Iscarsah newsletter 3 Layout 1 · PDF fileheritage sites in Bhutan Seamus Phillips, Eight Months in Bhutan Fazli Sattar Durrani - Iffat Ahmat, ... tecture, historic architecture, planning,

Message of the President of ISCARSAH Stephen Kelley

ear Friends and Colleagues,ISCARSAH continues to grow! We re-

cently received 8 successful applicationsfor membership that were reported re-cently on the listserv. They are ExpertMembers Mustafa Humo (Bosnia + Herce-govina), Olimpia Niglio (Italy) and Sat-want Rihal (USA); Associate MembersLyudmilla Borisovna Bezverkhova (Rus-sia) and William Allen Lowry (USA); andCorresponding Members James Licari(Malta), Fazli Sattar Durrani (Pakistan)and Matthew Stuart (USA). You will be in-troduced to a couple of these new mem-bers within the pages of this newsletter.Our Secretary General Lyne Fontaine(Canada) has stepped down from her postfor which she was elected unanimously in2008 and again in 2011. Lyne is a closefriend and has been a backbone of theCommittee, and I will personally miss heractive participation. However she will re-main an Expert Member and member of theISCARSAH Executive Committee. The postof Secretary General will be filled through2014 by Expert Member Dr. Debra Laeferwho is affiliated with the School of Archi-tecture, Landscape, and Civil Engineering atthe University College Dublin in Ireland.

Announcement of next ISCARSAHMeetingISCARSAH will hold a full meeting on 23July 2013 in Guimarães, Portugal as part ofthe Second International Conference onStructures and Architecture. For informa-tion on the Conference please visit:http://www.icsa2013.arquitectura.uminho.pt/Attendance at the Conference is not a pre-requisite for attending the meeting. De-tails of the meeting will be announcedvery soon on the listserv. I look forward toseeing many of you in Portugal.

Update on Prentice HospitalI am taking the time to apprise you of the unsuccessful fight to save Chicago’s Prentice Hospital (with help from an opinion piece writ-ten by Cheryl Kent and Ron Grossman in the Chicago Tribune, April 11, 2013). I first reported on this preservation battle in the last IS-CARSAH Newsletter. Prentice Hospital was designed by Chicago architect and engineer Bertrand Goldberg and completed in 1975. Itsconcrete curves, flat plates and daring cantilevers were among the first designed using FEM techniques that are routine today.The battle to save Prentice Hospital, which Northwestern University is tearing down and replacing with a medical research facility, wasjoined by some of the biggest names in architecture and engineering. The Save Prentice Coalition enlisted high-profile architects from

newsletterApril, 2013

1

D

IscarsahInternational Scientific Committee on the Analysis andRestoration of Structures of Architectural Heritage

3

INDEX

Message of the President of ISCARSAHStephen J. Kelley

News from Iscarsah MembersDechen Tschering, Sources of risk andvulnerability. Vulnerability of culturalheritage sites in BhutanSeamus Phillips, Eight Months in BhutanFazli Sattar Durrani - Iffat Ahmat,Guli Bagh MonumentMegan Reese, Impact of HurricaneSandy on New York City

Scientific reportsEls Verstrynge, The problem child ofBelgian’s natural stonesHet zorgenkind van de BelgischenatuursteenValentin Feodorov, Safeguarding theHeraclea Citadel in Dobrogea, RomaniaKhalid El Harrouni, The Fez MedinaRehabilitation Project: the SafeguardProcess and Lessons

Conferences, courses2014 Structural Analysis of Historical Constructions (SAHC2014)Lyudmila Bezverkhova, ArchitecturalStudent Center at Vyatka State Univer-sity (Kirov, Russia)(Translated by Alexander Salenikovich)

Iscarsah newsletter n. 3/2013

2

Message of the President of ISCARSAH

International Scientific Committee on theAnalysis and Restoration of Structures ofArchitectural Heritage

website:http://iscarsah.icomos.org/

facebook:https://www.facebook.com/pages/IS-CARSAH/263710868630

linkedin:http://www.linkedin.com/groups/IS-CARSAH-Structures-Architectural-Her-itage-3930057

Newsletter n. 3April, 2013ISSN 2306-0182

Editor: María Margarita Segarra LagunesVia Emanuele Filiberto, 19000185 Roma (ITALY)

email: [email protected]

1

3

5

8

10

12

15

20

24

25

around the world to speak out for saving the building at the November 2012 hearing beforethe Chicago Commission on Landmarks. The ICOMOS 20th Century Committee was repre-sented by Gunny Harboe. I represented more than 30 of our ISCARSAH Members.But the Chicago Commission on Landmarks was tightly controlled by Chicago Mayor RahmEmanuel, who came out in favor of tearing down old Prentice two days before a highly or-chestrated vote. The makeup of the Commission had undergone a major change shortly afterthe Mayor took office in 2011. Four members, including two architects who wanted a prompthearing for old Prentice, were not reappointed. That July, the mayor appointed four newmembers: an obstetrician, a restaurateur, and two career politicians who did not appear tomeet city requirements to be “selected from professionals in the disciplines of history, archi-tecture, historic architecture, planning, archaeology, real estate, historic preservation or re-lated fields”.At the November meeting, the commission voted to give Prentice Hospital preliminary land-mark status then voted later that evening to reverse itself based on a planning report pro-vided by Northwestern University. Those of us present were part of a well-orchestrated playfor which the outcome had been pre-ordained in the “smoke-filled rooms” of City Hall. Theonly commissioner who voted against withdrawing preliminary landmark status subse-quently quit his post because of how the matter was handled.The Chicago representative for the National Trust for Historic Preservation in the UnitedStates expressed frustration over the process. “Northwestern's argument and the city's ar-gument was economic, not about the building. It was either/or from the start. Either Prenticeis saved or a 1 billion USD investment disappears. They never had to prove that assertion”,said Christine Morris.This unsuccessful fight might be best remembered for how a process intended to protectChicago's famed architectural heritage was overrun by Chicago politics. Perhaps it's just thatin Chicago, bare-knuckle politics is as much an art form as world-class architecture.

Sincerely,Stephen J. KelleyPresident - ISCARSAH

Iscarsah newsletter n. 3/2013News from Iscarsah Members

3

Sources of risk and vulnerabilityVulnerability of cultural heritage sites in Bhutan Dechen TsheringConservation Engineer

facts have been lost forever often leadingto the total loss of the entire historicalvalue of the structure. The complete ruinby fire in 1998 of the 7th Century Taktshangmonastery (famously known as the‘Tiger’s nest’), the severe damage to the16th Century fortress of Gasa in 2008 andthe very recent fire at the Wangduepho-drang Dzong in 2012 are but a few exam-ples that clearly depict how vulnerablecultural heritage sites in Bhutan are tofires. Unfortunately, although Vulnerabil-ity and Risk Assessment, was usually con-sidered as part of planning for themanagement of sites, for various reasons,it was never given any real practical im-portance that it actually merits for the pro-tection of cultural heritage sites in Bhutan.Detailed vulnerability assessment of cul-tural heritage sites have never been carriedout in Bhutan but sporadic government andinternational reports of the consequencesof damages and losses after every disas-

trous event clearly show how vulnerableour cultural heritage sites are.The most recent example of the high vul-nerability of heritage sites to fire wasshowcased dramatically in a very helplessmanner when the WangduephodrangDzong, a historic fortress which datedback to the early 17th century, was totallygutted down by fire on June 24, 2012.The loss of the Wangduephodrang Dzongwas a not only a loss of a building, it was anational tragedy where hundreds of arti-facts and murals were lost.

Challenges to carry out vulnerability as-sessment of cultural heritage sitesAlthough there is a clear indication inBhutan for the urgent need for a compre-hensive vulnerability assessment espe-cially for important cultural heritage sites,it has faced major roadblocks. Dedicatingappropriate technical assistance as wellas adequate financial assistance is a major

ackgroundBhutan is widely known to the out-

side world for unique and beautiful cul-tural heritage. The major aspects ofBhutan’s rich culture are the ancient tradi-tions and customs that are still vibrantlyalive and the rich traditions of architectureelaborately displayed in the cultural her-itage sites and still part of daily life. In ad-dition to the architectural, aesthetic,historic, and archaeological significance,most of the cultural heritage sites inBhutan have deep spiritual and culturalsignificance. Furthermore, the cultural her-itage sites in Bhutan are known for being“Living Heritage Sites” as they play a vitalrole in the daily lives of the society.

Vulnerability of cultural heritage sitesDue to the fragile topography of the Hi-malayan region, cultural heritage sites inBhutan are prone to various natural disas-ters. Moreover, natural disasters could havea bigger impact considering the fact thatmost of the cultural heritage sites are al-ready in stages of heavily deterioration dueto continuous occupancy, weathering andrenovations to adapt to the modern needsof the residents. A number of the most sa-cred heritage monuments in the countryhave been damaged by earthquakes, fire,floods and cyclones in the recent past.Severe damage to the Punakha Dzong in1994 by a glacial lake outburst flood, sev-eral fires in heritage structures and the tworecent earthquakes in 2009 and 2011 whichdamaged hundreds of ancient cultural her-itage sites in the eastern and western partsof Bhutan were also strong wakeup calls.During all phases of a disaster, prior impor-tance is usually given for infrastructuresupporting immediate livelihoods such asschools, hospitals and home. This which istotally logical but it is only when we havelost them that we realize the loss of impor-tant cultural heritage sites.

Devastation by fireAlthough, cultural heritage sites have suf-fered from damages from all kinds of dis-asters, it is fire that has been responsiblefor the most devastating disasters. Firehas destroyed ancient architecture, andinvaluable and priceless murals and arti-

Photo: Stephen Kelley

Photo: Stephen Kelley

B

4

Iscarsah newsletter n. 3/2013 News from Iscarsah Members

challenge considering the lack of technicalcapacity as well as financial resourcesavailable in the country. This is further ex-acerbated by the absence of a culture ofactive fire preventive management tradi-tions and practices.

