1906 San Francisco earthquake 100th anniversary, San Francisco, 2006

1. CA‘REDIVIVUS
A Project on the Preservation of European
Historic Reinforced Concrete Housing Buildings –
The Concept
Maria Bostenaru, EERI YP
Rui Pinho
ROSE School / IUSS di Pavia, ITALY

2. CA‘REDIVIVUS project100th Anniversary of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake
Overview
The title
Introduction
Expected impact
Scientific methods
Discussion
Conclusions

3. CA‘REDIVIVUS project100th Anniversary of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake
=
Reinforced Concrete
The title
CASA REDIVIVUS
Cemento Armato
HOUSE TO NEW LIFE

4. CA‘REDIVIVUS project100th Anniversary of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake
Introduction
Valuation of existing buildings instead of design
of new buildings
Challenge in earthquake prone countries
More research on masonry than on RC
Concrete in France and Germany
Concrete in Italy, Greece, Romania, Portugal
Multidisciplinary decision
Conservation of heritage housing buildings

5. CA‘REDIVIVUS project100th Anniversary of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake
Expected impact of the project
Recommendations for protection of early XXth
century heritage in Europe, ICOMOS, RISK-UE
DOCOMOMO: technologies, materials in the
early 20th century styles and intervention
multidisciplinary research (conference sessions)
Sustainable development
 World Housing Encyclopedia
Anthropologic perspective (perception)
 sociology of architecture
 interface load-bearing structure–architectural space

6. CA‘REDIVIVUS project100th Anniversary of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake
Objectives of the project

7. CA‘REDIVIVUS project100th Anniversary of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake
Nr. Objective Interest groups
1 - advance in earthquake engineering
- improving understanding of earthquake impact on the physical,
social, economic and cultural environment
- developing comprehensive measures for preventing earthquake loss
Multidisciplinary
2 an algorithm for optimisation of retrofit measures -
3 decentralised decision model for actors involved from:
- geophysics (engineering seismology)
- (structural) engineering
- economy (investment efficiency)
- sociology (consideration of user issues)
Interdisciplinary
4 ? applicability of retrofit methods which reduce demand (active
devices on frame braces)
Interdisciplinary
architecture
engineering
5 framework for integral planning (economic and engineering aspects
regarded from incipient planning phases)
Interdisciplinary
architecture
engineering
economics
6 solving contradictions between the objectives of single actors in the
retrofit implementation strategy through decision system
customisation
Multidisciplinary
7 comprehensibility of the measures analysed: inclusion into the
integral planning scheme near the flow in the physical
implementation of the retrofit system of a flow for the education of
the population which has to support the measures (spread from pilot
projects to „routine‟ wide ones)
architecture
urbanism
sociology
8 investigation of the support possibilities by political and economic
environment: existing programmes
-

8. CA‘REDIVIVUS project100th Anniversary of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake
Project management
objectives
(measures package)
objective
(measure)
scientific method
instruments
step
goal

9. CA‘REDIVIVUS project100th Anniversary of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake
Nr. Objective Method Instruments
1 improving understanding of
earthquake impact
- public presentation
- react to feedback on findings on the architectural,
structural, geophysical, social and economic aspects
of retrofitting historic concrete buildings
- active participation, co-organisation of conferences
- publication in reviewed manner
- web dissemination of results
2 algorithm for retrofit measures
optimisation
parametrical study FEM
3 decentralised decision model modularisation of a collaborative decision model
taking into account non-measurable criteria
pair wise comparison method used in investigation of
decision making on different levels; multiobjective
systems in urban/building scale transition
4 applicability of retrofit methods -
insights
documentation
training
literature and internet based research
lectures and assisted exercises.
5 framework for integral planning an example retrofit design model project for the
integral planning and defining its steps
exercise
6 solving contradictions between the
objectives of single actors
a basis system to administrate modules on the
different detail levels in the urban strategical planning
? suitability of different computer tools (GIS, spread
sheets, multimedia …)
7 „comprehensibilisation‟ of the
measures analysed
steps are foreseen in the „educational flow‟, so the
information circuit gets into a second phase:
- determine research directions
- determine means for accessibilisation of information
- investigation of consulting and participation means
- education
- create public ideas
- connection between education and research.
database for
- public presentation
- urban/building level navigation
- feedback
8 ? change is supported by political
and economic environment
documentation, conference organisation activity “Natural Hazards Impact on Urban Areas and
Infrastructure”; similar events.

