – while comparing the concept of fire to the construction – is that of a narrow bond between science and technology. During the identification of the common traits of the whole Mediterranean area according to science-of-earth’s point of view, it can be noticed how the same lands are characterized by a constant presence of fire; as we know the water-land globe has been established around 5 million of years ago, born from a cloud of interstellar matter, probable result of a supernova’s explosion; at the beginning the planetesimals were clumps of very dense matter which, reciprocally attracting themselves, shaped the Sun and the Planets. The Earth was then a sphere of incandescent materials, while neither oceans nor continents existed; the existing iron, being heavier, located itself in the centre, so shaping the Nucleus, while the Aluminium and Silica remained on the surface so constituting the Planet’s Crust or Mantel 1 . The earth we know has a ray of 1370 Km, and around 4000°C of temperature. In the internal Nucleus, being constituted by iron and nickel this time at the liquid state and with a thickness of 2000 Km, electric current and magnetic field occur. The Mantel (or Crust), within which the viscous slow magma can be found, has a thickness of 2900 Km and a temperature of about 3000°C. Finally the Lithosphere presents a variable thickness of 5/10 Km under sea level and of 40/75 Km over the same level 2 . It can also be reminded how the earth heat is saved thanks to the radioactivity phenomena, during the process of radioactive decay within those elements (Uranium, Thorium, Potassium) – present in the Crust – which give birth to geothermal phenomena such as Geyser, thermal sources and fumaroles. Frequently the fire within the Planet can lead to complex phenomena whose effects are volcanic eruptions and seismic actions. In the first case the volcanoes have been classified according to two typologies: the explosive ones, which – being located at the border of the tectonic plate moving close each other’s - become extraordinary events where very big energy is emitted and which appear very tall: at the other typology of volcanoes those Effusive belong which originate at the borders of the tectonic plates’ furthering, and are quieter, while the magma rises giving place to a basaltic lava; these formations can be observed in the sea depths, with a cone of reduced height but a larger base 3 . The geyser, instead, are phenomena through which great hot water streams reach till 500 m of height, water coming from the rocks overheated by the incandescent magma-scape 4 . Also the earthquakes have been classified according to two different typologies, the Violent ones, which often occur along the tectonic plates moving close each other’s, when one ends up under the other, i.e. usually at circa 300 Km under the soil level; those Superficial are instead less catastrophic, and can be observed along the tectonic plates furthering; according to Pinna “… the seismic waves are provoked by the sudden freedom of the energy enclosed within the rock masses under stress.” 5 In these cases the rocks deform due to the tensions between the layers, while they charge themselves as enormous springs, therefore when they jerk they move so as to establish a balance, thus the stored energy is freed transforming itself into a seismic wave. Therefore the number of the element-fire’s expressions, which occur in the constituting nature of the earthen Planet, involve various and complex processes also in the humanized zones and with major damage in those strongly inhabited. Accordingly, defining the role of fire within the cultural landscape consists in the identification of interaction between physical and constructive phenomena, by interpreting them as far as multiple logic and expertise are concerned. It cannot even be neglected that fire had played a metaphoric and psychological-social role all along the development of man’s history on Earth. We know in particular how a number of philosophers have been often processing complex and deep observations in which the fire had shown different behaviours and meanings. For example since the primordial philosophical thought, a sense of strength, value and energy has been attributed to fire, which corresponded to man’s requirement – both as thinker and actor of processes – of subjugating and mastering the nature in order to make it satisfy his needs; at the same time this aggression to nature could exorcise unknown phenomena whom men feared and whose control appeared absolutely inadequate. Let us see, a propos, which meaning the strength had assumed according the Heidegger’s thought: the memory, An-denken, acquires for man a reassuring function, a perception of possession of past; in this sense also the modern man’s triumph of technique becomes as a reassurance of position (I am) of present regarding nature and historical past 6 . This affirmation could constitute the founder principle of a new man’s approach towards nature by establishing with it a sort of new alliance: it is no longer necessary either to aggress it or counterpoise to it the fire itself. It can be reminded the Greek Mythology told for example by Galimberti while describing Plato’s writings in the Pythagoras: “… Zeus sent Epimetheus (that who thinks later) to assign to living beings the qualities. Arrived at man, nothing remained in its possess, so the god sent Prometheus (that who thinks before) who donated to men the quality of previewing ... that is making them to know the fire and the calculation. 7 ” This strength was guaranteeing for centuries to man a certain control over nature by subjecting it to his needs and amusements; but in the modern age, when new technologies, the human experience and the scientific and technical potential had allowed a superior control to natural phenomena, while at the same time man has become conscious of the damages that those aggressive actions had provoked on the entire globe, then a new way of thinking and considering the use of fire has arisen. Similarly in Nietzsche’s thought, the strength – and so its symbol, the fire – acquires the function of tool for safety while historically reconstructing the roots, for it is needed for dominating the nature ... (to burn it in case of danger, to heat up its food...) and thus it can be recognized as ‘Power Will’ 8 . The known Nietzsche’s sentence «god is dead», according to certain interpretations, would represent actually the awareness of this occurrence: here man does no longer retain that he must be provided with stable structures and fundamentals 9 . If god is dead, a supernatural power’s presence is no longer necessary, we are already strong; therefore it is our duty to employ the same nature’s strength besides ours, so as to save the earth from a future destruction as well as from pollution and decay. Modern man does no longer urge to ruin everything to which he can have access, by exploiting again the nature and its fruits, for now he is stronger and does no longer need a god, since he had gained the knowledge tool …: and then how can this knowledge tool be used in a wicked way? That is burning and infringing all the most precious things the earth offers us? Or conversely could not it be this time better to use our knowledge (fire as light, as intelligence) and our action (fire as work tool and clean energy shape) in order to remedy the already provoked damages? And then creating an action method which will be less invasive and less destructive? Make an effort, whereby possible, for mitigating and limiting the transformations to environment, landscape and territory, only if they are strictly necessary? Here it is now how the fire can acquire the value of technique. If in fact the earth-centred philosophy prevails upon the ego-centred one Dora Francese View 003

Dora Francese View - … can also be reminded how the earth heat is saved thanks to the radioactivity phenomena ... of this occurrence: ... natural identity of land, in its biotic

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Page 1: Dora Francese View - … can also be reminded how the earth heat is saved thanks to the radioactivity phenomena ... of this occurrence: ... natural identity of land, in its biotic

THE ROLE OF FIRE IN THE MATERIAL CULTURE OF MEDITERRANEAN REGION

Within the culturalpanoramaof theMediterranean region–mainlyaimedatartistic, architectural andmoregenerally constructivemanifestationsof cityandterritory–itappearsverycomplextodefinetherolethattheelementfireplayswhileprocessingappointedtheoryaswellaspractice.Inthepresentissueofthemagazine,dedicatedexactlytothiselement,theEditorialCommitteehadestablishedthefollowingspecificgoals.Firstofalltoconcludewiththetopicoffiretheknowledgeandthedeepanalysisofthesequenceofthefourelementsofthecosmos,astheyareindicatedbythetraditionoftheGreekpre-Socraticphilosophy, andspecificallythatduetoAnassimenediMileto(VIcenturyA.C.)andthentoEmpedocle(around450A.C.).Infactinourmagazine,afirstissueaboutearth(RammedEarth)andanotheroneaboutwater(WaterandConstruction)andontheair(AirandEnvironment)havebeenalreadypublished.AndthisisduetothefactthattheMediterraneanculturedeeplyrootsinthesameelements:theseawhichlinksthelands,thefireofthevariousvolcanoesandseismiczones,finallytheairitselffavouredbyareallyuniqueclimateintheworld.Therefore,byoutliningpossibleinnovativecharactersinthequestionsaboutMediterraneanregion,somecomponentsaredefinedwhicharecommontoalltheseman’s interventionswithin the construction and transformation of landscape; such elements succeed to represent a peculiar programmatic address includingfutureactionsaimedataserioussustainabledevelopment,respectfulofplace’sidentity.Themoreevidentcharacter,firstlymet–whilecomparingtheconceptoffiretotheconstruction–isthatofanarrowbondbetweenscienceandtechnology.DuringtheidentificationofthecommontraitsofthewholeMediterraneanareaaccordingtoscience-of-earth’spointofview,itcanbenoticedhowthesamelandsarecharacterizedbyaconstantpresenceoffire;asweknowthewater-landglobehasbeenestablishedaround5millionofyearsago,bornfromacloudofinterstellarmatter,probableresultofasupernova’sexplosion;atthebeginningtheplanetesimals were clumps of very densematter which, reciprocally attracting themselves, shaped the Sun and the Planets. The Earth was then a sphere ofincandescentmaterials,whileneitheroceansnorcontinentsexisted;theexistingiron,beingheavier,locateditselfinthecentre,soshapingtheNucleus,whiletheAluminiumandSilicaremainedonthesurfacesoconstitutingthePlanet’sCrustorMantel1. Theearthweknowhasarayof1370Km,andaround4000°Coftemperature. In the internalNucleus, being constituted by iron andnickel this time at the liquid state andwith a thickness of 2000Km, electric current andmagneticfieldoccur.TheMantel(orCrust),withinwhichtheviscousslowmagmacanbefound,hasathicknessof 2900Kmandatemperatureofabout3000°C.FinallytheLithospherepresentsavariablethicknessof5/10Kmundersealevelandof40/75Kmoverthesamelevel2.It can also be reminded how the earth heat is saved thanks to the radioactivity phenomena, during the process of radioactive decay within those elements(Uranium,Thorium,Potassium)–presentintheCrust–whichgivebirthtogeothermalphenomenasuchasGeyser,thermalsourcesandfumaroles.FrequentlythefirewithinthePlanetcanleadtocomplexphenomenawhoseeffectsarevolcaniceruptionsandseismicactions.Inthefirstcasethevolcanoeshavebeenclassifiedaccordingtotwotypologies:theexplosiveones,which–beinglocatedattheborderofthetectonicplatemovingcloseeachother’s-becomeextraordinaryeventswhereverybigenergyisemittedandwhichappearverytall:attheothertypologyofvolcanoesthoseEffusivebelongwhichoriginateatthebordersofthetectonicplates’furthering,andarequieter,whilethemagmarisesgivingplacetoabasalticlava;theseformationscanbeobservedintheseadepths,withaconeofreducedheightbutalargerbase3.Thegeyser,instead,arephenomenathroughwhichgreathotwaterstreamsreachtill500mofheight,watercomingfromtherocksoverheatedbytheincandescentmagma-scape4. Also the earthquakes have been classified according to two different typologies, the Violent ones,which often occur along the tectonic platesmovingcloseeachother’s,whenoneendsupundertheother,i.e.usuallyatcirca300Kmunderthesoillevel;thoseSuperficialareinsteadlesscatastrophic,andcanbeobservedalongthetectonicplatesfurthering;accordingtoPinna“…theseismicwavesareprovokedbythesuddenfreedomoftheenergyenclosedwithintherockmassesunderstress.”5Inthesecasestherocksdeformduetothetensionsbetweenthelayers,whiletheychargethemselvesasenormoussprings,thereforewhentheyjerktheymovesoastoestablishabalance,thusthestoredenergyisfreedtransformingitselfintoaseismicwave.Thereforethenumberoftheelement-fire’sexpressions,whichoccurintheconstitutingnatureoftheearthenPlanet,involvevariousandcomplexprocessesalsointhe humanized zones andwithmajor damage in those strongly inhabited. Accordingly, defining the role of fire within the cultural landscape consists in theidentificationof interactionbetweenphysicalandconstructivephenomena,byinterpretingthemasfarasmultiple logicandexpertiseareconcerned.Itcannotevenbeneglectedthatfirehadplayedametaphoricandpsychological-socialroleallalongthedevelopmentofman’shistoryonEarth.Weknowinparticularhowanumberofphilosophershavebeenoftenprocessingcomplexanddeepobservationsinwhichthefirehadshowndifferentbehavioursandmeanings.Forexamplesincetheprimordialphilosophicalthought,asenseofstrength,valueandenergyhasbeenattributedtofire,whichcorrespondedtoman’srequirement–bothasthinkerandactorofprocesses–ofsubjugatingandmasteringthenatureinordertomakeitsatisfyhisneeds;atthesametimethisaggressiontonaturecouldexorcise unknown phenomenawhommen feared andwhose control appeared absolutely inadequate. Let us see, a propos, whichmeaning the strength hadassumedaccordingtheHeidegger’sthought:thememory,An-denken,acquiresformanareassuringfunction,aperceptionofpossessionofpast;inthissensealsothemodernman’striumphoftechniquebecomesasareassuranceofposition(Iam)ofpresentregardingnatureandhistoricalpast6.This affirmation could constitute the founderprinciple of a newman’s approach towardsnatureby establishingwith it a sort of newalliance: it is no longernecessaryeithertoaggressitorcounterpoisetoitthefireitself.ItcanberemindedtheGreekMythologytoldforexamplebyGalimbertiwhiledescribingPlato’swritingsinthePythagoras:“…ZeussentEpimetheus(thatwhothinkslater)toassigntolivingbeingsthequalities.Arrivedatman,nothingremainedinitspossess,sothegodsentPrometheus(thatwhothinksbefore)whodonatedtomenthequalityofpreviewing...thatismakingthemtoknowthefireandthecalculation.7”Thisstrengthwasguaranteeing forcenturiestomanacertaincontrolovernaturebysubjecting it tohisneedsandamusements;but inthemodernage,whennewtechnologies,thehumanexperienceandthescientificandtechnicalpotentialhadallowedasuperiorcontroltonaturalphenomena,whileatthesametimemanhasbecomeconsciousofthedamagesthatthoseaggressiveactionshadprovokedontheentireglobe,thenanewwayofthinkingandconsideringtheuseoffirehasarisen.SimilarlyinNietzsche’sthought,thestrength–andsoitssymbol,thefire–acquiresthefunctionoftoolforsafetywhilehistoricallyreconstructingtheroots,foritisneededfordominatingthenature...(toburnitincaseofdanger,toheatupitsfood...)andthus itcanberecognizedas‘PowerWill’8.TheknownNietzsche’s sentence «god isdead», according to certain interpretations,would represent actually the awarenessof this occurrence: heremandoesno longerretainthathemustbeprovidedwithstablestructuresandfundamentals9.Ifgodisdead,asupernaturalpower’spresenceisnolongernecessary,wearealreadystrong;thereforeitisourdutytoemploythesamenature’sstrengthbesidesours,soastosavetheearthfromafuturedestructionaswellasfrompollutionanddecay.Modernmandoesnolongerurgetoruineverythingtowhichhecanhaveaccess,byexploitingagainthenatureanditsfruits,fornowheisstrongeranddoesno longerneed a god, sincehehad gained the knowledge tool…: and thenhow can this knowledge tool be used in awickedway?That is burning andinfringingallthemostpreciousthingstheearthoffersus?Orconverselycouldnotitbethistimebettertouseourknowledge(fireaslight,asintelligence)andouraction (fire aswork tool and clean energy shape) in order to remedy the alreadyprovokeddamages?And then creating an actionmethodwhichwill be lessinvasiveandlessdestructive?Makeaneffort,wherebypossible, formitigatingandlimitingthetransformationstoenvironment, landscapeandterritory,onlyiftheyarestrictlynecessary?Hereitisnowhowthefirecanacquirethevalueoftechnique.Ifinfacttheearth-centredphilosophyprevailsupontheego-centredone

