D.12 THE EFFECTS OF WATER

Water, whether from the weather or in the ground itself, is a key factor when studying the changes that have an impact on the building and the cliffside it stands on.

A visit to the galleries reveals the scars left by the action of water. If we begin in the garden, we can see that pools are often formed, so specific drainage and waterproofing arrangements are essential for avoiding them. At the other end, in the south-west gallery, the water running down the outside is darkening the facade.

Yet it is not only the outside that is being affected, the rocks on the cliffside are being eroded at certain points and they have begun to crumble. There are some places where we can see how groundwater has found its chosen path, seeping in from the garden, through the back of the hall, and out over the front of the galleries.

Besides affecting the materials on the cliff, this infiltrating water has a direct impact on the building’s structural features, and it is easy to find where it is coming in. Some of these places have seen the formation of mineral deposits, stalactites, stalagmites and mineral sheets.

The ornamental features have not escaped from this “assault” by water either, as the fireplace, paintings, columns… reveal clear signs of the effect of damp.

We ae therefore studying each kind of alteration and each point affected from different perspectives in order to carry out concentrated actions.