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Traditional construction in high seismic zones: A losing battle? The case of the 2015 Nepal earthquake
Published in Mariana R. Correia, Paulo B. Lourenço, Humberto Varum, Seismic Retrofitting: Learning from Vernacular Architecture, 2015
X. Romão, E. Paupério, A. Menon
These scenarios can also occur in the case of the 2015 Nepal earthquake. Since the reconstruction stage has not yet begun, information regarding official reconstruction policies is unavailable. Still, two particular aspects need to be highlighted. First, the fact that several locals mentioned that there are recommendations towards reconstructing traditional and cultural heritage buildings, using the Façade retention or “Façadism” technique, where a building is constructed using modern building technology behind its retained historical façades or envelope (Fig 12). Second, given the damage scenarios left by the earthquake, one can expect that people will want to rebuild their homes in RC instead of traditional construction. Unless economic, material and technical support is made officially available by the government, such trend will be difficult to overturn. In this context, it is noted that Nepal possesses a building standard addressing the construction of masonry buildings with adequate earthquake-resistant features (NBC, 1994). As in traditional construction, some aspects related to the combination of timber elements with brick masonry, to enhance the seismic performance of these constructions are clearly mentioned in this standard. Still, adequate conditions for its practical implementation need to be put in place, namely in terms of available technical expertise, quality control of the constructions, and availability of the construction materials at affordable prices.
Structures in existing buildings
Published in Malcolm Millais, Building Structures, 2017
An extreme situation of a new structure alongside an existing one is in a practice called façadism. This is when the whole of the existing building is demolished except for the external façades; often only the street one is kept. The reason for this curious process is basically an unresolved dispute between supporters and opponents of modern architecture. When a non-modern building is no longer useful and demolition is proposed, it is often considered by a large number of people that at least the façade should remain. So a compromise is reached whereby a completely new building is constructed behind the façade; this can result in an unhappy compromise – a type of Frankenstein building – disliked by both parties – see Fig. 13.16.
Heritage conservation ideologies analysis – Historic urban Landscape approach for a Mediterranean historic city case study
Published in HBRC Journal, 2018
Hoda Zeayter, Ashraf Mansour Habib Mansour
“Urban conservation in historic towns is linked to the planning process, but with tourism development, conservation can take on a new product-led dimension” [15]. The West European approach to conservation in historic districts in the end of the 20th century was applied in some cases as a technically balanced intervention and in other cases as façade preservations (Façadism); it had created favourable settings for tourism and shopping but had alienated local communities and users. Façadism is “the retention of a front wall while developing a new behind” [6]. This growing tourism led to several negative impacts on urban conservation [9].