Dora FranceseVi

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https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anassimene_di_Mileto
https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/VI_secolo_a.C.%22%20%5Co%20%22VI%20secolo%20a.C.
https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/450_a.C.%22%20%5Co%20%22450%20a.C.
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ofmanas“earth’smaster”,thenthemoralresponsibility(carriedouttogetherwiththetransformationwork)couldrefertoconstructiveactionswhichwillemploythepoetry and the technique, of course for satisfying theneeds10, but also as a goal itself.Thisnew thinking line, latelydevelopedby the ItalianphilosopherUmbertoGalimberti,proposesaprinciple,accordingwhich,whileonce the technique [technè: thesumof technical instrumentsassupportandprosthesis formodernman]representedthemeansforachievinganobjective,todaythetechniqueitselfhasbecomeagoal.Havingthenwishedforanewutilizationofthis-bynowestablished-modificationofourtechnologicalworld,thetechnique,asagoal,couldcontaininitselfthehopeofintroducingagreaternumberoftechniques,sustainableandathighnaturality,whichbecameasobjectivesofourhumanactionsandthusaguideforasustainabletransformationofland.Thetechnique,thestrength–andsoitssymbol,thefire–wouldbecomethenatoolofsolidarityandsubsidiarity,havingestablishedtherequirementofsatisfyingneedsandsuppliesofhumanhabitat,withoutneverthelesscompromising,withaggressiveanddestructiveactions(andthusathighecologicalfootprint),neithertheculturallandscape,northenaturalidentityofland,initsbioticanda-bioticcomponents.Andthatishowthefirecanbeidentifiedwiththeenergy,bothinitslightingelementandheatingcomponent,whichwrapstheanthropizedworld.Howthencanwe use this energy shape, how contrast its negative effects and how realize again the conditions of comfort and inhabiting quality for populations, even thepoorest?Itisknownthat“…thescience’ssoulisthetechnique,thesciencelooksattheworldformanipulatingit,sotheglanceisalreadytechnical.Itisnotoffensive,thetechniqueissubstantiallyman’sessence.”11Whichrolethendothefire,aswellasits -forsolongconsidered-companion,thestrength,play?Alreadyatthedoorsofthenewmillennium,thedenialofstrengthhadcontributedtomaketheseshapesofthoughtandactiontodevelopintoapeculiarapproachnamed“weakthought”(whichhasbeendealtwithinotherpagesofthismagazine).Inhere,intheeventofthesubjectoffire,itisourdeepintentiontounderlinetheovertakingofsomeprejudices.“Whatcounts isnowtoexploretheways forgoingbeyond;throughin factthenegation…ofmetaphysicaltraitsof thought, firstofall thatof«strength»,which(man)hasalwaysretainedshouldhavebeenattributedtohimself, inthenameofhisprivilegedaccesstobeingas fundamental;”12startingthenfromthehypothesishereunderlinedthatinfactagoodfaceoffireexists,andthenasustainablesiderespectfuloflandscapeandlivingbeings,anusewhichcouldbecomeatoolforsolidarityandhappinessforhumangenre,inthatcaseitisappropriatetoremindsomepreliminaryconceptsofthisweakthought.“Thenotionofweaknessfirstofallisidentifiedwithbecomingconsciousofbeingsubjectedtothelawofnecessity.”13Thisimpliesthedesire–intrinsicintheactor-manof transformationprocessesof territory–ofattendingcarefullynotonlyone’sownneedsbutalsothenature’srequirementsandthephysical lawswhichgovernthem,withoutexcessesandaggressions.Infactitappears“…limited…everythingwhichresultsfromthecoexistenceoftwonondestructiveprinciples,fromthebalanceofappositions.”14Oneofthefundamentallawsoftheworldisjustthatoflimit;infact“…inthenatureofthingsitisnotpossibletogetanyunlimiteddevelopment;world(cosmos)whollyrestsonmeasureandbalance…andthesameoccursinthecity.Anyambitionisdis-measure:”15ineachoperationwhichwilloutlinegreatdimensions,bothinthecaseofinfrastructuresandofsingleveryhighandbigbuildings,theabsenceofmeasureseemsinfactcompletelyanti-naturalforit isknownit leadstowardsstrongunbalances,notonlyupontheterritoryitself,butalsowithinsocialfield.“Thebreakdown ofbalance,theprevailingofaprinciple or an element onanother involveuncontrolled contrary effects,whichareat the same timea reactionof physicalworldandamoral punishment… theelementthatintroducesthebreakofanyphysical,humanandsocialbalanceismadeupbythestrength.”16“…theconsciousnessfortheoppositionofprinciples(forexamplethefourelementsofcosmos,water,air,fireandearth)producesaneffectof…weakness;inthedis-measure,intheuseofstrength,menaresubjectedtolawsthatinnatureregulatethegravesmotion,theyretrocedefromtheirstateofhumanity.”17AconceptemergesfromSimonWeil’swords,oneoftheprecursorsoftheweakthought;accordingtothisconcepttheethiccanbeconsideredasthemostpreciousteachofancientandorientalwisdom;forexamplethatexpressedintheHindunotionofyoga(literaryyoke,subjugation)orintheTaoistoneofnon-action18.Butthenon-actionortheyokeshouldnotinvolvethesimpleconsciousness,orpassiveacceptanceofeverythingwhichoccursasanevent,but insteadshouldat least takethedecisionofreducingthedamages,so limitingtheaggressiveactions.Theweak-strengthoffirewhichactsbysubjugatingmanwithitsyang(hard,hightech)component,couldneverthelessbeinsteadusedaccordingtoitssoft(yin)components,thoseaselementofaid,supportandcontributiontothemodernethicalconditionofbeing“man-in-the-world”,ratherthan“man-world”,ascentreofuniverse,asaggressor-owner.19Thefriend-firehasthecharacteristicsofnon-strengthinitsnon-beingtangiblebuttransformableasshapeofenergy.Ifutilizedwith thismeaning it thenbecomesgratification, itbecomes joy, lightandheat, “… it is synonymousofhappiness, of comprehension,of intelligence,”20 soassumingtheroleofsocialindicatorofcollectivecomfort,wherebytherenewablesreplacethefossilfuels,somaintainingtheworld‘healthy’and‘clean’formanaswellasforecosystems.Howeverforalotofyearsweassisttoa“…tempestwhichsurroundsus,(which)haseradicatedthevalues,hasdismantleditshierarchy,andhas put themall under discussion so as toweight themon the, always false, scale of strength.”21 In thiswritingWeil,whiledescribinghumandestiny, faces thequestionsregardingthesciencedevelopmentof theXXcentury,adopting inametaphoricalwayspecificconceptsuchas irreversibility,entropy,discontinuous,neglecting,butalsothatoflinks’recession.Thereforebyexploitingthewaveofthisthought,thefire–foreverbeingconsideredasasymbolofstrength,power,aggression,war–canassumeinsteadtheroleoftoolforpeace,aswellasameansforachieving (innaturalorartificialway) theimprovementofhumanlife.Thefireinthiswaybecomesashapeof ‘good’energy,soasanytechnology,eventhesystemsfedwithfire,bothinitsroleofcombustibleandinthesymbolicone,couldbeemployedforobtainingabenefitorforprovokingdamages,asitoccursrespectivelyincaseofvapourlocomotivesorofexplosiveweapons.Andsincetheactorsofterritorytransformation,asmen,havethecapacityofselecting–because“..theydonotfollowtheinstinctwithrigidresponsestostimuli,asbeingreasonable animals”22 –itwouldbedesirablethattheywilladopt,withthereason,thoseinstrumentsthattheythemselveshaddevelopedinthemodernage for thecomfort, in the fieldof lightaswellas inthisofheat.The light ismoreoveranelementwhichpresentsadoubleworth, i.e. itswellknownphysicalcharacteristic,butalsoametaphoric,spiritual,religiousmeaning.InthelatestfieldthelightisGod,bothfortheChristiancredenceandforotherreligions,suchasforexampletheMuslinone,accordingtowhichAl-Lat(literary,inArabic,thegoddess)isidentifiedwiththeSun,sogleaningfromtheGreek-Romandivinities;23“…thisconstantpresenceoflightineverythingwhichlives,evolves,transforms,endsuptolinktoitselftheideaofactivity.Itisnotcasualthatwithinthecourseofhistory,theSun,thebiggestsourceofnaturallightandvitalenergy,giventomensoastoobserveitclosely,hadoftenbeenadoredasaGod.”24Infactthelightasitisknownplaysanindispensablerolefordailylife;“…lightinstilsacomfortablesenseofsecurity,foritallowsustomovewithinthesurroundingenvironmentwithoutfearsoruncertainties”25 and thus it appears useful for going beyond exactly those ancestral fears (aforesaidmentioned)which prevent us from benefitting and fullyrespectingthenature,buttheyratherpushustoattackit.Initsphysicalmeaninginstead,itisdefinedwiththetermlightboth“…thesensationcausedbyabandofrelativelyshortwavelengthofelectromagneticenergy,inthe range from380 to780nanometres”26 and theactual electromagnetic radiationof this spectrum.Thenatural light comes, as it is known,mainly from theprimaryshapeofenergyprovidedtoourPlanetbythestarSun,eveniffilteredanddiffusedbytheatmosphere.ItisforthisreasonthatitsoriginisidentifiedwiththeskyandisrepresentedbyaPhotometriccharacteristicdefinedLuminance,whosepowerismeasuredincandelapersquaremeter(cd/m2)27. “Lightis(then)thefeelingdeterminedinthehumaneyebyelectromagneticwavesincludedinthevisiblerange;”28“…itisashapeofradiantenergy(whose)luminouswaves…arecapable of propagating also in the void;”29 thesewaves, so-called exactly electromagnetic, carry out also someprocesses definedby the corpuscular theory ofHuygenseNewton,whichsodescribesthepropagationphenomenon,sincethelight“…doesnothavebody,cannotbetouched,iscapableofpropagatinginthevoidat vertiginous speed (300,000Km for second circa), and still it interactswithmatter, it transmits it, it absorbs it, it reflects it, it spreads it or, even, in opportuneconditions, cangenerate it.”30 Insubstance “…visible light isnoother than theexternalwitness, the tangible sign,of transformationprocessesofmatter, inwhichenergyisreleased;”31theseprocesses–asitisknown–canbeofchemical(asinaflamewhichburnsorinfireworks),physical(asinthelightning,inthelamps,inthelasers...)orthermonuclearnature(asintheSunwhereatomsofHydrogenmelttogethersocreatingatomsofhelium–thusanuclearfusion).The identification of the Energy shape with our impression is also recognized by the common sense, by the fact that “… the spectral composition of theelectromagneticradiationwhicharrivesonthesurfaceofearthfromtheSun…presentsapickintherangeofvisiblewhichweperceiveaslight,(eventhough)thispickcontainedalsoameaningfulinfraredcomponent,whichisheat.”32

