Important Heritage Value Research Articles

Dynamic characteristics of Canada's Parliament Hill towers from ambient vibrations and recorded earthquake data

The dynamic properties of Parliament Hill’s buildings (Ottawa, Canada) are of particular interest due to their important heritage value and because of the seismic retrofit project currently underway. To measure the dynamic properties directly, ambient vibration data were collected within the Peace Tower of Centre Block and the South-West Tower of East Block and processed together with weak to strong ground motions from six earthquakes. Both datasets found the fundamental mode to be 1.0–1.15 Hz for the Peace Tower and 2 Hz for the South-West Tower. The 2010 magnitude 5 Val-des-Bois earthquake induced peak accelerations of 49% g and 18% g in the top floors of the Peace and South-West towers, respectively, triggering a nonlinear response, causing the frequencies of the dominant modes to be reduced by 10%–15%. The reduction in frequency was temporary and the frequencies returned to baseline values, suggesting that there was no permanent structural damage.

Bayburt Kırsal Ev Mimarisi

Due to its location in the transition region between the Black sea and Eastearn Anatolia of Bayburt province, it has deep-rooted historical and cultural riches. History of the city it goes down to 4000 years. It has been home to different civilizations from the time it was established to the present day and the culture, life and beliefs of these civilizations have shaped both the city center and the rural settlements. The name of the city with different names in the source, Evliya Celebi in the chronicle of the “rich country” means that the Bayyurt emerges. The rich history of the city, in both urban and rural settlements, has brought unique features to living spaces and architecture. Climate, social-economic structure and environmental factors have been important in shaping rural architecture. Houses that constitute a large part of the rural architectural heritage of Bayburt are not registered and protected. These houses, which were not taken under protection, were in the process of disappearing from time to time because of be abondoned of the houses and construction of new houses. These houses reflect all the fineness of rural life and have an important heritage value in terms of cultural assets. This heritage must be protected by holistic and appropriate approaches and transferred to future generations. Within the scope of this study, photographing, surveying and observation techniques were carried out in 11 villages of Bayburt rural house architecture. The data obtained from the field work was analyzed and typologies were formed by analyzing the architectural features of the houses. In addition, houses were examined for environmental data, building materials, construction techniques, plan, facade and other structural elements. Analysis results are presented with tables and visual material.

Designing with maritime heritage: adaptive re-use of small-scale shipyards in northwest Europe

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe the different design approaches architects take towards the adaptive reuse of small-scale shipyards. Thereby giving a proposition for future projects by giving insight in how others preceded and showcasing different possibilities. Design/methodology/approach The research is based on a literary review in combination with a case study, following one main question: What architectural approaches do architects employ in redesigning nineteenth- and twentieth century dockyards in Northern Europe and how do these approaches consider the history of building and context? First, this paper researches the history of adaptive reuse. Additionally, the historical and cultural context of shipyards is researched. Finally, a case study is done linking theory with practice. Selected cases are: Kromhout shipyard in Amsterdam, Verftet Ny-Hellesund in Ny-Hellesund and the Maritime Museum in Helsingør. Findings Four approaches to adaptive re-use were distinguished in the cases: differentiation, continuation, cultivation and optimisation. Each has its own implications for the design and the chosen approach is ultimately related to the important heritage values of each individual shipyard. Heritage professionals proved to have a great say, in the early stages of the adaptation process, in which the adaptive reuse approach was chosen. Research limitations/implications This comparative research enables an in-depth analysis and comparison and thorough qualitative understanding. It however limits the insight in the representativeness of these cases. Originality/value This paper compares the adaptive reuse of small-scale shipyards in an international perspective. It offers insight into the patterns, principles and context of the architectural reuse of this underexposed industrial heritage.

The Construction History and Assessment of Two Heritage Industrial Buildings in Wrocław

Industrial buildings from the beginning of the 20th century can still be found in Polish cities. Some of them have already been listed as heritage objects. Those structures where new technical solutions and materials were used, for example concrete, are especially interesting. Some of those objects are currently under a process of restoration with the aim to reconstruct and adapt them for completely new and different utility functions but without losing their important heritage value. In this paper, elements of the assessment procedure of the technical state regarding a historical survey, material examination and structural analysis, are presented on the example of two selected industrial buildings in which reinforced concrete was used as the main structural material. The main aim of the performed diagnostic procedure was verification of the load-bearing capacity of structures of the examined buildings. The calculation made confirmed that in case of not damaged concrete elements they have enough capacity to carry on newly designed loads. That confirmed that old concrete structures, especially in industrial buildings, sometimes have capacity reserves. On the other hand it allows to perform the design of less invasive renovation works or strengthening solutions with the aim to respect their industrial heritage value.

