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“...heritage buildings damaged by earthquakes in the wake of damage to Kathmandu’s Dharhara tower in the 2015 Nepal earthquake, through case studies of six selected historical buildings in Patna that were damaged by earthquake(s) and were subsequently repaired and/or restored. Based on the case studies, it was found that (1) the very features imparting monumental status to buildings are the ones most vulnerable during earthquakes; (2) every heritage building has a soul which should not be muzzled - restoration must ensure preservation of the soul of the building to protect its architectural and heritage value; (3) tourism potential and ensuing commercial value can finance the health and well-being of such monuments; (4) ensuring structural integrity during restoration is important for an “integral box action ” of such buildings in future events and (5) even those buildings that are important historic public buildings and landmarks within a city or a town deserve the similar care in restoration as...”
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“...the central dome of Hagia Sophiya, Istanbul.
However, this building may still be susceptible to damage by earthquakes since reconstruction has been done piecemeal which makes it difficult to ascertain the extent of strengthening and consolidation actually required. To withstand the earthquake forces acting on it, a building must behave as a single, tightly connected unit during an actual seismic event.13 This integral box action minimizes damage by preventing its components to work against each other.
Temporal discontinuities in restoration are liable to cause
natural breaks in construction, putting a question mark on behavioural strength and stability of buildings. Hence this architectural legacy, reminiscent of the reign of one of the greatest Master Builders of India in the historic city of Patna may still be seismically vulnerable. Inappropriate restoration without due architectural consideration in terms of style, materials used changes in structural elements and altering the shapes...”
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“...Indo-saracenic Revival Style, was established in 1900. The most striking feature of this building is its red facade of exposed brick work with definitions in contrasting buff colour. The four corners of the front portion of the building (built in two floors) are topped by Mughal type domes. Its Baroque-style curvilinear gables clearly reveal a Dutch influence while the rounded Moorish columns made of wrought iron, represent the architecture of the Andolusian Spain. Two variations of the pointed arch have been used in this building; the “four-centered pointed cusped arch” (of Iranian mould) and the “trefoil arch.” The building has 500 mm thick walls, shaded clerestory windows and Madras roof.20
This building withstood the earthquakes of 1934 and the 1988 but during the Nepal earthquake of 2015, cracks were observed in the comer of the upper floor and in the crown of adjacent arches.20
Results
The following facts have been revealed by the six case studies detailed above:
(1) Type of damage:...”
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“...ownership on restoration: The promptness widi which damage is assessed, proposal is formulated and repair and/or restoration is undertaken for a building after an earthquake, depends on several factors such as ownership, availability of funds and expertise. It was found that die only building among die ones studied that is not owned and maintained by the government - the Sher Shahi Mosque, was restored after 44 years of devastation! It suffered due to ignorance, lack of funds, lack of documentation and availability of expertise. The mosque Ownership also has an impact on die quality of restoration as there appears to be a compromise on not only its architectural character and heritage value but also die structural strength and stability as a whole.
(5) Regular maintenance, repair and adaptive reuse:
Heritage monuments such as die administrative building of NIT Patna, that are under continued use where regular maintenance and repair is ensured, have demonstrated resilience and longevity.20 Continued...”
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“... hazard based on intensities during past events and vulnerability of the building.
Creation of an inventory of buildings of high architectural and social value and its regular update by its local authority is crucial for prompt and assured post-disaster damage review. Appropriate restoration of buildings damaged by earthquakes can only be done if comprehensive prior documentation of the buildings is carried out and such documents are made readily available to all stakeholders.
Architectural and structural drawings with measurements, details of the construction materials and specifications of each heritage structure must be prepared, supported by photography, videography and descriptive text to include structural design, structural systems and construction techniques used, detailed documentation of its architectural styles, sizes and shapes of its components, its history, year of first construction, age, materials used, details of restorations carried out, if any, along with evaluation of...”
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“...changes are acceptable, drastic changes in the interiors may lead to some loss in its architectural value.
Change in materials and finishes: Preserving authenticity of elements, features and materials is an important aspect of restoration which may pose several challenges with traditional masonry structures subjected to earthquakes. At times, it becomes necessary to use materials different from those used during original construction, particularly for repair or structural strengthening or during refurbishment required for a changed function. However, it must be ensured that the substitutes used are durable as well as compatible.
Familiarity with latest researches: Extensive experimental, theoretical and computational researches have made available several alternative solutions to structural problems.31 There is a deluge of literature available on the different materials and techniques that can be applied for
34...”
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“...Necessity of proper supervision and inspection: It is a
well-established fact that even the most perfect of structural designs can be flawed if it is not executed properly. Therefore, meticulous supervision of construction works must be done by professional architects and engineers on regular basis along with frequent inspections to ensure that all relevant codes are followed and to ensure materials and workmanship for ensuring its strength and stability.
Ensuring revenue generation for self-sustenance:
Restoration costs are usually much higher than fresh construction since restoration requires materials, craftsmanship and labour, particularly those that were prevalent in a bygone era. High cost is generally a deterrent in restoration and becomes particularly prohibitive in developing countries such as India. Hence, proposal for restoration must provide mechanism that supports not only cost recovery, but also generates revenue for regular operation and maintenance so that they do not remain...”
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“...16. Roberts H.M., Architect of Empire: Joseph Fearis Munnings 1879-1937, University of Canterbury (2013)
17. Thakkar S.K. and Paul D.K., Behaviour of old historical buildings during August 21, 1988, Bihar-Nepal earthquake, In Earthquake Engineering, Tenth World Conference, 57-61 (1992)
18. Singh V.K., Patna-A Monumental History, Government of Bihar (2008)
19. Singh A., Majestic seat of real power, The Times of India
(2012)
20. Sharma A. and Kumar R., Monument of the ‘Raj’: The Administrative Building of National Institute of Technology Patna, International Conference on IT, Architecture and Mechanical
Engineering, 35-41 (2015)
21. Sonda D., Cossu M., Miyamoto H.K and Shah S.D., Methodology for Seismic Improvement of Ancient Heritage Monuments in India, The Masterbuilder, 4-10 (2015)
22. Kelley S.J., Sendova V. and Gavrilovic P., Seismic Protection of Byzantine Churches, 1-9 (1995)
23. Loustalot B.D., Beyond the appearance of heritage: Reconstruction of Historic Areas Affected by Earthquakes...”
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