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Anditisjusttheheatthatconstitutesthesecondsymbolic–besidesthephysical-valueoffire.Theinteractionbetweenthisshapeofenergyandtheconstructionofhumanhabitat is consideredasessential component forcomfortdefinition,especially for internal rooms. It is in factpossible to rememberhowman inhisdwellingshasalwaysbeentryingtoexploitatthebestthenaturalsourcesofheat,suchastheSun,theearth,thegeothermal,thewater;theywereinfactaimedatbothdefendingfromcold,andavoidingoverheatingphenomena;fortheachievementofthesegoalssometechnologiesareemployed,todayknownasbioclimaticsince–byexploitingwind,besidessunandwater,aswellasalltheclimaticelements(asthelatitude,thehydrographicalpresence,andsoon)–interactwithliving(bioinfact)aspectsofenvironment.Inthesecasestheancienttechnologiesforchimneysandheatingcombustionplants,aswellastheconditioningsystemsfedbyfossilfuels33,werealwaysadoptingfireasheatingsource.Butarealbioclimaticconstruction,whichcouldbecalled‘sustainable’,shouldpreferablyemploypassivetechnologies,todaysaid‘atcleanenergy’,thisenergyproducedbyrenewablesourcesandnotpollutingduringthewholelifecycle.Asanindispensablepresenceoflife,whichcanbeconsiderednever-ending (in comparisonwith the earth’s future age) for it comes from our star, the fire can guarantee to us also a sustainable and not polluting use ofresources, provided that itwill be possible to control,with opportune knowledge and application instruments, the various stages of the Sun, its angular andtemporaldimensions, its interactionwithgeographicalandmorphologicalearth’scoordinates, soas to fullyexploit itsqualitiesand thusresizing thedamagesprovided to Planet by an indiscriminate use of fossil fuels. Since the ancient ages the Sun has always played a role of extreme importance: for example thePhilosopherCampanellainitsworkontheidealcity,doesnotonlydefineitwiththeappellative“ofSun”,buthealsodescribesthecosmologicalroleofthespacesthemselves.“Isthecitydistinctinsevencircles,namedfromthesevenplanetsandonecanenterfromonetotheotherbyfourstreetsandfourdoors.”34“OftheSunthentheymakethephysicalcause,whichinthenorthrisesforcontrastingtheearth,whereittookstrength,whileitsetsintheafternoon,whenwastheprincipleofworld;…theytaketwophysicalprinciples:theSunfatherandtheearthmother;andtheairbeingimpureskyandthefirecomingfromthesun,andtheseabeingtheperspirationofearthmeltedbytheSun,andlinkingairwithearth,asthebloodthehumanspirit.”35FromCampanella’swordsalast,butnotleast,symbolicvalueoffireemerges,thesocialone.Sincetheancientandwellknownconceptof‘fireplace’,asaspaceofsocial meetings, until the identification of solar and luminous energy as element of sharing, conviviality and solidarity, it could be underlined its absolutelyessentialrolefortheachievementofethicallycorrectgoals.Asalreadysaidtheuse–instead-negativeoffireforwarsandconflicts,besidesprovokingdeathsandwounded,doesnotonlyoftendestroywideportionsofculturalheritage-architectural,urbanandinfrastructural-butcontributesalsoinextensivemeasuretothePlanet’spollution,foritemitsanumberoftoxicsubstances,aswellasCO2;whilenotmentioningtheconsequencesofnuclearconflagrations.Howeveralsothewars,andthesatelliteactivitieswhichupontimehadbeendevelopedwithinthem,havecontributedto transformtheterritoryand, insomecases,alsotoproduceconstructionsofqualityanddistinction,suchasforexampletheArsenals,amongwhichtheOttomanandtheVenetianones.OneofthefewimportantbuildingswhicharestillpresentinEuropeanddestinedtoconstructionofweaponsandwarshipsisfound,stillpartlysaved,inthemiddleeastcityofIstanbul; theArsenalof theOttomanempire “…representsawell savedwitnessof thedevelopmentof theOttomanartilleryand the importancewhich ithadplayedduringthewarscarriedoutbytheempire.Initiallyasimplefoundryofthe15thcentury…wasthentransformedintoagreatcomplex…andcontributeswithvariousfabricstotheformationofanentiredistrictcontainingmilitaryandindustrialfunctions.”36

Theselectionofsitedependsmainlyontheneedoffacilitatingtheweapontransportationovertheships,andsoitwaslocatedonthecoastexactlyattheentranceoftheGoldenHorn.Thebuilding,whollyconstructedintimber,in1719underwenttoafirewhichfullydestroyedit.Reconstructedin1733,thistimeinmasonryandwood,wasinvolvedagaininthebigfireof1823,andinthiscasewasdestroyedonlyinpart.AttheendoftheXXcentury,withtheadventoftheindustrialera,sincetheweaponswerenolongerhandcraftedconfectionedintheartilleryfactory,theArsenalbuildings,nolongernecessary,remainedabandoneduntil1958whenitwasdecidedtoemployitasaMilitaryMuseum;in1992theyfinallybecameheadquartersoftheMimarSimonUniversity.Today,inthemaintwofabrics,onlyfewscrapsoftwofoundriesandakiosk,calledTophane,remain;thefirstbuildingatsquaredplanof10sqmhasontopabigdome,whilethesecond–thisofrectangularshape- measures28x13sqmanditiscoveredbyfivealigneddomesinthecentreandtensmalllateralbarrelvaults,eachofwhichprovidedwithlanternsandchimneys,respectivelynecessaryforlightingandventilation;finallyaroundthedrumaseriesofcircularwindowsareset.Theentireandmassivestructureisrealizedbymeansofawallingtexture,madeupwithalternatealignmentsofbricksandcutstones,superficiallyfinishedwithaspecificmortar,calledHorason,producedwithadoughofbricks’dust,limeandwater.Inthesecondbuildingtwofurnaceswithasmalldomeontopofitpresentchannelswithceramicvaults,andthesuperiorwallincutstone:herefromtheheatproducedbythecombustionthemetalsweremelted,andaductinhardwoodwerethenutilizedfortransportingtheweaponstowardsthesea.Apeculiartypeoffloor,stillexistentin1991,wasrealizedbyakindoflimestonewiththeinsertionoffossilscomingfromthelocalquarry,saidKufeki.Another example of war-ship and artillery factory still exists in Venice, within the Arsenal, constituted by a unique building which gathers a complex ofconstructionyardsandstatelyarmoires,asafulcrumofthenavalindustryofVeniceinthesecondhalfofthesecondmillenniumwhileitsconstructionwasstartedaround1104,undertherepublicofVenice.37ThearsenalhasbeenlittlebylittleextendedatthebeginningoftheXIIcenturyaroundthefirstnucleus,intheeastpartofcity,andpreciselyinthedistrictofCastello.In1300,thecompletionoftheNewDockand,aroundthehalfof1400,oftheverynewDockoccurred.These

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Fig.1 - The complex structure of the Arsenal in Istanbul.

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successiveextensionswereduetotheneedofinstitutinglittlebylittlenewyardssoastoadaptthestructuretotheassumptionofnewconstructiontechniquesaswellastotheincreasingstandardizationofproduction.38Regain the discourse about the firewe propose to consider other aspects, such as for example the social one,which have been playedwithin the number ofbuildingsaccordingtotheMediterraneantradition.Hereagreatnumberoffurnacescanbefoundaimedatceramic,afundamentalmaterialintheconstructionofdwellingsaswellasculinarytools:infactwoodovensarestillessentialforbreadandNeapolitanpizza;moreoverthenumberofchimneysandstacksofvariousshapesandsizeswereusefulfortheinternalheatingofdwellings.Infactitisknownhow“…maybeamongtheveryfirstneedsthatmanhastosatisfythereisthatofcreatingobjects…‘materialthingsduetoadirectmanipulationofanysubstancepresentarounduswhichleadstotheconformationofanythingratherdifferentthanpreviouslyexisting.”39 Inancienttimesfireplayedtraditionallyaprimaryroleinthebuildingaswellasobjectproduction.Todaytheterm‘manipulation’canbeextendedfromman’shandtowardsthefactoryandthentothebigindustry,tillthemostcurrentsystemsof‘digitalfabrication’whichbehaveasmediatorsbetweentheartificialityofindustryandcraftsmanship.Anditisexactlyinthestacks,intheovens,inthefireplaces,whichforgetheMediterraneanlandscape,togetherwiththepowerofnaturetypicalofthesevolcanicandseismiczones,thatoneofthemostknownpeculiaritiesrelays.AnimmediateexamplecanbefoundjustinthemetropolitancityofNaples,whosegeographycanbesaidasdictatedbySunandVolcano,notbychancebothsymbolsoffire.Accordingtoametaphoricaldescription,thecity“…fromEastisclosedandprotectedbyamajesticfigureonthesea,theVesuvius:theeastisinfactthemomentofdayinwhichtheenvironmentstartstobeheatedup,thereisthebirthoflifeandactivities,thewakingupofthecityandthusthevolcano’sfirewhich,ifononehandcanmetaphoricallyrepresenttherisingstrengthofSun,justfromEast,ontheothersidecanbeconsideredasfirstbornsourceoflifeandfertility,whichjusttheVesuviusdonatestoadjacentlands.”40From the richness in cultureandnatureof theMediterranean territoryanurgentneedarises toprotect theheritage inserted in that landscapewhichexactlythankstothecontributionoffirehasbeenestablished.Anumberofbuildingsthenexist“…athightestimonialvalue,(inwhich)acirculareconomyofconstruction(shouldbeadopted,which)isfoundedupontheconceptsofre-use,recycle,regeneration,re-insertionofgoodsinnewlifecycles.”41Herethereis,comingagainintheanalogywithfire,theneedofusingSun’scleanenergy,byadoptingforthispurposetechniquesaimedattheefficiencyofhistoricalbuildings.Theachievementofthesegoalsusuallymeetsaseriesofobstaclesduetothe inadequacyofknowledgeandmanagementmethodsof theancientconstructivetypologies;as in fact

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Fig.2 - The Arsenal of Venice. External view and internal spaces.