Case Study of the Fire at the 16th CenturyWangduephodrang DzongThe strategic location of the majority ofimportant cultural heritage sites overharsh mountain ridges which was origi-nally a strategic advantage over a valley inorder to safeguard from attacks is nowposing a challenge for putting in pre-paredness measures and fighting fires.During the fire of the Wangduephodrangfortress, everyone could only stand help-lessly watching the huge ancient andbeloved structure being consumed by thefire slowly for almost 24 hours.That there was almost nothing that couldbe done to tackle the fire, very stronglydisplayed the weakness of our current ca-pacity to cope with this degree of disasterin our heritage sites. The Wangduepho-drang Dzong tragedy also made us realizewhere we stand in terms of technical ca-pacity to fight fires. There are also a lot of‘ifs’ associated with the incident duringand after the fire - if there were fire alarmsystems in place; if a chopper was avail-able for such disasters; if there were anemergency exit and it still continues.There were plans to put in fire safetymeasures in the Dzong after the restora-tion works that was ongoing were com-pleted because no one thought that a firedisaster of such scale would ever happen.But the irony was it happened!

Responses in the aftermath of the fire atthe Wangduephodrang DzongThe responses in the aftermath of the fireat the Wangduephodrang Dzong were im-mediate. The Government of Bhutan tookthe Wangduephodrang Dzong tragedy asthe biggest reason to improve fire safetymeasures especially in Dzongs. Fire safetycampaigns in all important monumentswere immediately conducted where theresidents were trained how to use fire ex-tinguishers; there were various fire drillsand preparation of evacuation plans. Ini-tiatives to come up with detailed evacua-tion plans and incorporation of fire safetymeasures have now begun in Bhutan.The People of Bhutan mourned the loss ofthis ancient Fortress and have been fullysupportive in fund raising for the recon-struction of the Dzong. Almost every indi-

vidual has been contributing whateverpossible within his/her means both in cashand kind. However, the tragedy is that al-though huge amounts of money is beingraised for the reconstruction and we allknow for sure that WangduephodrangDzong will again stand magnificently overthat ridge, Bhutan and the world has lostforever the authentic historical value in thefire and it can really never be regained.A regret we now have is that if only all

this money that is now available for thereconstruction was available a fewmonths back before the tragedy for fireprevention. The irony is that the moneypresently raised for the reconstructionwould have been adequate for fire pre-vention measures for almost all heritagesites in Bhutan with all the required firesafety measures. One can only learn les-sons from this tragedy and use it to applyit for measures in the future.

Photographs of before and after of the Wangduephidrang Dzong (built in 1638). Total devastationby the fire of June 24, 2012.

Photo: Stephen Kelley Photo: Stephen Kelley

Photo: Kuensel

Photo: courtesy Department of Culture

5

Eight Months in BhutanSeamus PhillipsStructural Engineer

pon reading an email sent to the IS-CARSAH list by Dechen Tsheringfrom Bhutan, I saw a great opportu-

nity for me to offer my time to travelthere and assist them. After somearrangements were made, kindly negoti-ated by Dechen, I was able to do thisand consequently spent eight monthsvolunteering as a structural engineerwith the Division for Conservation ofHeritage Sites under the Ministry ofHome and Cultural Affairs. The workwas challenging from conservation, en-gineering and cultural perspectives, yetit was also an experience that hastaught me a great deal.

Bhutan’s BuildingsBhutan is a small Himalayan countryseated between India and China and hasa population of under a million. It ismost well known for its advocacy ofGross National Happiness and its recentpeaceful transition from absolute monar-chy to democracy. Unusually, it hasnever really been conquered and wasclosed to the world until the 1960s; it hastherefore had little historic influencefrom the West and has remained an al-most medieval country. This means thatevery structure prior to this time, andmany since, have a very distinctBhutanese style. They are built withsomewhat basic techniques, namelyrammed earth, stone masonry with earthmortars, and jointed timber framing.These traditional buildings make up ahuge proportion of the building stock,and those that are still habitable are,quite uniquely, entirely used for theiroriginal purpose, be it houses, temples,monasteries or even fortresses (Dzongs)which are used as the centre of localgovernance. This continued use addsgreat value to Bhutan’s traditional build-ings and has been key to preserving themfrom ruin thus far.

Conservation issuesHowever, over the last 40 years Bhutanhas been developing at an increasingrate. The newly sprung towns across thecountry now largely consist of concreteframe buildings, albeit still with a dis-tinct Bhutanese style. Traditional build-ings are being demolished daily to

U

upgrade to this modern style in order toprovide better facilities and reduce main-tenance.In addition to this threat to the heritagestructures from rapid development,Bhutan was hit by earthquakes in 2009and 2011. One of 6.1 magnitude with itsepicentre in the east, and one of 6.9 mag-nitude centred in Sikkim to the west.These killed twelve people and causedwidespread damage to traditional struc-tures. Naturally this has prompted a callfor for safer buildings, and unfortunatelyto many this is synonymous with modernbuildings. During my time there I was alsowitness to a fire disaster which gutted one

of Bhutan’s most impressive buildings;Wangduephodrang Dzong. This wasn’tthe first disaster of its kind; another fire in2000 destroyed Bhutan’s most pho-tographed building, Paro Taktsang, andthere are many other stories of buildingsbeing lost to fire in the past. This hascalled for buildings to be more fire resist-ant, which is understood by many as asuggestion to no longer use timber.

DCHSThese issues, among others, are beingaddressed by the role of the Division forConservation of Heritage Sites (DCHS).Over the past five years DCHS have been

Seamus outside Tashichho Dzong.

Paro Dzong.


executing three large conservation proj-ects involving three of Bhutan’s dzongs(fortresses), including Wangduephro-drang Dzong prior to the fire.These projects involve substantial conser-vation minded repairs and upgrading thebuildings to provide modern facilities. Inaddition to these projects the office alsodocuments, assesses and advises onmany other heritage buildings.My role at DCHS was to assist them withthe structural aspects of this work, andsince the office has very limited struc-tural ability my assistance, althoughbasic, was very welcome.This work typically involved travellingto the site ( which was often very re-mote), documenting as much of thestructure as possible (few drawings orhistorical information is available), andreporting a proposal of repairs to therelevant authority (sometimes the PrimeMinister). Being an entirely new culturefor me, none of these tasks werestraightforward.

TravellingTravelling to the sites was not necessar-ily simple; the majority of the templestructures are situated on mountain topsover 3000 m above sea level. Many tripsinvolved a few hours on relatively goodroads, then a few hours on a rough trackwinding up a mountain and then an houror so’s walk.One particular building involved a fourday trek to reach, as it was located rightnear the border with Tibet at over 4000maltitude. Another involved 20 hours driv-ing to go just 570 km across the countryon the main highway.

InspectingInspecting the structure was usuallyfairly straight forward, as our work waswelcome and access was no problem.However, gaining any oral history of thebuildings was not so simple. I found thatin general the users of the buildingswere far more interested in the spiritualhistory of the site than the building, andso the question of ‘How old is this tem-ple?’ would be answered with the datethe site was first recognised. Althoughthe building styles have not changedgreatly over the last 500 years, it did nottake long for me to start spotting thesubtle differences between building pe-riods and consequently be able to ques-tion the users further to get the trueanswers.


6

Dongkorla EQ damage.

Wangdue Dzong Fire.

Lingzhi Dzong.


7

A trend that I picked up on was that thereappeared to be a peak in structural skillin the 17th Century when a lama namedShabdrung Ngawang Namgyel came fromTibet and united Bhutan, building manyof the Dzongs. Some of the most impressive buildingsstem from this time, and since then therehas been a decline in quality, especiallyin the last 100 years when more work hasbeen put into embellishing the buildingsthan the quality of their structure.Identifying recent alterations to thestructures was thus vital due to this de-crease in skill; many alterations usedmuch poorer workmanship, and in manycases (as is common elsewhere) the al-terations compromised the integrity ofthe buildings. Nearly all the damagethat I observed was either due to pooralterations or neglect.

ReportingReporting the proposals of repairs wasone of the most challenging aspects ofthe work. The analyses of the buildingswere kept simple, but the appropriatechoice of action was complicated by cul-tural and political issues, as well as thechallenge of specifying work which waspossible with the limited resources andskills available.For example, the traditional roofing ma-terial is timber shingles called shinglep,this is a great examples of a material fitfor purpose as it is locally sourced andcan withstand the strong winds.Yet over recent years a large proportionof the traditional buildings have hadtheir shinglep roofs replaced with light-weight corrugated steel sheeting in aneffort to reduce building maintenanceand preserve trees.These sheets are fixed to the traditionalroof structures and, consequently causemany of these roofs to blow off in highwinds. Even with this problem it is verydifficult to persuade the building own-ers that shinglep can be appropriate asit contradicts previous recommenda-tions to save the trees. The Wangdue Dzong fire has added an-other reason not to use the shingles. Itwas one of the last remaining Dzongs tohave a shingle roof as its windy locationwas not suitable for steel sheeting. Theshingle roof however contributed to thespread of the fire and is too easilyblamed for the extent of the disaster.Another example of proposal challengesis with the repair techniques under-

stood by the local builders and engi-neers. I found that in general they weremuch happier to rebuild than to repair.It took some time to really understandtheir capabilities and I was surprised tofind quite late in my stay that drilling ahole through a thick wall was not some-thing they were comfortable with.This is a key skill for many types of re-pair works and I did not feel it wouldtake much to train them and buy the ap-propriate equipment. Unfortunately this was not possible forthe timescale for the work in question,but I hope it will be considered for thefuture.

OpportunitiesStill having such a vast number of her-itage buildings and the intangible skills

associated with building them putsBhutan in quite a rare position. It is nota simple task to classify these buildingsas protected heritage sites, as they aregenerally seen as ‘common’ and now‘out of date’, this can also be seen asdirectly opposing development.However I see this as a great opportu-nity for the country, with the knowledgeand assistance from the rest of theworld, to conserve their most significantsites better than anywhere else.I feel that my input has been useful forDCHS and that I contributed to savingsome valuable buildings, and helped toimprove the knowledge and methods ofthe office.I look forward to returning with moreexperience behind me and follow up onthe projects.

