Abstract
This paper explores and discusses the possible relations between the architecture and seismic resistance of buildings. The first part of the paper stresses the practical importance of earthquake resistance in every building built in earthquake prone areas. Further on it is shown that the earthquake resistance in architectural expression can be dealt in hidden or concealed principles or on the other hand in revealed or emphasized ways. The paper hypothesize that the architectural design, which to a certain level reflects an earthquake threat, might provide a better designs with stronger architectural identity for buildings in earthquake-prone areas. In this context it summarizes the term “earthquake architecture”, which is defined as particular approach to design of buildings in architecture in a way which draws the inspiration from earthquake engineering. Such an approach might be one of the best responses of the architects (in cooperation with structural engineers and earthquake specialists) to the earthquake threats. In the second part of the paper the proposed method for recognition and evaluation of architecture in the context of earthquake resistance is presented. Using this evaluation method, it is possible to classify buildings at several different levels of “earthquake architecture”. Case study of three comparable competition projects is presented as example of using this method to evaluate the architectural design in the context of seismic resistance, and at the same time, to indicate the ways in which architecture can play its role part within earthquake resistant design.
Highlights
The development of architecture in response to earthquake threats has, over the last few decades, resulted in a special kind of architecture, which is specific for earthquake-prone areas
Conclusions could be summarized in few main points as follows: This paper introduces an alternative design approach in earthquake prone areas arising from the principles of so called “earthquake architecture”
Earthquake architecture, which is defined as architecture within the context of seismic resistance, represents a special approach to architectural design, in which the main source of inspiration comes from earthquake engineering, and where specific local tectonic activity can become a generator for architectural design
Summary
The development of architecture in response to earthquake threats has, over the last few decades, resulted in a special kind of architecture, which is specific for earthquake-prone areas. -called “earthquake architecture” has arisen as a consequence of “a particular approach to architectural design, which draws its inspiration from earthquake engineering” (Reitherman, 1985; Charleson & Taylor, 2000; Garcia, 2000; Charleson & Taylor, 2004; Slak & Kilar, 2007). In our previous researches it has been established that “earthquake architecture represents a link between earthquake engineering and architecture, and eliminates the problems related to the lack of knowledge and the inability to develop special and, within the framework of earthquake-resistant construction, original architecture” (Slak & Kilar, 2008b). In addition to that it is useful for comparative studies of different buildings, or as an aid for the assessment of the results of architectural competitions
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