Transcending boundaries in the use of concepts: the case of antifragility

Since the middle of the 20th century, principles and ethical codes have multiplied in the field of conservation-restoration applied to works of art and architecture. Starting from the observation that this proliferation has not always stimulated the critical spirit of professionals, the CoToCoCo project aims to encourage reflection "out of the box". Case studies are confronted with concepts borrowed from disciplines outside the field of conservation-restoration, such as sociology, anthropology, philosophy, semiology and mathematics, among others. In this article, we examine two case studies of "lost art" through the prism of the concept of antifragility, developed by the mathematician Nassim Nicholas Taleb (1960-): The frescoes of St Francis Basilica in Assisi and the fragments of Victor Horta’s Hôtel Aubecq in Brussels.