Taktsang.

Workers.

istorical BackgroundThe Mughal record mentionsthat in 1490 AD Babar Mirza,

Grand Son of Amir Taimur andcousin of Zaheer-ud-Din Muham-mad Babar, founder of the Mughaldynasty in south Asia, advanced tothe area known as Pakhli Sarkar, sit-uated in the vicinity of Mansehra.Babar Mirza, assumed the title ofSultan Shahab-ud-Din Babar, is saidto have built the fortified fort Ferozaat Guli Bagh1. Inside the ravagedfort was a court, the place where heand his successors used to decidethe affairs of the state. The fort isperished now.Guli Bagh was a cantonment area inthe middle of River Siren and Koh-iTanglai. The fort Feroza and thecourt (pavilion) is located at GuliBagh on the left bank of River Siren,23 km to the north of Mansehra.The fort can be approached througha link road connecting Hazara Uni-versity and Baffa town situated tothe east of the fort.This place was famous for its beau-tiful scenery and flowers and it isknown as “Guli Bagh” (the gardenof flowers). In the background ofthe fort the rolling hills of Talangaienhance the natural location of thefort in the lush green surroundings.It was the capital of the Turk Sul-tans. A canal was provided to thisarea passing through the bottom ofthe Tanglai hill falling in a pool andthen entered in Feroza Fort2. Thevillagers have found the terracottapipes which verify the existence ofthe pool and water channel. Akbarand especially Jahangir speak aboutthe beauty and greenery of thearea3. The fort was designed exactly in themanner like those prevailed in theIndian Sub-Continent. It was con-structed from the same materiallike burnt bricks, stones and lime.According to Irshad Khan the brickswere prepared at Sikandra, sixmiles away from the fort. A ditchwas provided around the fort inwhich the river was passed4.Captain Wais states that Guli Baghwas the capital of Turks and Em-peror Akbar and Jahangir stayedhere during their journey. Herewere the graves of the Turks whichwere in ruined state. However themausoleum of Diwan Raja FaqirMuhammad was in much bettercondition5. It is also said that here are laying the graves of Shahab-ud Din Mirza (the founder of Mughals in this re-gion) and other Salateens.Diwan Raja Baba was the contemporary of Sultan Mahmud Khurd and was living at Guli Bagh. His full name is men-tioned as Diwan Raja Faqir Muhammad. His mausoleum is situated in the enclosure which is not in the original form

Guli Bagh MonumentFazli Sattar Durrani - Iffat AhmadDepartment of Tourism & Hospitality (Pakistan)Hazara University, Garden Campus, Dhodial

H

8



9

in which it was designed6. In the last days of 17th Century AD, Guli Bagh re-ceived severe destruction especially during the mutiny of Sultan MuqarrabKhan. The Turks were dispersed and lost their central position while theprinces captured the small areas. For suppressing them, in 1713 AD, SyedJalal Baba (from Swat) attacked the Pakhli area. In those days the two sonsof Sultan Mahmood (wali Pakhal), Murid Khan and Aaqil Kahn were present.Both the princes are said to be buried here inside the enclosure. Syed JalalBaba seized the fort, however the fort was destroyed and the whole citywas razed to the ground7. Sultan Mahmood Khurdwai had designed a grave for himself but couldn’t beburied due to his death in a battle, coming back from Delhi8. The tomb nowstanding outside the enclosure is probably the same. The marble tombstone is now lying in the Hazara Cultural Museum, Hazara University,Mansehra. In short this site reflects the past glory of the region which needsmore research for unveiling the mystery. However the primary measuresare necessarily to be taken for the conservation of the whole complex.

Damages afflicted to the MonumentThe monument through the ages remained exposed to direct and constantpressure of rains, sun and wind. It experienced unprecedented destructionduring the devastating earthquake on 8th October 2005. The structure ofthe walls of the court is badly damaged and at some places the masonry isconsiderably pulled apart. The damaged portion should be thoroughly doc-umented, repaired and consolidated. The platform is damaged at severalpoints and is partially missing.The old had been repaired at different points and rimes with cement,needed restoration with all its old originality intact. The inner wall in partshas developed cleavages. Moreover, some portions of the walls has beenpainted which had overlapped the originality of the monument. At the pres-ent state of research and investigation these are the sole examples of thestyle in the Hazara valley. Immediate remedial measures are needed to haltfurther decay.

The cultural value of the MonumentWe have no historical information about the date of the building. But sty-listically the treatment of facade, divided into several ornamental stories,brings it close to the Lodhi period square tombs like Bare-Khan-ka Gum-bat, Chote-Khan-ka Gumbat at Lodhi Gardens, Delhi. The building of thecourt bearing the ravages of time over the Centuries has survived to thisday and still possesses some of its original splendor and elegance.The monument seems to be unique on the basis of style of constructionand no comparative examples and specimens are recorded so far fromthis region (Hazara Valley). It is intriguing that the whole Hazara regionhas only two standing monuments of the medieval period, though it hasbeen a route of trade caravans, royal journeys for centuries. They hadbeen made of bricks where almost every other building is made of avail-able natural stone. It is important to preserve this monument beforecomplete deletion of this chapter from our Cultural Heritage. The preser-vation of this monument would contribute to the promotion of tourism,will preserve the dying cultural and historical heritage of the area, and the uplift of the community.

Why to conserve and restoreHuman vandalism and the ravages of time have left deep marks on the archaeological and historical monumentsand they have shown great and severe destruction, deterioration and depredation of their core, which needs to beattended to on emergency basis. It is also our duty to conserve and preserve these architectural jewels of the pasthistory, which are the pride of the Muslim culture, and to maintain them for present and posterity and to createthem as tourist places and for the projection of our culture and cultural heritage in the country as well abroad. Thisproject will link our present with the golden past to attract tourists from all over the world.

1 Muhammad Irshad Khan, Tarikh-I Hazara, Lahor 1976, p. 161.2 Ibid, p. 295.3 Tuzuk-i Jahangiri.4 Khan, cit., p. 296.5 Captain Wais, Hazara Gazetteer, 1870-72, 392.6 Ibid,7 Khan, cit., p. 298.8 Ibid, p. 299.

Impact of Hurricane Sandy on New York CityMegan Reese P. E.Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc., New York, NY

urricane Sandy originated as atropical storm in the CaribbeanSea on October 22, 2012. Be-

fore reaching the United States, thestorm caused significant damagesand fatalities in Jamaica, Cuba,Haiti, the Dominican Republic, andthe Bahamas. When HurricaneSandy finally made landfall in theUS, its effects were felt along theEast Coast from the Carolinas upinto Canada. In North American, thestorm’s effects were felt most se-verely along the coasts of New Jer-sey and New York. This article willfocus on the impact of HurricaneSandy on New York City.As Hurricane Sandy began to movetowards the New York and New Jer-sey coasts, New York City officialstook precautions. The subway sys-tem was shut down approximately24 hours before the storm madelandfall. Mandatory evacuationswere ordered for low-lying commu-nities most susceptible to flooding.These areas include the perimeterof lower Manhattan, the Coney Is-land Peninsula (Brooklyn), theRockaway Peninsula (Queens), andthe coastal areas of Staten Island.Effects of the storm were felt inNew York and New Jersey through-out the day on Monday, October29, while the storm was just offthe coast. Hurricane Sandy madelandfall near Atlantic City, New Jer-sey that evening around 8 pm,after being downgraded to a post-tropical depression. Sustainedwinds of 60 mph (96 km/h) andwind gusts of up to 80 mph (128km/h) were recorded in the area.But the most destructive aspect of Hurricane Sandy was the storm surge, which was approximately 13 feet (4meters) high. To complicate matters, the storm made landfall during high tide on the night of a full moon,when tides are at their highest point during the lunar cycle. High tide occured around 9 pm on October 29, justafter the storm made landfall1. The hardest hit areas in New York City were lower Manhattan, Red Hook (Brooklyn), the Coney Island and Rock-away Peninsulas, and Staten Island. These areas were inundated with water from storm surge, in some places upto 18 feet (5.5 meters) deep. Subway and vehicular tunnels into lower Manhattan from Brooklyn, Queens, and NewJersey were flooded, impeding access into Manhattan for several days following the storm. The storm causedpower outages throughout the city, and damage to waste water treatment plants in the area. Because much ofNew York City’s storm and waste water sewers are combined, storm surge caused sewage to back up through base-ment plumbing, causing serious contamination within homes. Additionally, many waste water treatment plants andelectrical substations in low-lying areas were flooded and damaged during the storm.The Coney Island and Rockaway Peninsulas are the two westernmost barrier islands along the southern coastof Brooklyn and Long Island Sound. These areas became popular resort destinations beginning in the mid-1800’s. In time, people began building small summer homes, typically bungalow-style cottages, on the penin-sula. Most present-day residents live in these communities year-round. Summer cottages have been “winterized”by adding heating and insulation, or else demolished and replaced by larger, more modern homes. Additionally,public housing complexes were constructed on Coney Island Peninsula and other low-lying areas in the mid-1900’s, significantly expanding the permanent resident population in flood prone areas. Nearly all homes on the

H


10

Coney Island Peninsula, coastal home damaged by wave action.

Coney Island and Rockaway Penin-sulas were subject to extensiveflooding due to storm surge. Floodlevels reached depths of over 10feet (3 m) in some locations. Onceflood waters subsided, mounds ofsand and debris were left in thestreets along with displaced boatsand cars. Most homes with base-ments were left filled with waterthat had to be pumped out. Ocean-front homes sustained the mostdramatic damage, where stormsurge combined with wave actioncaused serious structural damageto homes.The neighborhood of Breezy Point,on the westernmost tip of the Rock-away Peninsula, still contains anumber of bungalow-style homes.Many of these homes are con-structed of wood frames set on un-reinforced concrete masonry unitfoundation walls. The storm surgeknocked out many of these founda-tion walls, leaving the upper portionof the homes unsupported andstructurally unsound. In somecases, the homes floated off thefoundations and into the streets, orstruck other homes.Privately owned homes in areasheavily affected by HurricaneSandy were surveyed as part of anemergency inspection campaignimplemented by the New York CityDepartment of Buildings (DOB).