Fig.3,4 - Bianchi furnace at Cogoleto (Italy) (left). Bread oven at Carpasio (Italy) (right)

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Davoliunderlines“…astrongwithdrawoccursbetweentheGlobalIndexofEnergyPerformanceassessedwiththesimulationsystems…andtheactualconsumptions(fromthebill):thesoftwarereturnsthereforeusuallyunreliableresultsforthehistoricalbuilding.”42Thequestions linked to fireandhistorical constructionof theMediterraneanregionessentiallyconsist in theseismicvulnerabilityand firehazard; fromwhatprecedestheneedthenarisesofapplyingasequenceofinterventions:firstofallaseriousrestorationoftheexistingfabricsandanenergyrehabilitation;thenaselectionofthosematerialsatlowembodiedenergy–i.e.athighnaturality,atcontrolledlife-cycleandreducedecologicalfootprint.Alsointhiscase,thefire,heremeantasheat,cancontributetodefinebuildingcharacteristics,suchasthegreatthermalcapacityofmasonry,whichthereforearecapableofstoringheat,andthusenergy.

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Fig. 5 - Stacks in the palace of Contesse at Mel (Belluno, Italy).

Fig. 6 - Eastern view of Vesuvius in the metropolitan city of Naples.

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Although it is then clearhow itwerenotpossible todevelopa fullpanoramaof all the reciprocal relationshipsbetween fireandMediterraneanconstruction,neverthelesswe thinkuseful this collectionofhints, for they can contribute to the comprehensionof every subjectsdestined to thepublicationof thepaperspresentinthisissueofthemagazine.Infactaccordingtothevariousproposedsubjects(i.e.:fireandhistoricalconstruction;safeguardoflandscaperegardingfireandimpactmitigation;lightasdesignparameterinarchitecture;firepreventionintheconstructiondesign;Sunandclimatechangeinconstruction;sustainableconstructionandenergysavingatterritorialandurbanscale;materials,processesandinnovativetechnologiesaccordingto:a)fireresistance,b)capacitytocollectenergy, c) contentof embodiedenergy; the combustionprocesses in the sustainable construction; recoveryofbuildingsandenergy control; fire inproductivesettlements;rocks,fireandenvironment)thoseobtaininggreatestsuccessarematerialsandtechnologies,Sunandhistory.Thepaperscontainedinthefollowingpagesofthemagazineevidentlyincludemultiplesubjects,althoughalwaysaccordingtoaspecificvisionoftheelementfire.Abriefmentionthentothecontentsofthevariousthemesdealtwithbyeachauthor,accordingtoaspecificroleoffire:sotherelationshipwiththematerialwood(T.F.Oliva),orasthermalsourcewhichenvelopsus(P.M.DavolieM.Calzolari),orascombustiblefortheelectrificationsystems(G.Cheirchanteri),orforclimatechangeinrelationshiptofirehazard(MitracheG.eAbalaruO.),moreovertheroleoflight(A.Rossi),thedesignofinnovativesystemsforheating(M.Mitrache),themanagementoffirehazardandthevulnerabilityof fragile landscape (C.Majello), theperformancemethodologies for fire securitydesign inbuildings (B.Bogdan). Finallywegave space to somewritings,alittlebitborderlineinrespecttothecentralsubjectoffire,inparticularthestudyontheclimatechangeinthemetropolitancityofNaples(C.Gerundo),and the relationship betweenwastes andmatter (A. Tartaglia e B. Terenzi). The geographical panorama is in this case definitelyMediterranean: authors andresearchesfromsouth,centreandnorthItaly,aswellasfromRomaniaandGreeceoccurinthepagesofthisissueonfire.Concluding, the importance could be underlined which the fire has always been playing in the construction and transformation of habitat, in particular theMediterranean one, in its various physical andmetaphoricmeanings; the fire is part of Sun and therefore light and heat source, one and the other aimed atprovidingthebestperformancesthroughnaturalorartificialtechnologies.Moreover,eventhoughstrongoppositionsoccur,bythe“SevenSisters”,tothegradualsubstitutionoffossilfuels,theneedisincreasingofrenewableshapes,amongwhichalsothewind,blowninanycasebythermalphenomenaassociatedtothefireitself,bothsolarandearthen.Itisfurthermoreashapeofenergybothinthedefinitionofconditioningsystemsandintheproductionandconversionofmaterials,andislinkedtothebigstrengthsofearth,suchasthevolcanicactivityandtheseismicactions.Howeveralsothedamagingcomponentoffiresuchastheblazesandwarsshouldbereminded.Finallytheuseoffireintheconstructionhadactuallycontributedtomodifythehumanhabitat,withpeculiarelementsandfabrics.Sothefourelementsofcosmos,quotedatthebeginning-earth,water,airandfire-beingphenomenawhichareshownonourPlanet,presentastronglinkamongthem and with the humanized landscape. In fact the fire appears intimately bonded with Earth, for it is coming from its more intimate part, i.e. from theincandescentnucleus;atthesametimetheearthitself,undertheshapeofvegetablesoil,appearsstrictlylinkedtowater,whichallowsittodevelopthephysicalconsistence:asevidenceofthishypothesis,itcanbeobservedhowthebestearthforbuilding,thatistheonewithhighpresenceofclay,isoftenfoundnearthewatercourses;thefireisfinallystrictlyjointwithair:itwouldinfactbeimprobabletheuseofanycombustible(oil,gas,wood,textures,etc.)inabsenceofthecombustiveagent,i.e.theair.Finallythefirecouldassumeevenapsychologicalrelevantrolefordispersingtheshadowsofman’smiserablelife;“…closeyoureyesandimagineasifyouwerelight.Itisnotsimplyimagination.Atthebeginningitislikethis,butitisalsoareality,foreverythingismadeupwithlight…theobscuritydoesnotexist.Theobscurityisabsenceoflight.Evenajustswitchedoffflameisenoughfordispersingaveryancientobscurity.”43

NOTES1. LorenzoPinna(1997)Iperlibridellascienza,vol.7dentrolaterra,Idealibri,Rimini,pages8and9.2. LorenzoPinna(1997)Iperlibridellascienza,vol.7dentrolaterra,Idealibri,Rimini,pages16and17.3. LorenzoPinna(1997)Iperlibridellascienza,vol.7dentrolaterra,Idealibri,Rimini,pages70and71.4. LorenzoPinna(1997)Iperlibridellascienza,vol.7dentrolaterra,Idealibri,Rimini,page78.5. LorenzoPinna(1997)Iperlibridellascienza,vol.7dentrolaterra,Idealibri,Rimini,page88.6. HeideggerMartin(1910-1976),PublishedWritings,VittorioKlostermann,FrankfurtamMain7. GalimbertiU.,PresentationonDecemberthe17th,2009atNaples.8. NietzscheFriedrich(1924),Thecompletework,VolumeII“TheWilltoPower”.9. NietzscheFriedrich(1924),Thecompletework,VolumeII“TheWilltoPower”.10. GalimbertiU.(2004),PsicheeTechne,Feltrinelli,Milano.11. GalimbertiU.,PresentationonDecemberthe17th,2009atNaples. 12. DalLago(1983)L’eticadelladebolezzainG.VattimoeP.A.Rovatti,“Ilpensierodebole”,Feltrinelli,Milano,page110.13. DalLago(1983)L’eticadelladebolezzainG.VattimoeP.A.Rovatti,“Ilpensierodebole”,Feltrinelli,Milano,page99.14. DalLago(1983)L’eticadelladebolezzainG.VattimoeP.A.Rovatti,“Ilpensierodebole”,Feltrinelli,Milano,page35.15. S.Weil(1982)Quaderni,vol.I,Milano,page125.16. S.Weil(1982)Quaderni,vol.I,Milano,page96.17. S.Weil(1982)Quaderni,vol.I,Milano,page97.18. DalLago(1983)L’eticadelladebolezzainG.VattimoeP.A.Rovatti,“Ilpensierodebole”,Feltrinelli,Milano,page103.19. MorettiGiuseppe(2005),LareteBioregionaleItaliana,inEcologiaprofonda,Novembre.20. FrovaAndrea(1984),Luce,colore,visione,editoriRiuniti,Roma,page12.21.WeilSimon(1942)Réflectionsàproposdelathéoriedesquanta,Lecahierdusud251,December,page10722. GalimbertiU.,Comunicazionedel17dicembre2009aNapoli. 23. N.I.Matar(2001)Islamforbeginners,Writersandreadersed.NY,seepage7fotodiAl–Lat.24. FrovaAndrea(1984),Luce,colore,visione,editoriRiuniti,Roma,page12.25. FrovaAndrea(1984),Luce,colore,visione,editoriRiuniti,Roma,page16.26. S.V.Szokolay(1980)EnvironmentalSciencehandbook,TheconstructionPress,London,page79.

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27. S.V.Szokolay(1980)EnvironmentalSciencehandbook,TheconstructionPress,London,page99. 28. ConatoF.eV.Frighi(2016)Metodidellaprogettazioneambientale,FrancoAngeli,Milano.page117.29. FrovaAndrea(1984),Luce,colore,visione,editoriRiuniti,Roma,page11.30. FrovaAndrea(1984),Luce,colore,visione,editoriRiuniti,Roma,page17.31. FrovaAndrea(1984),Luce,colore,visione,editoriRiuniti,Roma,page11and12.32. S.V.Szokolay(1980)EnvironmentalSciencehandbook,TheconstructionPress,London,page115.33. FranceseD.(1996)Architetturabioclimatica,Utet,Torino.34. “Èlacittàdistintainsettegironigrandissimi,nominatidalli7pianeties’entradal’unoall’altroperquattrostradeeperquattroporte…”SeroniA.(1986)Campanella,lacittàdel

Sole,Feltrinelli,Milano,page35.35. “DelSolepoirendonolacausafisica,chenelsettentriones’alzapercontrastarlaterra,doveessapreseforza,mentreessosorgenelmerigge,quandofuilprincipiodelmondo;…

tengonodueprincipifisici:ilSolepadreelaterramadre;el’aereesserecieloimpuroe‘lfuocovenirdalSole,e‘lmareesseresudoredellaterraliquefattadalSole,eunirl’aereconlaterra,comeilsanguelospiritoumano.”SeroniA.(1986)Campanella,lacittàdelSole,Feltrinelli,Milano,page72.

