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Fig. 12
Engraving Lisbon plan view at the XVIth century (G.Braunio)
4.1 Structural Characteristics of the Building Stock
and Monumental Structures
Palaces and monumental structures, for its own characteristics, were classified sep-
arately from the building stock. In general, all these constructions have vertical
resisting elements made of stone masonry of better or worst quality, with wooden
elements forming the floors and the roof. The walls were very thick, with thick-
ness slightly decreasing towards the higher floors. Spans between walls were rather
small as well as doors and openings. Monumental constructions, usually made of
good quality masonry walls, showed stone arches to sustain larger spans, especially
in the ground floor, like the archways in Rossio, with 25-35 arches, constituting
the advanced wing of the Hospital “Todos os Santos”, which was badly damaged
during the earthquake. The larger churches showed peripheral walls extremely high
forming “boxes” that sustained the roof in stone vaults. Depending on the dimen-
sion, the interior could present medium columns to support arches and vaults, as the
construction tradition at those times would dictate. The chapels, on the other hand,
were small and not so slender.
From the structural point of view the monumental buildings were classified into
the following categories:
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