DOB inspectors along with contracted local structural engineering firms performed rapid and detailed inspectionsof storm-damaged homes. The inspection program generally followed the evaluation procedure outlined in FieldManual: Safety Evaluation of Buildings After Windstorms and Floods (ATC-45) by the Applied Technology Coun-cil. The goal of these inspections was to identify potentially hazardous conditions to building occupants, focus-ing primarily on structural damages. Items listed on the assessment form for the inspector to look for includecollapse or partial collapse, lean of the structure, foundation damage, and failure of significant structural elementsor connections. The assessment form also lists nonstructural hazards, such as parapets at risk of collapse or re-stricted means of egress, and geotechnical hazards. Once a home has been evaluated by an engineer, a color-coded tag is affixed to the structure classifying it as “Inspected” (no hazards found), “Restricted Use,” or “Unsafe.”Once detailed inspections are complete, home owners are responsible for hiring contractors to perform neces-sary repairs. Unfortunately, insurance policies do not necessarily cover all the costs to return a home to a hab-itable state, and government aid is limited.As the city continues to recover from the storm, steps are already being taken to protect against future disas-ters. In response to the extensive destruction caused by Hurricane Sandy, Andrew Cuomo, Governor of the Stateof New York, has proposed purchasing damaged homes from persons living in flood zones and returning the landto natural habitat (this plan is still pending on federal approval and other factors)2. The Federal Emergency Man-agement Agency (FEMA) will revise flood maps in the New York City area based on a 100-year storm3. This willextend the areas designated as flood zones and increase those impacted by wave action. The Code Counsel forthe New York City Building Code has proposed a new wind category for hurricane-prone areas be included in thelatest building code, which is still in development phase4. It will still be some time before the city fully recoversfrom this disaster, as home owners try to find a way to rebuild their homes and their lives. New York City law-makers, engineers, and residents have learned a valuable lesson about the susceptibility of the city to the forcesof nature, but hopefully this experience will lead to more flood resilient design for residential structures locatedin flood-prone areas and infrastructure that can withstand storms in the future.

1 http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/noaatidepredictions/NOAATidesFacade.jsp?Stationid=85177412 http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/06/opinion/gov-andrew-cuomos-sandy-plan.html?_r=03 http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/29/nyregion/homes-in-flood-zone-doubles-in-new-fema-map.html?_r=04 “Future of Building in NYC: 2013 NYC Building Code,” Presentation on 6 March 2013, sponsored by the Structural EngineersAssociate of New York and CSi International.


11

Rockaway Peninsula, ocean-front homes damaged by storm surge and wave action.

Rockaway Peninsula, Breezy Point home floated off foundation.

he Belgian built heritage is a most diverse and rich patrimony that contributes to the pride of local communi-ties and that attracts millions of visitors every year to monuments, historic city centers and archaeologicalsites. Although especially Flanders is renowned for its “red brick” architecture, many monuments have been

constructed with natural stones, such as different types of limestone (e.g. white limestone such as Gobertange andBalegem stone).A very peculiar type of local natural stone is the ferruginous sandstone, which does not contain lime but has a fer-ruginous binder, causing its typical red-brown color. The most famous Belgian ferruginous sandstone is the Diestiansandstone which is the typical building stone of the Hageland (North-East Belgium) and was widely used at theheight of the economic and demographic expansion in the 14th to 16th century. All emblematic gothic monuments ofthe region were constructed in thismaterial whose limited capacity forsculpturing led to a local variant ofthe Gothic style, known as ‘DemerGothic’. Weathering processes often causedecay and material loss in Diestianferruginous sandstone, see Fig. 1for an extreme example.In addition, this sandstone has arelatively low average strength anda large scatter on its strength andstiffness properties. Long-term me-chanical deterioration under ele-vated constant load levels (such asthe dead load of a tower) can givecause to important deformationsand crack growth. The process ofdeformation increase under con-stant loading is referred to as creepdamage.It is known that ferruginous sand-stone is vulnerable to creep dam-age, although the occurrence of thephenomenon on the micro scaleand the influence of moistureingress is not yet fully understood.Long-term damage progress underconstant load levels poses a risk formonuments and people and is ofconcern to the international scien-tific community as it can also occurin other low-strength building ma-terials. In-depth research on long-term behavior of masonrystructures under elevated constantload levels was initiated by profes-sor Binda and her research team atthe Politecnico di Milano in the ‘80safter the collapse of the bell towerin Pavia (1989).Ferruginous sandstone is a ratherfragile resource, much of which hasalready been lost or replaced bybuilding materials selected in thepast without knowledge on thephysical and mechanical properties,ageing characteristics or compatibil-ity with the original material, see forexample Fig. 2.Stocks of replacement stone be-

T

The problem child of Belgian’s natural stonesHet zorgenkind van de Belgische natuursteen Els VerstryngeKULeuven - Department of Civil Engineering University- Building Materials and Technology Division

Iscarsah newsletter n. 3/2013 Scientific reports

12

Fig. 1

Fig. 2

Iscarsah newsletter n. 3/2013Scientific reports

13

come depleted and attempts to discover new quarry sites yielding quality stones are currently under investigationbut were not successful so far. Hence, restoration of monumental constructions built with ferruginous sandstonefor which the state of preservation could imply stone replacement is a complex issue.Besides Diestian ferruginous sandstone, other types of ferruginous sandstone in Belgium are for example the‘Brusselian’ sandstone, naturally occurring and commonly used in Brabant Walloon and Flemish Brabant southof Leuven and the ‘bergsteen’, naturally occurring on hilltops and widely used in the Flemish Ardennes andsouthern West-Flanders. These varieties appear to be more durable and this contribution therefore specificallyfocusses on monuments con-structed in Diestian ferruginoussandstone.

Case studies

1. St. Willibrordus church inMeldert (Lummen, Belgium)

The bell tower of the Sint-Willi-brordus church in Meldert suddenlycollapsed in July 2006, see Fig. 3.Large vertical cracks had beenpresent in the base of the belltower and monitoring of thesecrack widths had shown increasesof 1 mm and more in the weeksbefore collapse.The failure of the tower has beenattributed to long-term damageaccumulation under high sustainedstress levels. With a creep assess-ment methodology at hand, thiscase was re-investigated in detail.Samples were taken from the col-lapsed bell tower to investigate thematerial characteristics of the Di-estian ferruginous sandstone.In addition to a range of standardtests (compression tests, Young’smodulus, composition of the limemortar), experimental creep testswere performed. The results of the creep tests showed that creep damage is initiated at very low relative stress levels in this typeof sandstone, even below 50 % of the compressive strength.It should therefore not be surprising that creep-related structural problems are found in a considerable numberof monuments which are constructed with this material.

2. St. Eustachius church in Zichem(Scherpenheuvel-Zichem, Belgium)

Alarmed by the collapse of the bell tower of the church in Meldert, the sta-bility of the tower of the St. Eustachius church in Zichem was investigated,as this tower was built with the same sandstone material and showed asimilar damage pattern at the base of the bell tower, see Fig. 4. A combi-nation of experimental material characterization, monitoring, non-andminor-destructive investigation of the lay-out of the pillars at the towerbase, load calculation, creep modeling and probabilistic analysis were per-formed to assess the tower’s long-term structural safety. As the results ofthis detailed structural assessment did not guarantee the tower's struc-tural safety, the risk was considered too high and strengthening measureswere proposed.The approaching December celebrations compelled swift interventions andit was decided to strengthen the base of the pillars of the tower by con-straining the lateral deformations with epoxy bonded Carbon Fiber Rein-forced Polymer sheets (CFRP). The constraining effect of the CFRP sheetsincreases the load bearing capacity of the pillars.The wrapping of the pillars was designed as a temporary measure, includ-ing a protective layer in between the CFRP and the sandstone masonry to

Fig. 3

Fig. 4

protect the original material. This temporary strengthening system ensures stability until an extensive strength-ening and consolidation campaign can take place, e.g. including grout injections to increase the internal coher-ence of the pillars and the overall strength of the masonry. To date, such a consolidation campaign has not yetbeen undertaken.

3. The Maagden tower in Zichem (Scherpenheuvel-Zichem, Belgium)

The Maagden tower (in English “Virgin tower”) had already partially collapsed in June 2006. Again, no sudden dis-turbance of the acting forces could be pointed out as having caused the collapse. There was a preceding period

of heavy rain which could haveweakened the masonry and en-hanced failure. The tower was alsocomposed of three-leaf masonry inDiestian ferruginous sandstone,which appeared in a bad condition.A high dead load acted on the baseof the tower, especially in the areawhere the cross section of the wallhad been reduced by a staircaseopening. It was at this point thatthe wall collapse was triggered.To safeguard the remaining part of

the structure after partial collapse, the tower was girded with a confiningconstruction of vertical beams and circular tension rods and a cover wasapplied to protect the vulnerable inner core masonry from moistureingress, see Figg. 5a, 5b. At present, grout injections are being carriedout to enhance internal cohesion and strengthen the three-leaf masonry.Main issues in this process are the compatibility between the grout andthe original material and the fact that a lot of water is injected in the ma-sonry, which has a temporary negative effect on the masonry’s stability.If no precautions are taken during the injection and hardening period,this can cause instabilities and (local) collapse.To test the compatibility and injectability of the grout, test injections with three different grout types have beencarried out and core drilling has been applied to identify the most suitable grout. Unfortunately, all tested grouttypes were commercially available grouts which had not been composed specifically for use in ferruginous sand-stone, therefore possibly affecting the masonry’s long-term behavior.

Future?