36. ElâGönen(2008)ThemetamorphosisofanimperialarsenalinAAVV,“Worldheritageandsustainabledevelopment”,Greenlinesinstitute,Barcelos,Portugal,pages679-683.37. Thisdescriptioncanbefoundin:http://www.oltrex.it/arsenale-di-venezia.38. DiniAmbra(2004)Larinascitadell'Arsenale.Lafabbricachesitrasforma,Marsilioed.,Venezia.39. DorflesGillo(1968)Artificioenatura.Einaudi,Torino,page50.40. FranceseD.,SianiR.,MastrangeloN.(2013)IlpaesaggiocostierodiNapoli:conservarelatradizionenelprogettoambientale,inPetroncelliE.[acuradi]“Ilpaesaggiotrarischioe

riqualificazione”,Liguori,Napoli,page188.41. DavoliP.M.(2016),PrefazioneaCalzolariM.“Prestazioneenergeticadellearchitetturestoriche:sfidaesoluzioni”,FrancoAngelied.,Milano,pages11and12.42. DavoliP.M.(2016),PrefazioneaCalzolariM.Prestazioneenergeticadellearchitetturestoriche:sfidaesoluzioni,FrancoAngelied.,Milano,page43. OshoRajneesh(BhagwanShreeRajneesh)in:http://le-citazioni.it/autori/osho-rajneesh

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http://www.libreriauniversitaria.it/libri-editore_Marsilio-marsilio.htm%22%20%5Co%20%22Marsilio
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IL RUOLO DEL FUOCO NELLA CULTURA MATERIALE DELL’AREA MEDITERRANEA

Nelpanoramaculturaledell’areamediterranea-rivoltospecificamenteallemanifestazioniartistiche,architettonicheepiùingeneralecostruttivedellacittàedelterritorio-apparecomplessodefinireilruolochel’elementofuocosvolgenell’elaborazionedellerelativeteorienonchénellapratica.Nelpresentenumerodellarivista,dedicatoappuntoataleelemento,ilComitatoeditorialesièpostoiseguentispecificiobiettivi.Inprimoluogoconcludereconiltemadelfuocolaconoscenzael’approfondimentodellasequenzadeiquattroelementidelcosmocosìcomevengonoindicatidallatradizionedellafilosofiagrecapresocratica,precisamentequelladovutaadAnassimenediMileto(VIsecoloa.C.)e inseguitoad Empedocle(ca.450a.C.).Comesappiamoinfattinellanostrarivistaègiàstatopubblicatounprimonumerosullaterra(RammedEarth),edancoraunosull’acqua(WaterandConstruction)esull’aria(AirandEnvironment).Eciòproprioperché leradicidellaculturamediterraneaaffondanoprofondamente inquegli stessielementi: ilmarechecollega le terre, il fuocodeinumerosivulcanielezonesismiche,infinelastessaariafavoritadaunclimaveramenteunicoalmondo.Allora, nel prefigurarepossibili caratteri innovativi nellequestioni che riguardano ilmediterraneo, si individuano componenti comuni a tutti quegli interventidell’uomonellacostruzioneetrasformazionedelpaesaggio,elementiquesticheriesconoaprefigurareunospecificoindirizzoprogrammaticocheincludafutureazionivolteadunseriosvilupposostenibile,rispettosodelleidentitàdeiluoghi.Ilprimocaratterepiùevidentechesiriscontra-nell’accostareilconcettodifuocoallacostruzione–èquellodiunostrettolegametrascienzaetecnologia.Nell’identificareitratticomuniall’interaareamediterraneasecondoilpuntodivistadellescienzedellaterra,sirilevaproprioquantoleterrestessesianocaratterizzatedallacostantepresenzadelfuoco.Comesappiamoilgloboterracqueosiècostituitocirca5miliardidiannifaoriginatodaunanubedimateriainterstellare,probabileesitodell’esplosionediunasuper-nova.Alprincipioiplanetesimieranogrumidimateriamoltodensache,attraendosireciprocamente,formaronosiailSolecheipianeti.LaTerraeradunqueunasferadimaterialiincandescenti,nonesistendonéoceaninécontinenti;ilferropresenteessendopiùpesantesiposizionòalcentro,formandocosìilNucleo,mentrel’alluminioeilsiliciorimaseroinsuperficiecostituendolaCrostaoMantellodelPianeta1.LaTerracheconosciamonoihaunraggiodi6370Kmedèsuddivisasecondoquattrostrati: ilNucleointerno,inquantocostituitodaferroenicheleinquantosottopressione,risultaallostatosolido,conunospessoredi1370Km,ecirca4000°Cditemperatura.NelNucleoesterno,anch’essocostituitodaferroenichel,maallostatoliquidoquesto,econunospessoredi2000Km,sigeneranocorrenteelettricaecampomagnetico,IlMantello(oCrosta),alcuiinternositrovailmagmaviscosolento,haunospessoredi2900Kmeunatemperaturadicirca3000°C.InfinelaLitosferapresentaunospessorevariabileda5a10Kmsottoillivellodelmare,edi40/75aldisopradellostessolivello.2Ricordiamoancora come il calore terrestre venga conservato grazie ai fenomenidi radioattività, durante il processodidecadimentodegli elementi radioattivi(Uranio,Torio,Potassio)-presentinellaCrosta-chedannovitaaifenomenigeotermici,comevulcani,geyser,fontitermali,soffioni.Talvoltailfuocochesitrovaall’internodelPianetapuòcomportarefenomenicomplessiicuieffettisono:leeruzionivulcanicheeisismi.Nelprimocasoivulcanisonostaticlassificatisecondodue tipologie: quelli esplosivi, che - trovandosi ai margini della placche che si avvicinano - costituiscono eventi straordinari in cui vengono sprigionategrandissimeenergieepresentanounamorfologiaadelevataaltezza;all’altra tipologiadivulcaniappartengonoquelli effusivi chesioriginanoaimarginidellaplacchechesiallontanano,esonopiùtranquilli,mentreilmagmarisaledandoluogoadunalavabasaltica;questeformazionisipossonoosservarenelleprofonditàmarine,conunconodialtezzaridottamabasepiùlarga.3I Geyser, invece, sono fenomenimediante i quali vengono proiettati grandi getti di acqua calda fino a 500m di altezza, quell’acqua che proviene dalle roccesurriscaldate dal passaggio del magma incandescente.4 Anche i Terremoti sono stati classificati secondo due diverse tipologie, quelli Violenti, che spesso siverificanolungoleplacchechesiavvicinano,seunafiniscealdisottodell’altra,cioègeneralmenteacirca300Kmsottoillivellodelsuolo;quelliSuperficialisonoinvecemenocatastrofici,esiosservanolungoleplacchechesiallontanano;secondoPinna“…leondesismichesonoscatenatedall’improvvisoliberarsidell’energiaracchiusadallemasserocciosesottosforzo.”5Inquesticasileroccesideformanoacausadelletensionitraglistrati,mentrecaricanocomegiganteschemolle,percuiquandoscattanosimuovonoperstabilireunequilibrio,cosicchél’energiaaccumulatasiliberatrasformandosiinondasismica.E pertanto le diverse espressioni dell’elemento fuoco, che appaiono nella natura costituente il Pianeta terrestre, comportano vari e complessi processi checoinvolgono anche le zone antropizzate e con maggior danno quelle fortemente abitate. Di conseguenza definire il ruolo del fuoco all’interno del paesaggioculturaleconsistenell’individuare l’interazione tra fenomeni fisicie fenomenicostruttivi, interpretandolisecondo logicheecompetenzemultiple.Nonè inoltretrascurabile il ruolo metaforico e psicologico-sociale che l’elemento stesso ha svolto lungo l’intero sviluppo della storia dell’uomo sulla Terra. Sappiamo inparticolarecomenumerosi filosofi abbianodi frequenteelaboratocomplesseeprofondeosservazioni in cui il fuocoabbia rivelatocomportamentie significatidiversi.Adesempiofindaiprimordidelpensierofilosoficoalfuocovenivaattribuitounsensodiforza,valore,energia,cherispondevaallarichiestadell’uomo-siacome pensatore che come attore dei processi - di soggiogare e dominare la natura affinché soddisfacesse i propri bisogni, e insieme esorcizzasse fenomenisconosciuticheterrorizzavanogliuominieilcuicontrolloapparivadeltuttoinadeguato.VediamoinpropositoqualesignificatoabbiaassuntolaforzasecondoilpensierodiHeidegger:lamemoria,An-denken,acquisisceperl’uomounafunzionerassicurante,unapercezionedipossessodelpassato;inquestosensoancheiltrionfodellatecnicadell’uomomodernodiventacomeunarassicurazionedellaposizione(iosono)delpresenterispettoallanaturaerispettoalpassatostorico.6Taleaffermazionepotrebbecostituireilprincipiofondatorediunnuovoapprocciodell’uomoversolanaturastabilendoconessaunasortadinuovaalleanza:nonèpiùnecessariodunqueaggredirlanécontrapporleilfuocostesso.RicordiamoinpropositolamitologiagrecaraccontataadesempiodaGalimbertineldescriveregliscrittidiPlatonenelProtagora:“…ZeusmandòEpimeteo(quellochepensadopo)adassegnareaiviventilequalità.Giuntoall’uomononavevapiùnulla,alloramandòPrometeo (quello che pensa in anticipo) che donòagli uomini la sua qualità di prevedere… cioè facendogli conoscere il fuoco e il calcolo.”7Tale forzahagarantitopersecoliall’uomouncertocontrollodellanaturasottomettendolaaipropribisogniedivertimenti;manell’epocamoderna,quandolenuovetecnologie,l’esperienzaumanaelapotenzialitàscientificaetecnicahannopermessodicontrollaremaggiormenteifenomeninaturali,mentrealcontempol’uomohapresocoscienzadeidannichetaliazioniaggressiveavevanocomportatosulglobointero,alloraèsortounnuovomododipensareediconsiderarel’usodelfuoco.AllostessomodonelpensierodiNietzsche,laforza-edunqueilsuosimboloilfuoco-acquisiscelafunzionedistrumentodicertezzanelricostruirestoricamenteleradici,poichéserveadominarelanatura…(adincendiarlanelcasodipericolo,ariscaldarneglialimenti…)eperciòsiriconoscecome‘volontàdipotenza’.8 LanotafrasediNietzsche«dioèmorto»,secondoalcuneinterpretazioni,rappresenterebbepropriolaconstatazioneditaleaccadimento:inessol’uomononritienepiùdidoveresseredotatodistrutturestabiliedifondamenti.9Sedioèmorto,nonèpiùnecessarialapresenzadiunpoteresoprannaturale,noisiamogiàforti;èdunquenostrodovereusare la stessa forzadellanaturaoltre lanostraper salvare la terradaunadistruzione futuranonchédall’inquinamentoedaldegrado.L’uomomodernononhapiùilbisognoimpellentedirovinareindistintamentetuttoquellocuipuòaccedere,sfruttandoancoralanaturaeisuoifrutti,poichéoraèpiù forte e nonnecessita più di un dio, poiché ha acquisito lo strumento di conoscenza…: e allora come si può usare tale strumento di conoscenza inmodo

