The Project

Almost thirty years after the construction of the Gönpa (1990) and eleven years since its expansion (2008), due to problems related to the degradation of the internal and external paintings, to the infiltration of rainwater from the roof, and to the window frames, the Merigar Dzogchen association consulted architect Donatella Cavezzali (Director of the Scuola di Alta Formazione e Studio Istituto Superiore per la Conservazione ed il Restauro in Rome, formerly our collaborator for the MACO / Museum of Asian Art and Culture, fruit of the collaboration between the Municipality of Arcidosso and the Dzogchen Community of Merigar).

After the Report for the conservation, restoration and maintenance of the Merigar Gonpa by Donatella Cavezzali at the end of 2017, and the Technical Report, Investigations and tests on wooden elements - Geophysical tests and Geological Report by Most CND, Monitoring & Structural Testing srl, on June 29, 2018, the operations and reports of the investigations carried out for the restoration and maintenance of the Merigar Gonpa were concluded.

  

In detail, the diagnostic investigations revealed some anomalies in the wooden structures both in the upper part of the building and in the foundation, some imperfections in the junction of the downspouts as well as a configuration of the roof that does not allow a regular flow of rainwater, causing stagnation and consequent damage to the points identified.

             

 

 

After the geophysical tests, an inspection was conducted by geologist Carlo Fasser who recommended the removal of the vegetation growing between the cracks in the rock and grout injections to prevent progressive deterioration.

The planning phase for the structures was entrusted to engineer Clara Vitale in collaboration with the Rubner – Holzbau company, which, in addition to the wooden structures, will provide for the installation of the new copper roof. The beginning of the works, agreed with the site manager, engineer Gaspari, (who is in charge of all the work of Rubner Holzbau SpA in central Italy) is scheduled for April 29th. Another intervention is the replacement of the existing glass windows that have shown serious flaws in design (the collapse of a sliding window – the windows are not anchored – cracks in the windows). We have opted for hinged openings / transom windows and panic doors, leaving the main entrance as an automatic sliding door. The skylight lantern will have to be replaced - due to water infiltration from the windows - and will be provided with a remote-controlled system for opening two windows as a "chimney" for air circulation (the outflow of hot air that stagnates in the Gonpa in the summer months).

The design phase has been entrusted to engineer Vitale in collaboration with the Teken company.

The restoration work will begin on May 2, 2019.

The costs for the following works have been defined:

- Wooden structure and copper roof covering (RUBNER HOLZBAU) for € 158,000 + 10% VAT

- Aluminum windows and doors (TEKEN Srl) for € 58,000 + 10% VAT

- Lantern (TEKEN Srl) for € 17,000 + 10% VAT

After these interventions we will tackle the phase of totally redoing the external paintings – we are still researching the manual technique and pictorial medium - and of the restoration of the internal paintings.

As you can see, this is an "important" work for the budget of the Dzogchen Community of Merigar. We are paying the utmost attention to the choice of the companies involved both from the economic point of view and the quality of work and we are also committed to guaranteeing complete and transparent information.

If you would to participate with a cash donation please click here for directions on how to do it.

Donate to this project

With the 8×1000 contribution of UBI (Italian Buddhist Union)

For informations blu@merigar.it