GoGreen – Green strategies to conserve the past and preserve the future of cultural heritage

Conservation-restoration

Date

2022 — 2026

Groupe de compétences

Conservation préventive des collections patrimoniales, Conservation-restauration des objets archéologiques et ethnographiques, Conservation-restauration des objets scientifiques, techniques et horlogers

The Haute Ecole Arc Conservation-restauration, as part of the HES-SO network, is involved in a research project entitled GoGreen (Green strategies to conserve the past and preserve the future of cultural heritage).

OBJECTIVES

The Haute Ecole Arc Conservation-restauration, as part of the HES-SO network, is involved in a research project entitled GoGreen (Green strategies to conserve the past and preserve the future of cultural heritage). GoGreen promotes preventive and remedial conservation practices based on green principles to spearhead the green revolution within conservation.

Project leader

Edith Joseph

Link to the project website

PROGRAM

HE-Arc CR competences are exploited for the cleaning of tarnishing on historical metal artefacts (copper, iron and silver) and the stabilization of copper and iron archaeological objects. Such green solutions include those inspired by historical recipes reevaluated based on their level of greenness, and recently developed bio-originated methods, using gels amended by microorganisms, metabolites (as chelating agents) and greener solvents for the uptake of metal ions.

The core activity includes:

selection of traditional materials that are considered effective by conservators as a reference benchmark, and preparation of test systems;

development and evaluation of innovative methods inspired by historical recipes;

development and evaluation of innovative green methods inspired by biological processes and green synthesis;

in-situ application of the best-performing technologies on selected case studies.

In addition, researchers are involved in the transversal tasks related to the characterization and monitoring (ageing tests), and to the determination of damage functions and sensitivity of iron. HE-Arc CR conservation educators will participate for the preparation of didactic materials and organisation of workshops focusing on the application and assessment of cleaning and stabilization on metal artefacts.

RESULTS

Within this project, we will propose more reliable and conscious conservation practices that would lead to decreased risks for artworks, operators and environment.