Assessing the potential impacts of climate change on traditional landscapes and their heritage values on the local level: Case studies in the Dender basin in Flanders, Belgium

The Landscape Atlas of Flanders describes the traditional relic landscapes in Flanders (Belgium), characterized by important heritage values and more specifically by natural-scientific, historical, sociocultural and aesthetic values. These heritage landscapes constitute a considerable part of the common cultural heritage and are therefore managed by specific landscape management plans. However, these plans do not address climate change vulnerability and adaptation, while this is considered as an important driving force of landscape change. This change may impact on the unaffected traditional character of heritage landscapes and cause these valuable landscapes to deteriorate. In this study, we assess and map the potential overall impact of climate change on two relic landscapes in Flanders and map possible adaptation measures on a detailed level to allow insertion in the landscape management plans. Detailed synthesis vulnerability and adaptation maps are elaborated in a GIS, based on the results of impact- and model studies. The vulnerability maps indicate that both case studies are sensitive to climate change. In particular, forest desiccation, wind throw, crop deterioration, soil erosion and flooding might affect the landscape quality and threaten the natural-scientific, historical and aesthetic heritage values of the landscapes. In order to preserve these heritage values, the adaptation maps present possible adaptation measures, which are sustainable and nondestructive with respect to the landscape quality. Although adaptation will cause change as well, it offers more chances to preserve the heritage values of the landscapes. To be effective, detailed climate change vulnerability and adaptation maps should be included in the binding landscape management plans.

Human activity and damaging landslides and floods on Madeira Island

Abstract. Over the last few decades, the island of Madeira has become an important offshore tourism and business center, with rapid economic and demographic development that has caused changes to the landscape due to human activity. In Madeira's recent history, there has been an increase over time in the frequency of occurrence of damaging landslide and flood events. As a result, the costs of restoration work due to damage caused by landslide and flood events have become a larger and larger component of Madeira's annual budget. Landslides and floods in Madeira deserve particular attention because they represent the most serious hazard to human life, to property, and to the natural environment and its important heritage value. The work reported on in this paper involved the analysis of historical data regarding damaging landslide and flood events on Madeira (in particular from 1941 to 1991) together with data on geological characteristics, topographic features, and climate, and from field observations. This analysis showed that the main factor triggering the occurrence of damaging landslide and flood events is rainfall, but that the increase in the number of damaging events recorded on Madeira Island, especially in recent times, seems to be related mostly to human activity, specifically to economic development and population growth, rather than to natural factors.

LA ARQUITECTURA SIN ARQUITECTOS, ALGUNAS REFLEXIONES SOBRE ARQUITECTURA VERNÁCULA

The following reflections comprise those studies prior to the development of a doctoral thesis in traditional architecture, and those experiences obtained during the inventory works on Ethnographic Heritage of Madrid Community by Universidad Politecnica de Madrid. Traditional architecture, now in extinction, is becoming more and more interesting for the different areas concerning research about architectonic work. Its strong links with those topics as locality give it an important heritage value, both historical and synthetic. Architecture without architects teaching us some sensitive ways to understand and inhabit our environment.

The geological heritage of the Lower Jurassic of Central Portugal: selected sites, inventory and main scientific arguments

The Lower Jurassic is well represented in west-central Portugal (Lusitanian Basin), where several outcrops with exceptional exposures exist. Among these, three sites have a major interest for Geological Heritage: S. Pedro de Moel, Rabacal and Peniche. These localities display important sections for the study of the Liassic carbonate successions, whose scientific and educational value, for the domains of Palaeontology, Stratigraphy, Sedimentology and Geomorphology is widely known. The aim of this work is to enumerate the main scientific arguments for considering these Portuguese Liassic localities as national and international relevance and as an important heritage value (Geosite).