At the moment, further investiga-tions are taking place to under-stand the influence of moisture onthe creep behavior of ferruginoussandstone. Initial results indicate alarge influence of water adsorptionon the sandstone’s creep deforma-tions and partially saturated condi-tions significantly enhance creepfailure.These issues were presented anddiscussed at the International Sym-posium on Structural Analysis ofHistorical Constructions(SAHC2012) which took place inOctober 2012 in Wroclaw (Poland).This fundamental knowledge isnecessary to design more efficientassessment techniques andrestoration guidelines for monu-ments constructed in Diestian ferruginous sandstone.Therefore, this case is also a nice example of how fundamental research can support restoration practice. In the end, this specific type of sandstone has given a strong identity and character to the monumental architec-ture in the Hageland, see Figs 6-7, and the longevity of these monuments certainly deserves our attention. After all, “problem child” doesn’t necessarily need to be seen as a fully negative description… it’s also a child youcare a lot about and which is close to your heart, it just needs a little more care than some of the others.

14


Fig. 5a

Fig. 5b

Fig. 6 Fig. 7

15

he ruins of the medievalCitadel Heraclea, or Enisala,are located in North Dobro-

gea, on a calcareous cliff datingfrom the Jurassic, at +109,6 mabove the level of the Black Sea.This is the highest point in thelake area. Towards the East liesLake Razelm, while towards theNorth-West is the Babadag Lake.The geographical coordinates ofthe citadel are 44°53’2’’ N and28°50’7’’ E.The cliff is located within the areaof Sarichioi Commune, TulceaCounty, which is composed of fivevillages: Enisala, Sabangia, Sari-chioi, Zebil, and Visterna. Theclosest village to the citadel isEnisala. “Enisala” is written inTurkish Yeni Sala, meaning “TheNew Village” (a name also used inRoman times, in its Latin ver-sion), while Sarikoy means “TheYellow Village”, because of theyellowish colour of the reed fieldsthat cover the area. The com-mune stretches on 282 sq. km.,its population is 5,715 inhabi-tants, whereas 56.4 % are Ro-manian and 43.1 % Lipovan, witha human presence of 20.3 inhabi-tants per sq. km. The chief occu-pation of the local people isfishing. The county capital, thecity of Tulcea, lies at around 30km north of Enisala. To the North-East lies the city of Sulina, to theNorth-West - Brăila and Galați,while to the South - Constanța. Inthe past, Haricleea Citadel wasunique and famous for its civiliza-tion and might. However, todaytourist guides presents its ruinsas those of Enisala Citadel, whichis the Turkish name of the nearbyfishermen’s village. This is not theoriginal name of the fort, butmerely a translation of a later-date name.The Medieval history of Dobrogeais both rich and debatable, be-cause of the interpretations pro-posed for historical eventsspecific to one or the other politi-cal rules. Dobrogea was, and stillis, a territory rich in natural re-sources and fascinating due to itsnatural life and landscapes. Be-cause of its geographical position,

T

Safeguarding the Heraclea Citadel in Dobrogea, RomaniaValentin FeodorovProfessor, Bucharest (Romania) - UNESCO Chair #177

Fig. 1

Fig. 2

Dobrogea hosted the chief com-munication roads of the entirecontinent and it constantlyadapted to the changes that na-ture or civilization brought. There is a cult for historical andcultural traces in Dobrogea, whiletheir preservation is viewed as apersonal duty by the local people. In 1261, at Nymphea, the Byzan-tine Emperor Michael VIII signeda treaty with Genoa, allowing theGenoese merchants the access tothe Black Sea, through Dobrogea,under the control of the Byzan-tines and the Tatars. These mer-

chants needed at the time thiswide market, because the Vene-tians had banned them from theaccess to the Mediterranean. Inthe 13th century, access to theBlack Sea was only possiblethrough the Razelm Bay, whichwas at the time a maritime har-bor, with salty waters. Placing aGenoese citadel there, to guardthe land and sea routes right atthe access point into the BlackSea was a reasonable and neces-sary decision. The Romanian his-torian Radu Ștefan Ciobanustated that there is no proof that


the remaining ruins are traces ofa citadel built by the Byzantineemperor Heraclius (611-642). Onthe other hand, there is docu-mented proof that in the 13th cen-tury the waters of Razelm Baywashed the foot of the Heracleacliff where these ruins lie today(Figs. 1, 2). Italian maps mentionin the area, around 1270, a set-tlement known as Bambola orPampulo. However, there is nomention of a connection betweenthis and the Heraclea citadel. Ob-viously, a structure as large asthe present-day ruins suggestmust have required several yearsor maybe decades of buildingworks. In the Mediterranean cul-ture, a structure as large, strongand strategically placed as EnisalaCitadel was known as a “castle”.The late Roman settlement at thecliff foot, employed by the citadelbuilders under Genoese rule, isknown as Vicus Novus, a Latinname meaning “The New Village”.The settlement was mentioned bythe Roman historian Procopius aspart of the fortifications built byemperor Justinianus in Dobrogea.Such a village was probably whatwe call today a “site camp”. Firstof all, the Genoese brought to Do-brogea the Roman art of building.The citadel, which was strategi-cally devised in order to surveythe ship movements, was in-cluded in the string of Genoeseforts in Dobrogea alongside Vic-ina, whose location is uncertain,and Chilia. In 1388-1389, i.e. 119years since the first documentarytraces, the Ottomans led by Ba-iazid I Ildirim conquered Hera-

16

Fig. 3

clea, not for long, though. Mirceathe Ancient, who ruled from 1397to 1418, recovered it in 1416-1417, including it in the defensivesystem of Walachia, under hiscommand. Two years later, in1420, Sultan Mehmet I Celebiconquered the whole Black Seaarea, including the Genoesecitadels at Giurgiu and Isaccea.He then settled an Ottoman mili-tary camp inside Heraclea citadel.From that moment, after 150years, the Genoese presence inDobrogea came to an end.An extraordinary natural phe-nomenon took place hereafter:the Razelm Bay was graduallyblocked out by sand strands thatfinally put an end to all maritimenavigation. At the end of the 14th

century the Razelm bay turnedinto a sweet-water lake. The nat-ural phenomenon that led to thegeo-morphological alteration ofthe Black Sea coast extendedrapidly and, through the decreaseof the water level, Lake Babadagwas separated from the RazelmBay. The communication of main-land Dobrogea with the Black Seais closed forever at that location,so that all strategic function ofHeraclea citadel is lost. The placewas rapidly abandoned and tornapart. Since the territory wasnow part of the Ottoman Empire,the local populations changed itsname into “Enisala fort”. Duringthe Russian-Turkish war of 1828-1829 the whole Northern part ofDobrogea was occupied by Russ-ian troops. All the former Ge-noese forts as far as Trajan’sWall, i.e. Isaccea, Măcin and Tul-

cea, were conquered, while theone in Hârșova was blown awaywith dynamite. Since Enisalacitadel was not in use at thetime, it survived the Russian at-tacks and thus remained the onlymedieval military structure in Do-brogea.The ruins are impressive by thestrategic location of the fort, theextension of the surrounding de-fence wall, the dimensions andshape of the fortifications, inbrief, the sheer beauty of thewhole structure. The footprint ofthe fort is shaped as an irregularpolygon that follows the shape ofthe location, covering an innerarea of 0.3 ha. The geologicalprofile A-A’ reveals geologicalstrata, inclined at around 30°, ofJurassic limestone in hues fromgrey to rose. The defence wall is3.0 m thick, as a maximum, andprobably 6.0-7.0 m high origi-nally. This is the only medievalstructure in all the Black Sea areawhere three hexagonal towerswere found, integrated in the de-fence wall and therefore con-nected by ramparts for guardrounds. The brick bastion A, lo-cated in the Southern corner ofthe fort, guards the main gate,which is 3.0 m wide and 4.0 mhigh, and is topped by two openarches continued by a blind one(Figs. 3, 4). This shape of archesand vaults is present in other me-dieval structures in Romania, suchas the Neamț Citadel, the PrincelyChurch of St Nicholas in Curtea deArgeș and many churches built byStephen the Great.Islamic artistic influences are visi-ble here, specific to the Mediter-ranean area, as well asByzantine, from the Balkan Penin-sula. Next to the gate there is ahexagonal-shape tower, marked Con the plan, is known as “thegreat”. The tower has five exte-rior sides, each 3.0 m long. Thegreat tower is now 6.0 m higherthan the ramparts, themselves5.0 m in height (Fig. 5). TheSouth-East side is 25 m long,comprising a second hexagonaltower in the East corner, markedD on the map. Its sides are 2.5 mwide and only 3.0 m high. Besidethis one, but on the interior sideof the rampart, the foundations ofa rectangular, 6.0 by 7.0 m struc-ture are apparent, marked as Lon the plan, whose purpose re-mains unknown.