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https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anassimene_di_Mileto%22%20%5Co%20%22Anassimene%20di%20Mileto
https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/VI_secolo_a.C.%22%20%5Co%20%22VI%20secolo%20a.C.
https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empedocle%22%20%5Co%20%22Empedocle
https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/450_a.C.%22%20%5Co%20%22450%20a.C.
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malvagio?Cioèbruciandoecalpestandotuttociòchedipiùpreziosocioffrelaterra?Opiuttostononpotrebbeessereimportantequestavoltautilizzarelanostraconoscenza (fuoco come luce, come intelligenza) e la nostra azione (fuoco come strumento di lavoro e forma di energia pulita) per rimediare ai danni giàprovocati? E così cercare un metodo di azione che sia meno invasivo e meno distruttivo? Provare laddove possibile a limitare e mitigare l’apporto delletrasformazioniall’ambiente,alpaesaggioealterritorio,soloqualorastrettamentenecessarie?Eccoalloracomeilfuocoacquisisceilvaloreditecnica.SeinfattilafilosofiaTerro-centricaprevalesuquellaegocentricadell’uomo‘padronedellanatura’,alloralaresponsabilitàmorale(portatainsédall’operaditrasformazione)potràrimandareadazionicostruttivecheimpieghinolapoeticaelatecnica,certopersoddisfareibisogni10,maanchecomefineasestessa.Questanuovalineadipensiero,sviluppatadalfilosofoitalianoUmbertoGalimbertiinannirecenti, proponeilprincipiosecondoilqualementreuntempolatecnica [technè:l’insiemedellestrutturetecnichedisupportoediprotesidell’uomomoderno]rappresentavailmezzoperraggiungereunobiettivo,oggilatecnicastessaèdiventataunfine.Avendoauspicatodunqueunanuovautilizzazioneditaleormaiaccertatamodificazionedelnostromondotecnologico,latecnicacomefinepotrebbecontenereinsé lasperanzadi introdurreunmaggiornumeroditecniche,sostenibilieadelevatanaturalità,chedivenganogliobiettividelnostroagireumanoequindiunaguidaperunatrasformazionesostenibiledelterritorio.Latecnica,laforza-equindiilsuosimbolo,ilfuoco–diverrebberoalloraunostrumentodisolidarietàedisussidiarietà,avendostabilitol’esigenzadisoddisfareibisogni e le necessità dell’habitat umano, senza tuttavia compromettere, con azioni aggressive e distruttive (e dunque ad elevata impronta ecologica), né ilpaesaggioculturale,nél’identitànaturaledelterritorio,nellesuecomponentibioticheeabiotiche.Edeccocheilfuocopuòidentificarsiconl’energia,sialuminosachetermica,cheavvolgeilmondoantropizzato.Comeutilizzarealloraquestaformadienergia,comecontrastarneglieffettinegativiecomerealizzareancoralecondizionidicomfortequalitàabitativaperlepopolazioni,anchequellepiùpovere?Sappiamoche“…l’animadellascienzaèlatecnica.Lascienzaguardailmondopermanipolarlo,quindilosguardoègiàtecnico.Nonèoffensivo,latecnicaèsostanzialmentel’essenzadell’uomo.”11Qualeruoloassumedunqueoggiiltemadelfuoco,odellasua-percosìlungotempoconsiderata-compagna,laforza?Giàalleportedelnuovomillennio,lanegazionedellaforzahacontribuitoafarsviluppareformedipensieroediazioneindividuatecome“pensierodebole”(dicuisiètrattatoinaltre pagine di questa rivista). In questa sede in occasione del tema del fuoco ci preme sottolineare il superamento di alcuni pregiudizi. “Ciò che conta ora èesplorare levieperandareoltre:appuntoattraverso lanegazione…dei trattimetafisicidelpensiero,primo fra tuttiquellodella«forza», che (l’uomo)ha semprecredutodoversiattribuireinnomedelsuoaccessoprivilegiatoall’esserecomefondamento;”12apartiredunquedall’ipotesiquidelineatacheesistacioèunafacciabuonadelfuoco,equindisostenibileerispettosadelpaesaggioedegliesseriviventi,unusosolidaleeportatoredifelicitàalgenereumano,èalloraopportunoricordarealcuniconcettipreliminariditalepensierodebole.“Lanozionedidebolezzaindicainprimoluogoildiventareconsapevolidellasoggezioneallaleggedellanecessità.”13Ciòcomportaildesiderio-intrinseconell’uomo-attoreneiprocessiditrasformazionedelterritorio–diseguireattentamentenonsoloipropribisognimaancheleesigenzedellanaturaeleleggifisichechelagovernano,senzaeccessiedaggressioni.Infattiappare“…limitato…ciòcherisultadallacoesistenzadidueprincipinondistruttivi,dall’equilibriodeicontrari.”14Unadelleleggifondamentalidelmondoèproprioquelladilimite;infatti “…nellanaturadellecosenonèpossibilealcunosviluppoillimitato;ilmondo(cosmos)riposainteramentesullamisurael’equilibrio… elostessoaccadenellacittà.Ogniambizioneèdismisura:”15inognioperazionecheprefigurigrandissimedimensioni,sianel caso di infrastrutture che di singoli edificimolto alti e ampi, l’assenza dimisura sembra infatti completamente anti-naturale poiché si sa conduce a fortisquilibri,nonsolosul territoriostessomaanche inambitosociale.“Larotturadell’equilibrio, ilprevalerediunprincipioodiunelementosull’altrocomportanocontro-effettiincontrollabili,ciòcheèaltempostessounareazionedelmondofisicoeunapunizionemorale…l’elementocheintroducelarotturadiogniequilibriofisico,umano,socialeècostituitodallaforza.”16“…laconsapevolezzadell’opposizionedeiprincipi(adesempioiquattroelementidelcosmo,acqua,aria,fuocoeterra)produceuneffetto...didebolezza;nelladismisura,nell’usodellaforza,gliuominisiassoggettanoalleleggicheinnaturaregolanoilmotodeigravi,retrocedonodallorostatodiumanità.”17DalleparolediSimonWeil,unodeiprecursoridelpensierodebole,emergeilconcettosecondoilqualel’eticapossaconsiderarsicomel’insegnamentopiùpreziosodellasaggezzaanticaeorientale;adesempioquellaespressanellanozioneinduistadiyoga(letteralmentegiogo,soggiogamento)oinquellataoistadinon-azione.18Malanon-azioneoilgiogonondovrebberocomportarelasemplicepresad’attodeidanni,ol’accettazionepassivadituttociòcheaccade come evento, quanto piuttosto la decisione di contenere almeno i danni, limitando così le azioni aggressive. La forza-debole del fuoco che agiscesoggiogandol’uomoconlasuacomponenteyang(hard,hightech),tuttaviapotrebbeessereinveceutilizzatainrelazioneallesuecomponentisoft(yin),quelledielemento di aiuto, supporto e contributo allamoderna condizione etica di essere “uomo-nel-mondo” piuttosto che “uomo-mondo”, quale centro dell’universo,aggressore-padrone19.Ilfuoco-amicohalecaratteristichedinon-forzanelsuonon-esseretangibilematrasformabileinformadienergia.Seutilizzatoconquestosignificatodiventadunquegratificante,diventagioia,luceecalore,“…èsinonimodifelicità,dicomprensione,diintelligenza”,20cosìassumendoilruolodiindicatoresocialedelbenesserecollettivo,laddoveleenergierinnovabilisopperisconoaquellefossili,cosìmantenendoilmondo‘pulito’e‘sano’tantoperl’uomoquantopergliecosistemi.Giàdamoltiannituttaviaassistiamoaduna“…tempestachecicirconda,(che)hasradicatoivalori,nehadisfattolagerarchia,elihamessituttiindiscussioneperpesarlisullabilanciasemprefalsadellaforza.”21InquestoscrittoWeil,neldescrivereildestinoumano,affrontalequestionirelativeallosviluppodellascienzadelXXsecolo,adottando inmodometaforicoalcuniconcettispecificicomequellidi irreversibilità,dientropia,didiscontinuo,di trascurabile,maanchedellarecisionedeilegami.Sfruttandodunquequestacorrentedipensiero,ilfuoco-dasempreconsideratoqualesimbolodiforza,potenza,aggressione,guerra-puòassumereinveceilruolodistrumentoperlapace,nonchédimezzoperraggiungere(inmodonaturaleoartificiale)ilmiglioramentodellavitaumana.Ilfuocodivienecosìunaformadienergia ‘buona’; così comeogni tecnologia, anche i sistemi alimentati con il fuoco, sia nel ruolodi combustibile sia in quello simbolico, possono allora essereutilizzatiperconseguireunbeneoperprovocaredanni,comeavvienerispettivamentenelcasodellelocomotiveavaporeoppuredellearmiesplosive.Epoichégliattoridellatrasformazionedelterritorio,comeuomini,hannolacapacitàdiscegliere–perché“…nonseguonol’istintoconrisposterigideaglistimoli,inquantosonoanimaliragionevoli”22–sarebbeauspicabilecheadottassero,conlaragione,queglistrumenticheessistessihannosviluppatonell’epocamoderna,peril proprio comfort, così nel campo della luce come in quello del calore. La luce inoltre è un elemento che presenta una doppia valenza, cioè la sua ben notacaratteristicafisica,maancheunsignificatometaforico,spirituale,religioso.Inquest’ultimoambitolaluceèDio,siaperlacredenzacristianasiaperaltrereligioni,comeadesempioquellamussulmana, secondo laqualeAl-Lat (alla lettera, inarabo, ladea)si identificacon ilSole, in talmodoattingendoalledivinitàgreco-romane;23“…questapresenzacostantedellaluceintuttociòchevive,sievolve,sitrasforma,finisceperlegareadessal’ideadiattività.NonèuncasochenelcorsodellastoriailSole,lapiùgrandesorgentedilucenaturaleedienergiavitalecheall’uomoèdatodiosservaredavicino,siastatospessoadoratocomeundio.”24Infattila lucecomesappiamosvolgeunruoloindispensabileper lavitaquotidiana;“…la luce infondeunconfortevolesensodisicurezzapoichécipermettedimuovercinell’ambientecircostantesenzatimorio incertezze”25eperciòappareutileasuperareproprioquei timoriancestrali(dicuisièdetto)chenonciconsentonodigodereedirispettareappienolanatura,macispingonopiuttostoadaggredirla.Nelsuosignificatofisico, invece,vienedefinitaconil termine lucesia“…lasensazionecausatadaunabandadi lunghezzad’ondarelativamentecortadienergiaelettromagnetica,nell’intervallodai380ai780nanometri,”26sia laveraepropriaradiazioneelettromagneticadi talespettro.La lucenaturaleproviene,comeènoto,principalmentedallaformadienergiaprimariafornitaalnostroPianetadallastellaSole,tuttaviafiltrataediffusadall’atmosfera.ÈpertalemotivochelasuaprovenienzaèidentificataconilcieloedèrappresentatadaunagrandezzafotometricadefinitaLuminanzalacuipotenzasimisurainCandeleametroquadrato(cd/m2).27 “Laluceè(dunque)lasensazionedeterminatanell’occhioumanodalleondeelettromagnetichecompresenell’intervallodelvisibile;”28“…èunaformadienergia raggiante (le cui) onde luminose… sono capaci di propagarsi anche nel vuoto;”29 tali onde, dette appunto elettromagnetiche, svolgono anche processidefinitidallateoriacorpuscolarediHuygenseNewton,checosìnedescriveilfenomenodellapropagazione,inquantolaluce“…nonhacorpo,nonsitocca,ècapacedipropagarsinelvuotoavelocitàvertiginosa(circa300000kmalsecondo),eppure interagiscecon lamateria,che latrasmette, l’assorbe, lariflette, ladiffondeoaddirittura, in opportune condizioni, la genera.”30 In sostanza “… la luce visibile non è altro che la testimonianza esteriore, il segno tangibile, di processi di

