In a major leap for heritage preservation, engineers in Venice have begun testing a revolutionary Aerogel-infusion process to stabilize the city’s ancient wooden foundations. The project involves injecting a specialized, ultra-lightweight silica aerogel into the waterlogged oak and larch piles that support the city's historic palaces. This material replaces the water within the wood's cellular structure, preventing the rot and compression caused by the city's shifting tides and increasing acidity of the lagoon.
Developed by a consortium of European research institutes, the 'Aero-Safe' technology provides structural reinforcement without the need for invasive reconstruction or the use of heavy concrete. If successful, the process could be used to preserve thousands of at-risk archaeological sites in coastal regions worldwide. The pilot phase is currently focusing on the foundations of the 15th-century Ca' d'Oro, one of the most iconic examples of Venetian Gothic architecture.