The Eastern side of the citadel, 30m long, follows ground level vari-ations, breaking in the centre at amere 5° angle. The connectionbetween the two ramparts isachieved by a four-sided tower,with each side 3.0 m wide, ofwhich only the foundations arepreserved, marked as E on theplan. The third hexagonal tower,located in the North-East corner,marked as F on the plan, has 2.5m wide sides, just like the Dtower, and a height of only 2.0 to4.0 m, but it is well preserved.The North side of the citadel is 25m long and 1.0 to 4.0 m high,with a square tower in the centre,marked G, identical with E, ofwhich only foundations and a faceare preserved. The North defencewall actually completes the abruptstony wall of the cliff, which pene-trated, in the Middle Ages, thewaters of the Razelm Bay. Next tothe North-West tower a narrowopening was achieved in the sur-rounding defence wall, marked Mon the plan, which can be consid-ered a secret secondary gate. Thedistance between the water leveland the citadel was much shorterthrough this secret gate. TheNorthern square tower, marked Hon the plan, has sides 5.0 m wide

and 4.0 m high, it is well pre-served and the waters of thepresent-day Razelm Lake can beseen through its Northern wallwindows.Finally, on the South-West side,which is 60 m wide, the defencewall, now mostly lost, was inter-rupted twice, at a degree of 5° to15°, by a massive bastion of 2.0 x3.0 m, marked J on the plan,which probably acted as a but-tress. On this South-West side thecitadel was protected by a naturalravine, with almost vertical stonewalls, 70 m deep. Inside the fort150 to 200 people could belodged, but no building founda-tions were found. Interestingly,on the East side of the citadel, onthe mild slope of the limestonecliff, some tens of meters away,foundations of an old buildingwere found, larger than 0.6 ha inarea, therefore, twice as big asthe citadel itself, with triangulartowers, completely derelict. Thehypothesis of a faubourg-typestructure could highly increasethe interest for the ruins of Hera-clea citadel.Historians formulated three theo-ries concerning the origins of theHeraclea citadel builders. The firstone admits that the fort is West-

ern in its architectural design andattributes it to the Genoese. TheGenoese merchants controlled themarkets around the Black Sea inthe 13th-15th centuries and couldafford making such an invest-ment. The second theory attrib-utes the citadel works to theByzantines, also present, but in-termittently, in this area. Finally,based on the resemblance of thecitadel hexagonal towers withthose seen at Tsepina, Shumen,Perperikon and Vidin, the thirdtheory involves the Bulgarians.Other researchers noticed certainsimilarities with the “Lowercitadel” of Hârșova.Considering the shapes that werechosen and the structural tech-niques, and after analyzing themortar that was employed, build-ing works were dated to the 13th

century or the beginning of the14th. In a stamp dating from the19th century, the openings of twowindows that are no longer visibletoday comprise Gothic stoneframes, a style characteristic ofthe Genoese, and not of theByzantines. This supports the firsttheory proposed by historians.Openings in the surrounding de-fense walls and the height of thecitadel ramparts allowed the view

Fig. 4

17


18

all around the area. The eye-sightcould reach present-day Cernetand Dunavăț channels, as well asGura Portița on the Black Seacoast. Outside the North-Westcorner of the citadel, at the bot-tom of the cliff, a swamp is situ-ated today. Historians place herethe Genoese port on the Razelmmaritime bay. This bay servedtwo purposes: a military one, har-boring the ships that surveyednavigation to and from the BlackSea, and a commercial one, forthe benefit of the civil populationthat earned the income necessaryfor the maintenance of the Ge-noese garrison hosted by thecitadel. Even if still mysterious,the imperial name given to thiscitadel suggests that a high valuewas considered. Mircea Eliade as-serted that standards applied tothe building of medievalfortresses in the Balkan Peninsulawere embraced, in a cryptic form,by legends meant to protect theso-called trade secrets, whichwere not few. Some of these leg-ends had an Oriental source, buttheir motivation was the same: tosatisfy the professional perform-ance requirements of the time. Inthe case of Heraclea citadel the

wall structure, perfectly adaptedto the ground level variations andthe use of strategic benefits ofthe limestone cliff are the mainassets. The wall reveals the samestructure as the Genoese fortifica-tion in Constanța and the wall ofthe Lower Citadel in Hârșova.The three forts are contemporaryand they have been attributed tothe same builders. The surround-ing defence wall of Heracleacitadel has faces made of stonemasonry built in the technique“alternate headers and stretch-ers”, while the emplecton, or fill-ing between two faces, isachieved of stone rubble, or evenblocks, immersed in mortar. Itseems that the limestone wasbrought from the Visterna quarry,located near the Babadag forest,7 km away. Therefore, the em-plecton was a cyclopean concrete,while the stone faces acted asformworks. Historians do not pro-vide any details about the binder,but considering the strength per-formances and proven durability,it must have been of high quality.The binding could only have con-sisted in hydraulic lime, a mixtureof Calcium and Aluminium oxides,well known in the Balkans ever

since the erection of the bridgeover the Danube at Drobeta(Turnu Severin), or possibly ofPozzuolan, a volcanic ash shippedfrom Pozzuoli, Italy. The innerwalls were built of small blocks oflimestone, roughly cut in rectan-gular shapes and placed in layers,somewhat unevenly. Neverthe-less, every few rows a horizontalequalization joint was provided,with voids for the insertion of thecantilevers that supported thewooden board of the scaffoldingthat served at the laying of thestone masonry.Moreover, the planning of theinner yard and the winding accessroad leading to the main gateproves a solid mastery of geome-try, as well as of hydraulics, re-quired for the collection anddrainage of rainfall.Even the Heraclea citadel com-prises the best preserved ruins inDobrogea. Its cultural role, in thewidest sense of the word, may beidentified in various elements. Forinstance, the coin recovery duringarchaeological searches added es-sential information to the existingdata-base concerning the area,which is rather poor. Forty-ninecoins have been discovered in

Fig. 5


19

total, whereas forty-one datefrom the Middle Ages. They arepreserved in the Coin Departmentof the Constanța Museum of Ar-chaeology. These are coins struckin Walachia, from the times ofprinces Vlaicu (1364-1377) andMircea the Ancient (1386-1418),or in Moldavia, from the times ofPetru Mușat (1375-1391) andAlexander the Good (1400-1432),and also Genoese, Turkish,Byzantine and Tatar coins. Con-sidering the information on thecoin producers, it seems that Ge-noese were the most present inthe area, hence the theory thatthey also built the Heracleacitadel.The ceramic pieces found atEnisala were displayed at theGalați Historical Museum. Findingsincluded enamel pieces, vividlycoloured in green, yellow and blue,decorated with flower and animalmotives, typically medieval, whichdate from the 13th-14th centuries,and of a Byzantine provincial type.A more detailed survey of theByzantine ceramics in the areadates from 1937. Based on the ce-ramic pieces, historians placed thefirst phase of construction at Hera-clea citadel in the last quarter ofthe 13th century.The dragon’s cavern, located inthe stone cliff of Heraclea citadel,fuelled the imagination of thelocal people, who tell fantasticstories. They claim that the cav-ern was so long that it reachedunderneath the citadel, andsometimes weird flames wereseen flying out of its opening. Thelegend tells that once a fiercedragon lived there, who captureda fairy that he confined to the un-derground palace under thecitadel. One day the fairy man-aged to escape, but she inadver-tently fell into a big hole whereshe found her death, and thedragon found no consolation.Beyond the legend, it is howeverinteresting to consider the hy-pothesis that there was a storageroom in the cavern, for thecitadel, and that it collapsed be-cause of an earthquake. The pos-sibility of such natural eventsneeds to be considered carefully.Limestone areas often undergosinking at the ground level, andvery violently. Such local phe-nomena are included in the cate-gory of induced earthquakes,which are now often recorded on

seismic engineering maps.Another legend provides surpris-ing data concerning a Byzantinefortress of the same name, butolder than the Heraclea citadelunder survey here. The legendasserts that St Theodor Strate-lates lived in this place in the 4th

century. Born in Heraclea Pontica,he became a brave general andgreat military commander. Em-peror Licinius (307-321) grantedhim the rule of the Heracleacitadel. First devoted to the pagangods of the Romans, Theodorewas later baptized and turnedagainst the official cult. He wasconvicted to death by the Em-peror, suffering martyrdom by thesword (8 February 319). His relicswere deposed in Euchaneia, theAnatolian city of his forefathers,where a pilgrimage is still takingplace. The biography of this Saint,written by his personal secretary,contains interesting data. Hisfeast is celebrated in the Ortho-dox Church on 8 February. Thepatron saint of Venice before StMark, i.e. before his relics weredeposed there in 828, was StTheodore (possibly not Strate-lates, but Tiron). Mircea Eliadeasserted that for certain historicalperiods and certain places, as theMiddle Ages in the Balkans, leg-ends are the only reports thatcontain, in a cryptic form, indis-putable truths.History shows that the greatestrisk for abandoned citadels andfortifications is destruction by hu-mans. The German architectRobert Johann Koldewey, for in-stance, assessed that around 85million burnt clay bricks were ex-tracted from the walls of the cityof Babylon, all bearing the seal ofNebuchadnezzar II (c. 634-562BC). In Enisala, six centuriesafter the citadel was abandoned,a great part of the buildings andthe walls has disappeared. Thecyclopean concrete in the sur-rounding defence wall stayed inplace. This material is surpris-ingly strong for the times when itwas cast.From the point of view of seismicrisks, the ruins are now of lowheights, with only the hexagonaltower at the gate a little higher.But since he has a double-connec-tion cross-section and a symmet-ric axis, its seismic vulnerability isrelatively low. The current seismicprotection code P100-1/2006 stip-

ulates a moderate value of PGA =0.16 g for the projected groundacceleration. The 100 m heightfrom the ground level where theruins are located may amplify thedynamic effect of earthquakes,but not to disturbing values. Theclimatic action of winds and freez-ing-thaw cycles are worth consid-ering for their cumulative effectsin time, even if they do not posean immediate threat. The ecologi-cal risks caused by the windmillparks that suddenly flooded theregion. Fortunately, both the the-oretical foundations and the tech-nology exist now which arenecessary to identify and assessall the potential risks.Maintenance should be permanentand qualified.The second condition is monitor-ing, i.e. a survey of the behavior,over time, of the administeredruins, accompanied by reports onany and all alterations, leading toqualified intervention. In this re-spect ISCARSAH Recommenda-tions could be useful. As far asremedies are concerned, thereare two options, depending on theavailable funding. The minimaloption is the conservation of theexisting ruins and the preventionof further degradation. The maxi-mal option considers a recon-struction of the mostrepresentative components of thecitadel, and placing them under aroof, as recommended, for in-stance, by the National Geo-graphic Society. Both options areworth taking into account whenconsidering the future of the Her-aclea citadel.This medieval citadel was uniquefor its beauty and the exquisitelocation it occupied for 150years, as a port at the BlackSea, in North Dobrogea. There isno certainty yet as to who andwhen built it, or why it bore animperial name.The only certain-ties are that it functioned as amilitary garrison for a long time,but was finally defeated, surpris-ingly, by a natural element: thesand strands that were broughtby the winds and the waves ofthe Black Sea at the entry intothe Razelm-Babadag Bay. Theruins of the former citadel arealso, at present, unique in Do-brogea. This is reason enoughfor them to be saved from obliv-ion and dereliction, with its origi-nal Byzantine name.


bstractThis paper shows the best prac-

tice and the constraints and difficultiesencountered in the Fez medina con-servation. The overall rehabilitationstrategy for this historical area is to al-leviate the constraints through a con-servation program, especially thehistoric housing stock, the social de-velopment and the urban environ-ment, which could not be launchedwithout seeking adequate tools (insti-tutional, financial and technical) forits implementation. ADER-Fez (theAgency for the Dedensification andRehabilitation of Fez Medina) placesstakeholder participation at the coreof its implementation strategy, includ-ing social animation and social partici-pation in housing rehabilitation, andsets a program of emergency interven-tion on housing units threatening col-lapse and on infrastructure and urbanfacilities. This had a direct impact onproject design.