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trasformazionedellamaterianeiqualivieneliberataenergia”31;taliprocessi–comeènoto–possonoesseredinaturachimica(comeinunafiammachebruciaoinun fuocod’artificio), fisica (come inun fulmine,nelle lampade,nei laser…)o termonucleari (comenel Soledoveatomidi Idrogeno fondono insieme creandocontinuamenteatomidiElio–cioèunafusionenucleare).L’identificazionedellaformadienergiaconlanostraimpressionevienericonosciutaanchedalsensocomune,dalfattocioèche“…lacomposizionespettraledellaradiazioneelettromagneticachegiungesullasuperficiedellaterradalSole…presentailpicconellabandadelvisibilechenoipercepiamocomeluce(benché)talepiccocontengaancheunacomponenteinfrarossasignificativa,cheècalore.”32Eproprioilcalorecostituisceilsecondovaloresimbolico–oltreaquellofisico-delfuoco.L’interazionetraquestaformadienergiaelacostruzionedell’habitatumano viene considerata quale componente essenziale per la definizione del comfort, soprattutto per gli ambienti interni. Ricordiamo infatti come nelle suedimorel’uomoabbiadasemprecercatodisfruttarealmegliolefontinaturalidicalore,comeilSole,laterra,lageotermia,l’acqua,siaperdifendersidalfreddo,cheperevitare fenomenidi surriscaldamento;per il conseguimentodi taliobiettivivengono impiegate tecnologie,noteoggicon ilnomedibioclimatichepoiché -sfruttandoilvento,oltreche ilSolee l’acqua,nonchétuttiglielementiclimatici(comela latitudine, lapresenzaidrografica,ecc.) - interagisconocongliaspettiviventi(bio,appunto)dell’ambiente.Inquesticasileantichetecnologiedeicaminiedegliimpiantidiriscaldamentoacombustione,comeisistemidicondizionamentoalimentatiacombustibilifossili,hanno da sempre adottato il fuoco quale fonte di calore. Ma una vera costruzione bioclimatica, che si possa chiamare ‘sostenibile’, dovrebbe utilizzarepreferibilmentetecnologieditipopassivo,detteoggi“adenergiapulita”,quell’energiaprodottadasorgentirinnovabilienoninquinantiduranteillorointerociclodivita.Qualepresenza indispensabiledellavita,chepossiamoconsiderare infinita(inrelazioneall’età futuradellaTerra)poichéprovienedallanostrastella, ilfuoco ci garantisce anche un uso delle risorse sostenibile e non più inquinante, purché si riescano a controllare, con opportuni strumenti di conoscenza e diapplicazione, le diverse fasi del Sole, le sue dimensioni angolari e temporali, la sua interazione con le coordinate geografiche emorfologiche della Terra, perpoternesfruttareappienolequalitàecosìridimensionareidanniarrecatialPianetadaunusoindiscriminatodeicombustibilifossili.33Findall’antichitàilSolehasemprerivestitounruolodiestremaimportanza:adesempioilfilosofoCampanellanellasuaoperasullacittàideale,nonsololadefinisceconl’appellativo “delSole”,madescriveancheilruolocosmologicodeglispazistessi.“Èlacittàdistintainsettegironigrandissimi,nominatidalli7pianeties’entradal’unoall’altroperquattrostradeeperquattroporte…”34“DelSolepoirendonolacausafisica,chenelsettentriones’alzapercontrastarlaterra,doveessapreseforza,mentreessosorgenelmerigge,quandofuilprincipiodelmondo;…tengonodueprincipifisici:ilSolepadreelaterramadre;el’aereesserecieloimpuroe‘lfuocovenirdalSole,e‘lmareesseresudoredellaterraliquefattadalSole,eunirl’aereconlaterra,comeilsanguelospiritoumano.”35DalleparolediCampanellaemergeunultimo,manonmenoimportante,valoresimbolicodelfuoco,quellosociale.Findall’anticoenotoconcettodi‘focolare’,comeluogodiincontrisociali,finoall’individuazionedell’energiasolareeluminosa,comeelementodicondivisione,convivialitàesolidarietà,sipotrebbesottolineareilsuoruoloassolutamenteessenzialenellarealizzazionediobiettivieticamentecorretti.Comegiàdettol’usoinvecenegativodelfuocoperguerreeconflitti,oltreaprovocaremortieferiti,distruggenonsoloespessovasteporzionidipatrimonioculturale,siaarchitettonicocheurbanocheinfrastrutturale,macontribuisceinampiamisuraall’inquinamentodelPianeta,poichéemettesvariateformedisostanzetossiche,nonchéCO2;pernonparlaredelleconseguenzedelleconflagrazioninucleari.Tuttaviaancheleguerreel’indotto,cheneltemposièsviluppatoallorointorno,hannocontribuitoatrasformareilterritorioe,inalcunicasi,ancheaprodurre costruzionidiqualità epregio, comeadesempiogliArsenali, tra cuiquelloottomanoequelloveneziano.Unodeipochi edifici importanti che sianoancorapresentiinEuropadestinatiallacostruzionediarmienavidaguerrasitrova,ancorainparteconservato,nellacittàmediorientalediIstanbul.L’arsenaledell’impero ottomano “… rappresenta una testimonianza ben conservata dello sviluppo dell’artiglieria ottomana e l’importanza che aveva rivestito durante leguerre condotte dall’impero. Inizialmente soltanto una semplice fonderia nel 15° secolo ... fu poi trasformata in un grande complesso ... e contribuì con varimanufattiallaformazionediuninterodistrettocontenentefunzionimilitarieindustriali.”36Lasceltadelsitodipendeprincipalmentedallanecessitàdifacilitareiltrasportodellearmifinsopralenavi,ecosìfuposizionatosullacostaproprioall’ingressodelCornoD’oro.L’edificio,costruitointeramenteinlegno,nel1719subìunincendiochelodistrussecompletamente.Ricostruitonel1733,questavoltainlegnoemuratura,fucoinvoltodinuovonelgrandefuocodel1823,einquestocasofusoloinpartedistrutto.AllafinedelXIXsecolo,conl’avventodell’eraindustriale,poichélearminonvenivanopiùconfezionateartigianalmentenellafabbricadell’artiglieria,gliedificidell’Arsenale,nonpiùnecessari,rimaseroabbandonatifinoal1958quandosidecisedi farneunMuseoMilitare;nel1992divenneroinfinesededell’UniversitàMimarSimon.Oggirestano,neiduemanufattiprincipali,solopochiscartididuefonderieeunchiosco,dettoTophane;ilprimomanufattoapiantaquadratadi10m2èsormontatodaunagrandecupola,mentreilsecondo-diformarettangolarequesto-misura28x13m2 edècopertodacinquecupoleallineatealcentroediecivoltine lateraliabotte,ognunadellequaliprovvistadilanterne e camini, rispettivamente necessari per l’illuminazione e la ventilazione; infine intorno al tamburo corrono una serie di finestre circolari. L’intera emassicciastrutturaèrealizzatamedianteun’apparecchiaturamuraria,costituitadaallineamentialternatidimattoniepietratagliata,rivestitainfineconunamaltaspecifica,dettaHorason,prodottadaunimpastodipolveredimattoni,calceeacqua.Nelsecondoedificioduefornacisormontatedaunapiccolacupolapresentanodei canali voltati in cotto, e lamuratura superiore inpietra tagliata: qui dal caloreprodottodalla combustione venivano fusi imetalli, e un condotto in legnomassellovenivapoiutilizzatopertrasportarelearmiversoilmare.Unparticolaretipodipavimento,ancoraesistentenel1991,erarealizzatodauntipodicalcareconinserimentodifossiliprovenientedallecavelocali,dettoKufeki.Unaltroesempiodi fabbricadinavidaguerraediartiglieria tuttoraesisteaVenezia,all’internodiunArsenale,costituitodaununicoedificiocheriunisceuncomplesso di cantieri e armerie statali, quale fulcro dell’industria navale di Venezia nella secondametà del secondomillennio,mentre la sua costruzione erainiziataintornoal1104,sottolarepubblicadiVenezia.37L’arsenaleèstatoviaviaampliatoagliinizidelXIIsecolointornoaunprimonucleo,nellaparteadestdellacittà,eprecisamentenelsestierediCastello.Nel1300,seguepoilarealizzazionedellaDarsenaNuovae,versolametàdel1400,dellaDarsenaNuovissima.Questi successivi ampliamenti erano dovuti alla necessità di istituire via via nuovi cantieri e insieme all’assunzione di nuove tecniche costruttive nonché allacrescentestandardizzazionedellaproduzione.38Riprendendo il discorso sul fuoco ci proponiamo di considerare altri aspetti, come ad esempio quello sociale, che viene svolto all’interno di numerosi edificisecondolatradizionemediterranea.Quiesistonolefornaciperilcotto,materialefondamentalenellacostruzionediabitazionifinoalleattivitàculinarie: infattisonoancoraessenzialiifornialegnaperilpaneelapizzanapoletana;eancorainumerosicaminiecomignolidivarieformeedimensioniattialriscaldamentointernodeglialloggi.Infattiènotocome“…forsetraiprimissimibisognichel’uomoèportatoasoddisfarec’èquellodicreareoggetti…‘cosematerialidovuteadunamanipolazionedirettadiqualsivogliasostanzapresenteattornoanoicheconducaallaformazionedialcunchédidistintodaquantogiàinprecedenzaesisteva’.”39Inepocaanticailfuocosvolgevatradizionalmenteunruoloprimarionellafabbricazionediedifici,cosìcomedioggetti.Oggiiltermine‘manipolazione’vaestesodallamanodell’uomoallafabbricaepoiancoraallagrandeindustria,finoaipiùattualisistemidi‘fabbricazionedigitale’chesipongonoqualemediatoritral’artificialitàdell’industriael’artigianato.Eproprioneicomignoli,neiforni,nellefornaci,cheforgianoilpaesaggiomediterraneo,insiemeallapotenzadellanaturapropriaditalizonevulcanicheesismiche,risiedeunadellepiùnotepeculiaritàdellaregione.UnesempioimmediatoloabbiamoproprionellacittàmetropolitanadiNapoli,lacuigeografiapuòdirsidettatadalSoleedalvulcano,nonacasoentrambisimbolidelfuoco.Secondounadescrizionemetaforica,lacittà“…adOrienteèchiusaeprotettadaunafiguraimponentesulmare,ilVesuvio:il levanteèappuntoilmomentodeldìincuisicominciaariscaldarel’ambiente,c’èlanascitadellavitaedelleattività,ilrisvegliodellacittàequindiilfuocodelvulcanoche,sedaunlatosiassimilaallaforzanascentedelSole,appuntodaest,dall’altrosicostituiscecomefonteprimigeniadivitaedifertilità,cheproprioilVesuviodonaalleterrelimitrofe.”40Dallaricchezzadiculturaenaturadel territoriomediterraneoemerge lapressanteurgenzadiproteggere ilpatrimonio inserito inquelpaesaggiocheappuntograziealcontributodelfuocosiècostituito.Esistonopoinumerosiedifici“…adelevatovaloretestimoniale,(neiqualisidovrebbeadottare)unaeconomiacircolaredelcostruito(che)sifondasuconcettidiriuso,riciclo,rigenerazione,re-inserimentodibeniinnuoviciclidivita.”41Eccotornareancora,nell’analogiaconilfuoco,

