LAUSR

ABSTRACT The house No. 414/I, situated in the Old Town of Prague, was bought in 1685 by the Italian architect Martino Allio, who rebuilt its roof using a purlin system, typical in Italy but very unusual in Central Europe. Significant evidence of the previous medieval structure was identified on site in the form of reused timber elements, dendrochronologically dated to the end of the 14th century. These elements allowed the reconstruction of the original arrangement: a rafter and collar roof structure with longitudinal framing, one of the earliest examples of this type recorded in Czech Republic. The use of selected diagnostic devices, coordinated with a detailed visual inspection, allowed for the determination of the nature and extent of the damage affecting the roof structure. This has highlighted that, although the current roof is the simplest and cheapest when compared to the original Gothic roof and a typical Czech baroque roof, its structural arrangement is not adequate for Czech climatic conditions.