Keywords: urban conservation,rehabilitation, participation

IntroductionThe medina, historic urban area, is theoldest section and the historic heart ofsome Moroccan cities. Various inter-national bodies have instituted policyto save historic monuments and evenentire cities: The Global Charter ofHistoric Cities adopted by ICOMOS in1987, the 1972 adoption by UNESCO ofa convention to protect built and natu-ral history, both include Morocco'smedinas in their scope of preserva-tion. In the 1980s UNESCO acknowl-edged the cultural significance ofseveral old towns in Morocco by in-cluding them in the UNESCO worldheritage list1.Fez, a World Heritage City, is the spiri-tual, scientific, and cultural capital ofMorocco. The importance of its medinais reflected through several factors:• A vast geographical area: 280hectares.• A dense medina: 800 to 1200 per-sons/ha.• A large number of historic buildings:


A

20

The Fez Medina Rehabilitation ProjectThe Safeguard Process and LessonsKhalid El HarrouniEcole Nationale d’Architecture, Rabat Instituts, Morocco

14 000 of which 50% are in good state,34% are degraded, 14% are threaten-ing ruin or are at risk of collapse, and2% are in ruin.• A large number of historic monu-ments (about 3000)• An historic university which is con-sidered as one of the oldest universi-ties in the Islamic world: theQarawiyin. But today, Fez medina offers a strikingcontrast between areas of thriving eco-nomic activity and over-densified resi-dential quarters whose buildings aredeteriorating steadily (Figure 1): A cul-tural heritage and monumental of anexceptional richness, and a degradedhistorical built environment. The med-ina is today a major economic centrefor the whole urban agglomerate ofFez; its economic sectors are artisan-ship and tourism. However, this rich-ness does not seem to profit with itspopulation, nearly 160 000 inhabitants,36% of whom are below poverty level.The most serious problems of Fezmedina include the deteriorating resi-dential zones, the degradation of theinfrastructures, the transformation oftraditional handicraft activities intopartially mechanized small-scalemanufacturing, the significant numberof low-income households, the com-plex property ownership and occu-pancy patterns, and the environmentalpollution. In front of this situation, the

Moroccan public authorities, sup-ported by an international momentumof solidarity, made safeguard of Fezmedina a national priority.

The safeguard process of the Fez Medina, its principal stages andcomponents The overall rehabilitation strategy forthe Fez medina is to alleviate theabove constraints through a conserva-tion program which could not belaunched without seeking adequatetools (institutional, financial and tech-nical) for its implementation. The process of safeguard began fromthe production of the first urban docu-ment, the Urban Planning OrientationScheme of the Fez city2 which under-lined the importance of the medina inthe development of the whole of theFez agglomeration. The process ofsafeguard can be divided into 3 princi-pal stages: • 1st stage (1980 - 1989): Launching ofthe safeguard process of FezIn 1981, the medina was classified byUNESCO; then the Moroccan govern-ment and UNESCO launched in 1985the international campaign for the Fezmedina safeguard. In 1989, the gov-ernment created ADER-Fez, theAgency for the Dedensification andRehabilitation of Fez Medina, a newinstitutional framework to implementthe strategic projects for the medina.

A striking contrast.

Scientific reports

21

ADER-Fez is now an agency specialis-ing in the conservation and rehabilita-tion of the world heritage city of Fez; ithas accumulated a long and valuableexperience in intervening on the his-toric fabric of the Fez medina throughvarious local and international initia-tives. • 2nd stage (1990 - 1998): Phase ofdeepening and experimentation All aspects of the safeguard have beendeepened through the examination ofthe technical, institutional, legal andfinancial components. This period wasalso characterized by the realization ofthe experimental operations: restora-tion of the monuments, rehabilitationof the houses and the urban facilities,etc. Local capacity to plan and carryout the various project componentshave been strengthened trough theelaboration of the master plan, theimprovement in the field of therestoration and urban rehabilitation,and the implementation of somemanagement tools: GIS, a comprehen-sive Geographic Information System,linked with planning and cost estimatetools, to support supervision of the re-habilitation project.• 3rd stage (1999 - 2005): Collaborationwith the international financial insti-tutions and launching of the greatstructuring programsADER-Fez was the main interlocutorof the World Bank team in charge withthe case of Fez in order to carry outthe “Rehabilitation Project of the Med-ina of Fez”. The global budget of theproject was 12.6 million USD [1999],and the development objective being“conservation of the Fez medina bymobilizing its inhabitants and local in-stitutions” and more precisely “(a) tosupport the efforts of conservation inprogress; (b) to consolidate the part-nerships between public and privateand (c) to use the process of rehabili-tation to eradicate poverty”. These global development objectiveswere declined in the following compo-nents: • Development of the historic build-ings rehabilitation programs; • Improvement of accessibility and

emergency circulation network; • Improvement of the medina environ-ment; • Exploration of the rehabilitationprocess to eradicate poverty; • Institutional strengthening and ca-pacity building.• Tourism development and improve-ment of the urban landscapeAll these components were achievedin 2005, and the project had a positiveimpact on the development of themedina of Fez. Although in terms of fi-nancial indicators, the achievement ofa project of such a size is not alwaysfully met, it has generated many syn-ergies of actors and investors pursuingthe lines of the components. This es-tablished a model in the level of prac-tice of development in a conservationzone. In addition to the World Bank loan,other financial actors participated inFez such as FADES (Arab Fund for So-cial and Economic Development).FADES has been involved widely inthe rehabilitation of the monuments,housing and infrastructure of Fez. Pri-vate national and international donorssupported the restoration of manymonuments in Fez. Other main sourceof financing for the ADER’s operationsis the Moroccan government. The dif-ferent ministries (especially the Min-istry of Housing and Urban Planning,the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and theMinistry of Islamic Affairs and Waqf)participate financially in different pro-grams following their prerogatives.The financial structure of the conser-vation program might reflect a veryadvanced participation of local au-thority, municipal councils, NGOs, na-tional / international donors, andnational / international financial insti-tutions. The large number of implemented re-habilitation projects in the medina ofFez has made it a successful casestudy, particularly in fund raising andfinancial investment in the heritagesector. Despite the fact that a historiccity of 160 000 inhabitants could notbe conserved or fully saved from dan-ger, Fez is very advanced in the imple-

mentation of its vision of conservationcompared to other historic cities inMorocco. The different investments made in theconservation project of Fez between1981 and 2005 (Figure 2) show that in-frastructure is the most importantwith 53% of the whole budget. Thesecond largest investment is made inthe rehabilitation of buildings with22%. The third is the restoration ofmonuments with 11%. The fourth isthe protection of environment with7%. The fifth is cultural and tourismdevelopment with 5%. The sixth istraining and institutional reinforce-ment with 1% and 1% respectively.

Housing and social development This component includes the followingsub components:• Social animation and social partici-pation in housing rehabilitation:Early in project preparation, social sci-entists were recruited from the uni-versity in Fez to undertake aparticipatory and social assessment,which began with data collection onand consulting with a wide array ofstakeholders. Government, religiousand civic leaders, merchants, artisans,householders, renters, and many otherordinary population contributed ideasfor possible elaboration into projectcomponents, worked toward consen-sus on interventions and strategy, anddescribed the social dynamics of thecity to assure a match among plans,aspirations, and local capacities. Participation was high, given the in-volvement of a number of local NGOsin the project development betweenADER-Fez and the population, and ofmany local stakeholders in the imple-mentation of the social assessment.

The conservation project investments between1981 and 2005.

Scientific reports Iscarsah newsletter n. 3/2013

This had a direct impact on project de-sign. The objectives are the direct in-volvement of the population in therehabilitation process in order to im-prove the living conditions and to fightagainst poverty by job creation. ADER-Fez presents this participatory processand community development intotwo forms: A financial aid evaluated to30 % of the cost works and a help outin terms of building materials andtechnical assistance. The inhabitantscontribution is about 70 % of theworks cost.• Emergency intervention on housingunits threatening collapse:Housing presents a high risk becauseof the threat of collapse of their physi-cal structures. In 1991, ADER-Fezlaunched an innovative emergency ac-tions program that targeted the savingof human lives from this threat. Theprogram consisted of an emergencyteam of builders, architects, and engi-neers who engaged themselves in theservice of stopping the collapse of thebuildings.Buildings threatening collapse re-quire emergency action involving

both the public and private sectors.Beyond consolidation and critical re-pairs, the municipalities lack thetechnical capacities and politicalmust enforce building codes. Priorityis given to emergency repair of hous-ing units threatening collapse andfronting on improved roads andtourist circulation routes. One of thechallenging task of ADER-Fez is to fa-cilitate the reduction of the extremelyhigh population density within thehistoric urban fabric as this is causinga rapid degradation of the historicaland traditional structures. Variousprograms related to the eemergencyintervention on housing units threat-ening collapse have been imple-mented. The restoration and

rehabilitation laboratory was estab-lished and it consists mainly in thefollow-up of the stability of physicalstructures, control of the rate ofdegradation, as well as the ausculta-tion, diagnosis, and analysis of thequality of materials. The laboratorystructure is assisted by the surveyand spatial analysis group, a team ofskilled technicians whose main taskis to gather data and survey the dif-ferent buildings and structures of themedina. In addition to the scientificdata, this laboratory is also exploringthe technical know-how of the mas-ter builders through the interactionof engineers with the traditionaltechniques. At project closing, the overall state ofthe housing stock of the medina hasnot improved, with the exception ofthe project interventions and of theprivate investments in the transfor-mation of historic houses and palacesinto Riads and guest houses. Indeed,the collapse of housing units due todecay and lack of maintenance hascontinued, with no losses of humanlives, due to the campaign of woodenbuttressing of the endangered build-ings financed by the Ministry of Hous-ing and Urban Planning and carried

out by ADER-Fez.Infrastructure and facilitiesThe success of the revitalization of themedina is greatly associated with theup-grading of its infrastructure andfacilities which include the following:• Emergency and liaison circulationnetworks have noticeable impact onthe communication and transporta-tion networks in the medina. • Traffic organization: the traffic net-work has been improved especially

The population participation and job creation.