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l’esigenzadiutilizzarel’energiapulitadelSole,adottandoatalfinetecnichemirateall’efficienzadegliedificistorici.Larealizzazioneditaliobiettiviincontraunaseriediostacolidovutiall’inadeguatezzadeimetodidiconoscenzaegestionedelletipologiecostruttiveantiche.ComeinfattisottolineaDavòli,“…esisteunfortescollamento tra IndicediPrestazioneEnergeticaGlobale calcolato con i sistemidi simulazione…e i consumi reali (dabolletta): i software restituisconoperciò ingenererisultatiinattendibilisull’edificiostorico.”42Possiamoalloraaffermarecome lequestioni legateal fuocoeallacostruzionestoricadellazonamediterraneaconsistonoessenzialmentenellavulnerabilitàalsismaeairischidiincendio.Daquantoprecedeemergedunquel’esigenzadiattuareunasequenzadiinterventi:inprimisunseriorestaurodell’esistenteeunariqualificazioneenergetica; poiuna sceltadeimateriali a limitato contenutodi energia - cioèquelli ad elevatanaturalità, a ciclodi vita controllato e a ridottaimprontaecologica.Anche inquestocaso il fuoco,qui intesocomecalore,puòcontribuireadefinire lecaratteristichedegliedifici, comeadesempio lagrandecapacitàtermicadellemuraturemassicce,cheperciòsonocapaciditrattenereilcalore,edunquel’energia.Èchiarodunquecomenonsiapossibilesviluppareunpanoramacompletodituttelerelazionireciprochetrailfuocoelacostruzionemediterranea,mariteniamoutilequestaraccoltadispunti,inquantopossonocontribuireallacomprensionedituttigliargomentidestinatiallapubblicazionedegliarticolipresentiinquestonumerodella rivista. Infatti in relazione ai diversi argomenti proposti, (e cioè: il fuoco e la costruzione storica; la tuteladel paesaggio rispetto al fuoco e allamitigazionedegliimpatti;lalucecomeparametrodiprogettoinarchitettura;laprevenzioneincendinelprogettodellacostruzione;Soleecambiamenticlimaticinella costruzione; la costruzione sostenibile e il risparmio energetico a scala territoriale e urbana;materiali – processi - tecnologie innovative secondo: a) laresistenzaalfuoco,b)lacapacitàdicaptareenergia,c)ilcontenutodienergiainterna;iprocessidicombustionenellacostruzionesostenibile;ilrecuperodegliedificie ilcontrolloenergetico;ilfuoconegliinsediamentiproduttivi;rocce,fuocoeambiente)hannoriscossonotevolesuccessoquellodimaterialietecnologie,delSoleedellastoria.Gliarticolicontenutinellesuccessivepaginedellarivistaevidentementecomprendonoargomentimolteplici,sempretuttaviasecondounavisionespecificadell’elementofuoco.Uncennodunqueaicontenutideidiversiargomentitrattatidaciascunostudioso,inrapportoaunospecificoruolodelfuoco:così il rapporto con il materiale legno (T. F. Oliva), o quale fonte termica che avvolge (P. M. Davoli e M. Calzolari), o quale combustibile per i sistemi dielettrificazione(G.Cheirchanteri),odelcambiamentoclimaticoinrelazionealrischiodiincendi(G.MitracheeO.Abalaru),ancorailruolodellaluce(A.Rossi),laprogettazione di sistemi innovativi per il riscaldamento (M. Mitrache), la gestione del rischio al fuoco e la vulnerabilità di paesaggi fragili (C. Majello), lemetodologieprestazionaliperilprogettodellasicurezzaalfuoconegliedifici(B.Bogdan).Infineabbiamodatospazioadalcuniscrittipiuttostomarginalirispettoall’argomento centrale del fuoco, in particolare lo studio dei cambiamenti climatici nella cittàmetropolitana diNapoli (C. Gerundo), e il rapporto tra rifiuti emateria(A.TartagliaeB.Terenzi).Ilpanoramageograficoèinquestocasodecisamentemediterraneo:autoriericerchedall’Italiadelsud,delcentroedelnord,nonchédallaRomaniaedallaGreciaappaionoinfattitralepaginediquestonumerosulfuoco.Concludendo,sipotrebbesottolinearel’importanzacheilfuocodasemprerivestenellacostruzioneetrasformazionedell’habitat,inparticolaremediterraneo,neisuoinumerosisignificati fisiciemetaforici; il fuocoèpartedelSoleedunquefontedi luceedicalore, l’unael’altrofinalizzatiafornirelemassimeprestazionimediantetecnologienaturalioartificiali.Inoltre,benchéesistanofortiopposizioni,dapartedelle“SetteSorelle”allagradualesostituzionedeicombustibilifossili,si va affermando la necessità di forme rinnovabili, tra cui anche il vento che è spinto comunque da fenomeni termici associati al fuoco stesso, sia solare cheterrestre.Èancoraunaformadienergiasianelladefinizionedegli impiantidicondizionamentochenellaproduzioneeconversionedeimateriali,e legataallegrandiforzedellaterra,comel’attivitàdeivulcanieleazionisismiche.Varicordatacomunqueanchelacomponentedannosadelfuococomenelcasodegliincendiedelleguerre.Infinel’usodelfuoconellacostruzionehaeffettivamentecontribuitoamodificarel’habitatumano,conedificiedelementipeculiari.Cosìiquattroelementidelcosmo,citatiall’inizio,ecioèterra,acqua,ariaefuoco,essendofenomenichesimanifestanosulnostroPianeta,presentanounaforteconnessionetraloroeconilpaesaggioantropizzato.InfattiilfuocoappareintimamentelegatoallaTerra,provenendodallasuapartepiùintima,cioèdalnucleoincandescente;alcontempolaTerrastessa,sottoformadisuolovegetale,apparestrettamentelegataall’acqua,cheleconsentedisvilupparnelaconsistenzafisica:aprovadiquestaipotesi,sipotrebbeosservarecomelaterramigliorepercostruire,quellacioèconaltapresenzadiargilla,siaspessorinvenutaneipressidicorsid’acqua;ilfuocoinfineèstrettamentecongiuntoall’aria:sarebbeinfattiimprobabilel’usodiqualsiasicombustibile(petrolio,gas,legno,tessuti,ecc.)inassenzadicomburente,cioèl’aria.Infineilfuocopotrebbeassumerepersinounruolopsicologicamenterilevanteneldisperdereleombredellavitamiseradell’uomo;“…chiudigliocchieimmaginaticome se fossi luce. Non è semplicemente immaginazione. All'inizio lo è,ma si tratta anche di una realtà, perché ogni cosa è fatta di luce… L’oscurità non esiste.L’oscuritàèassenzadiluce.Ancheunafiammaappenaaccesabastaadisperdereun’oscuritàantichissima.”43

NOTE1. LorenzoPinna(1997)Iperlibridellascienza,vol.7dentrolaterra,Idealibri,Rimini,pagg.8e9.2. LorenzoPinna(1997)Iperlibridellascienza,vol.7dentrolaterra,Idealibri,Rimini,pagg.16e17.3. LorenzoPinna(1997)Iperlibridellascienza,vol.7dentrolaterra,Idealibri,Rimini,pagg.70e71.4. LorenzoPinna(1997)Iperlibridellascienza,vol.7dentrolaterra,Idealibri,Rimini,pag.78.5. LorenzoPinna(1997)Iperlibridellascienza,vol.7dentrolaterra,Idealibri,Rimini,pag.88.6. HeideggerMartin(1910-1976),PublishedWritings,VittorioKlostermann,FrankfurtamMain7. GalimbertiU.,Comunicazionedel17dicembre,2009aNapoli.8. NietzscheFriedrich(1924),Thecompletework,VolumeII“TheWilltoPower”.9. NietzscheFriedrich(1924),Thecompletework,VolumeII“TheWilltoPower”.10. GalimbertiU.(2004),PsicheeTechne,Feltrinelli,Milano.11. GalimbertiU.,Comunicazionedel17dicembre,2009aNapoli. 12. DalLago(1983)L’eticadelladebolezzainG.VattimoeP.A.Rovatti,“Ilpensierodebole”,Feltrinelli,Milano,pag.110.13. DalLago(1983)L’eticadelladebolezzainG.VattimoeP.A.Rovatti,“Ilpensierodebole”,Feltrinelli,Milano,pag.99.14. DalLago(1983)L’eticadelladebolezzainG.VattimoeP.A.Rovatti,“Ilpensierodebole”,Feltrinelli,Milano,pag.35.15. S.Weil(1982)Quaderni,vol.I,Milano,pag.125.16. S.Weil(1982)Quaderni,vol.I,Milano,pag.96.17. S.Weil(1982)Quaderni,vol.I,Milano,pag.97.18. DalLago(1983)L’eticadelladebolezzainG.VattimoeP.A.Rovatti,“Ilpensierodebole”,Feltrinelli,Milano,pag.103.19. MorettiGiuseppe(2005),LareteBioregionaleItaliana,inEcologiaprofonda,Novembre.20. FrovaAndrea(1984),Luce,colore,visione,editoriRiuniti,Roma,pag.12.21.WeilSimon(1942)Réflectionsàproposdelathéoriedesquanta,Lecahierdusud251,December,pag.10722. GalimbertiU.,Comunicazionedel17dicembre2009aNapoli. 23. N.I.Matar(2001)Islamforbeginners,Writersandreadersed.NY,seepage7fotodiAl–Lat.24. FrovaAndrea(1984),Luce,colore,visione,editoriRiuniti,Roma,pag.12.25. FrovaAndrea(1984),Luce,colore,visione,editoriRiuniti,Roma,pag.16.26. S.V.Szokolay(1980)EnvironmentalSciencehandbook,TheconstructionPress,London,pag.79. 27. S.V.Szokolay(1980)EnvironmentalSciencehandbook,TheconstructionPress,London,pag.99. 28. ConatoF.eV.Frighi(2016)Metodidellaprogettazioneambientale,FrancoAngeli,Milano.pag.117.29. FrovaAndrea(1984),Luce,colore,visione,editoriRiuniti,Roma,pag.11.30. FrovaAndrea(1984),Luce,colore,visione,editoriRiuniti,Roma,pag.17.31. FrovaAndrea(1984),Luce,colore,visione,editoriRiuniti,Roma,pagg.11e12.32. S.V.Szokolay(1980)EnvironmentalSciencehandbook,TheconstructionPress,London,pag.115.

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33. FranceseD.(1996)Architetturabioclimatica,Utet,Torino.34. “Èlacittàdistintainsettegironigrandissimi,nominatidalli7pianeties’entradal’unoall’altroperquattrostradeeperquattroporte…”SeroniA.(1986)Campanella,lacittàdelSole,

Feltrinelli,Milano,pag.35.35. “DelSolepoirendonolacausafisica,chenelsettentriones’alzapercontrastarlaterra,doveessapreseforza,mentreessosorgenelmerigge,quandofuilprincipiodelmondo;…tengono

dueprincipifisici:ilSolepadreelaterramadre;el’aereesserecieloimpuroe‘lfuocovenirdalSole,e‘lmareesseresudoredellaterraliquefattadalSole,eunirl’aereconlaterra,comeilsanguelospiritoumano.”SeroniA.(1986)Campanella,lacittàdelSole,Feltrinelli,Milano,pag.72.

36. ElâGönen(2008)ThemetamorphosisofanimperialarsenalinAAVV,“Worldheritageandsustainabledevelopment”,Greenlinesinstitute,Barcelos,Portugal,pagg.679-683.37. Questadescrizionesitrovain:http://www.oltrex.it/arsenale-di-venezia.38. DiniAmbra(2004)Larinascitadell'Arsenale.Lafabbricachesitrasforma,Marsilioed.,Venezia.39. DorflesGillo(1968)Artificioenatura.Einaudi,Torino,pag.50.40. FranceseD.,SianiR.,MastrangeloN.(2013)IlpaesaggiocostierodiNapoli:conservarelatradizionenelprogettoambientale,inPetroncelliE.[acuradi]“Ilpaesaggiotrarischioe

riqualificazione”,Liguori,Napoli,pag.188.41. DavoliP.M.(2016),PrefazioneaCalzolariM.“Prestazioneenergeticadellearchitetturestoriche:sfidaesoluzioni”,FrancoAngelied.,Milano,pagg.11e12.42. DavoliP.M.(2016),PrefazioneaCalzolariM.Prestazioneenergeticadellearchitetturestoriche:sfidaesoluzioni,FrancoAngelied.,Milano,pag.1243. OshoRajneesh(BhagwanShreeRajneesh)in:http://le-citazioni.it/autori/osho-rajneesh

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