Buildings threatening collapse.

Transformation of historic houses and palaces into Riads and guest houses.

Scientific reportsIscarsah newsletter n. 3/2013

22

23

surrounding the historic walls andtheir monumental gateways. • Accesses and parking: the accessesfacilitate enormously the parking ofcars outside the pedestrian road net-work, and they contribute to the in-crease of the economy and real estatevalue of many parts of the medinabecause of the easy accessibility. • Water and sewage system: watersupply and sanitation are importantbasic needs affecting the quality oflife and productive efficiency of themedina population. Provision of

these basic services continues to beamong the core activities of urbanlocal bodies. The municipal council,RADEEF (Water Supply and Electric-ity Public Utility of Fez) and ADER-Fez are the main actors in theimprovement of water and sewagesystems (both traditional water chan-nels and modern sewage systems). • Electricity: the municipality andthe RADEEF3 played a major role inthe electrification of the whole med-ina. Public lighting, electricity andtelephone networks have increasedthe number of businesses and thetourism activity.

• Urban facilities: the Ministries ofNational Education and Public Healthhave found ways to adapt theirequipments norms to the historicbuilding capacity, and then they havebuilt a significant number of schoolsand nurseries in the medina.These infrastructures are only exam-ples of the efforts made by many ac-tors to increase the living conditionsof the medina.

Tourism development and improve-ment of the urban landscapeThe tourism sector has been devel-oped through the improvement of theurban landscape and the develop-ment of the thematic tours includingthe tourist signs, the restoration ofhistoric gardens, the restoration oftraditional latrines, the cultural activ-ities, …

Conclusions: lessons learnedThere are some areas of success ofthe Fez conservation program:

- Social participation is essential forthe successful rehabilitation of thehistoric housing stock. -The projecthas demonstrated that reconciling theobjectives of urban conservation andrehabilitation with the housing needsof the impoverished inhabitants isfeasible, through a process of consul-tation and social participation in thedesign and implementation of the in-terventions on the historic housingstock.But there are some constraints:- The tenure of land and buildings is acritical difficulty in the rehabilitationof historic cities, and the municipality

should consider delegating urban re-habilitation operations to competentagencies.- The urban rehabilitation projectsshould be designed according to sim-ple objectives and design. Given thecomplexities of intervening in historiccities, the related interventionsshould not try and address all of theneeds and opportunities under a sin-gle operation, but should rather sup-port a programmatic approach.

1 Medina of Fez (1981). Founded in the 9th cen-tury, Fez first reached its height in the 14th cen-tury under the Marinides and again In the 17th

century.Marrakech (1985). Capital of Morocco, bothunder the Almohades (12/13th century) andagain under the Saadiens (16/17th century).The medina, surrounded by 12th - centurywalls, is known for its high Koutoubia minaret.In 2001, UNESCO acknowledged the originaland spectacular activities of Djemaa El Fna andits cultural significance by including this placein the UNESCO World Heritage List.Meknes (1996). Founded in the 11th centuryby Almoravid rulers as a military town,Meknes became a capital under Sultan MoulayIsmail (1672-1727), the founder of the Alaouitedynasty.2 SDUF, Schéma Directeur d’Urbanisme de Fès,1975.3 Régie Autonome de Distribution d’Eau etd’Electricité de Fès.

References

S. Bianca, “Conservation and rehabilitationprojects for the old city of Fez”, in AdaptiveReuse: Integrating Traditional Areas into theModern Urban Fabric, 1983, Bentley SevcenkoM., (ed). Cambridge, Mass. : MIT Laboratory ofArchitecture and Planning.H. Radoine, “Urban Conservation of Fez-Me-dina: A Post-Impact Appraisal”, Global UrbanDevelopment Magazine, 2008, Vol. 4, Issue 1,August.Wilaya de la Region Fes Boulemane, Mise àNiveau Urbain e de la Ville de Fès. Le BâtiMenaçant Ruine au sein de la Ville de Fès.Stratégie et Programme d'Action. Partie I : Lebâti menaçant ruine dans la médina de Fès,ADER-Fès. Partie II : Problématique des cons-tructions menaçant ruine dans le secteur nord,Evaluation et perspectives, ANHI. Janvier2004.

Acknowledgments: The author would like toacknowledge the contribution of Omar Has-souni, from ADER-Fez.

Tourist signs and restoration of traditionallatrines.

Traditional Souk (Henna Souk and R’cif Souk).

Scientific reports Iscarsah newsletter n. 3/2013

he 2014 International Conferenceon Structural Analysis of Histori-

cal Constructions will be held atMexico City, Mexico on 15 - 17October, 2014.One day pre-conference course willbe offered.SAHC 2014 will bring together scien-tists, engineers, designers, architects and conservators who willpresent conservation, research, theo-ries and doctrines achievements.SAHC 2014 only accepts unpublishedpapers. Submitted conference paperswill be reviewed by the technicalcommittee of the Conference. All ac-cepted papers will be published in theconference proceedings. Selected papers presented at the con-ference (after extension) will be rec-ommended for publishing in someInternational Journals, indexed by ISIor Scopus.Important Dates:Abstract Submission: 15 October, 2013Notification of provisional accept-ance: 15 January, 2014Manuscript submission for Review:15 April, 2014Notification of final acceptance: 30 May, 2014Submission of final manuscript: 30 June, 2014Conference General ContactChairman: Fernando Peñae-mail: [email protected]: sahc2014


T

24

Conferences, courses

2014 Structural Analysis of Historical Constructions (SAHC2014)Mexico City, Mexico

rchitectural Student Cen-tre (ASC) is a unique youthresearch association created

in 1973 under the auspices of theDepartment of Architecture andUrban Planning at the Faculty ofCivil Engineering and Architectureat Vyatka State University (Vy-atGU) in Kirov, Russia.ASC VyatGU supports the trainingof highly qualified engineers fo-

cused on the effective manage-ment and solving of the criticalchallenges of the modern con-struction industry and architec-ture.

General task of the ASC is edu-cation of future engineers in thespirit of the best examples of ar-chitecture and urban planning ofthe native land in order toachieve the main goal – therestoration of the professional,cultural, and spiritual continuityvanished in the twentieth cen-tury.

Research focus of the ASC isarchitectural and urban studies

and conceptual design of modernand historic buildings.The research work of students isorganized in accordance with thecomprehensive plan spanningtheir academic and research ac-tivities for the entire period ofstudies at the university.

The ASC membership is prima-rily composed of students of the

Faculty of Civil Engineering andArchitecture as well as studentsof other faculties, interns, andhigh school students supervisedby professors of the Departmentof Architecture and Urban Plan-ning specializing in four researchareas:- Urban Architecture- History of Architecture andUrban planning- Industrial Architecture- Building Physics.

The cofounder and scientific di-rector of the ASC is ProfessorLyudmila Bezverkhova, PhD in Ar-chitecture, member of the Unionof Architects of Russia.

Iscarsah newsletter n. 3/2013Conferences, courses

25

A

Architectural Student Centre atVyatka State University (Kirov, Russia)Lyudmila Bezverkhova, Vyatka State University

Translated by Alexander Salenikovich, Université Laval

The ASC activities are conductedin the form of creative studios, re-search seminars, discussion clubs,and research and educational as-sociations. The ASC members con-duct studies of the architecturalmonuments of historical and cul-tural heritage. They are engagedin the scientific research to de-velop recommendations for con-ceptual design of protection zonesof historical architectural ensem-bles and urban areas.

Key achievements of the ASC.During thirty years, they havedeveloped design documentationfor over hundred thirty projectsof reconstruction and renovationof individual buildings, includingresidential, public, and industrialbuildings, churches, chapels andtemples, architectural ensemblesand urban areas of important his-toric and cultural heritage inKirov Region.

They have received numerous re-gional, national and internationalawards and diplomas from re-gional and federal governmentsand associations for their proj-ects, including diplomas from thearchitectural exhibitions inMoscow, St-Petersburg, Chinaand France. In collaboration withthe Kirov regional TV Company“Vyatka”, they have produced 25films about historic sites and ar-chitectural history of the KirovRegion that have been broad-casted by the regional TV station.The ASC developed the map ofthe zones of protection of the cul-tural and historic sites of theKirov City, which serves as thebasis of the evaluation and gen-eral urban planning of the city’sdevelopment in 2010-2020.

The thirty years of successful ex-perience present convincing argu-ments that the ASC helpsawakening creative spirit, aware-ness of historical responsibilityand ownership of the Great Russ-ian culture in the young genera-tion of civil engineers andarchitects.

Collage from the ASC website.

Documents

Iscarsah newsletter 3 Layout 1 · PDF fileheritage sites in Bhutan Seamus Phillips, Eight Months in Bhutan Fazli Sattar Durrani - Iffat Ahmat, ... tecture, historic architecture, planning,