10. CA‘REDIVIVUS project100th Anniversary of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake
Step Goal Method Instrument Objec-
tive
1 a. Technical reports on steel braces
retrofit systems applicability in RC
housing buildings
b. Charts of support programmes
Documentation Literature and internet based
research
Investigation
4; 8
2 a data table of use for the decision
method in the next step
parametrical study FEM 2
3 support the choices at step 4 and 1
(public presentation/feedback)
Highlighting
comprehensibility
Database and urban/building
level navigation
7
4 algorithm based on case studies
(step 2) for experiments (step 6)
modularisation of the
decision model
pair wise comparison 3
5 report about pros and cons of
available systems for this purpose
A basis system to
administrate modules
Comparative employment of
computer tools for this problem
6
6 trial of educational feasibility (step
3), more practical examples
project example Exercise 5
7 dissemination of results Publication of results Participation to conferences,
reviewed publications, web
1

11. CA‘REDIVIVUS project100th Anniversary of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake
Step Goal Method Instrument Measure
1 technical reports on implementation
programmes
documentation investigation
training.
4; 8
2 a data table of use for the decision
method in the next step
parametrical study FEM 2
3 support the choices at step 4 and step
1
highlighting
comprehensibility
database 7
4 algorithm based on case studies (step
2) for experiments (step 6)
modularisation of the
decision model
pair wise
comparison
3
5 report about available systems for this
purpose
a basis system to
administrate modules
computer tools 6
6 trial of educational feasibility (step 3) project example exercise 5
7 dissemination of results presentation publications 1
Nr. Measures package
1 improving understanding of the
impact of earthquakes
2 development of an algorithm for
optimisation of retrofit measures
3 development of a decentralised
decision model
4 insights into applicability of
retrofit methods
5 development of a framework for
integral planning
6 solving contradictions between
the objectives of single actors
7 highlighting the comprehend-
sibility of the measures analysed
8 support changes by political and
economic environment:

12. CA‘REDIVIVUS project100th Anniversary of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake
Discussion
Typological study
 RC multi-storey residential buildings from early
XXth century of historic importance
Distribution and seismic threat in Europe
Collaborative issues
 Systemic modelling
 New functional demands; technological demands
Comparative studies

13. CA‘REDIVIVUS project100th Anniversary of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake
Discussion: typological study
(Romania)

14. CA‘REDIVIVUS project100th Anniversary of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake
Discussion: post-earthquake
intervention (Romania)

15. CA‘REDIVIVUS project100th Anniversary of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake
Discussion: comparative
potential (Italy and Greece)
Novocum, Como
(arch. G. Terragni
1927-1929)
Casa Lavezzari,
Milano
(arch. G. Terragni,
1934-36)
K. Panayotakos, 1932-33 V. Douras, 1936
Blocks of flats in Athens; architects:

16. CA‘REDIVIVUS project100th Anniversary of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake
Discussion:
comparison themes
Differences in the architectural language
Changes induced by preservation requirements in
high/low seismicity areas and their determinant factors
Earthquake hazard
Urban development policies
Existing attempts and distribution determined need for
seismic rehabilitation
The time when this time of construction reached the
respective countries
Reception of the technology
Relationship to the codes and affecting earthquakes
Suitability of retrofit methods for buildings situated in
different cultural value ranges

17. CA‘REDIVIVUS project100th Anniversary of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake
Discussion: distribution in
Europe
Other countries
 France
 Portugal
 Austria
 Czech Republic
 Slovenia
 Spain
 Italy
 Hungary
 Germany

18. CA‘REDIVIVUS project100th Anniversary of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake
Conclusions
High vulnerability of pre-code RC
New field
Interventions on existing buildings -
Multidisciplinary issue par excellence
 Networking
Use of the computer
Public dissemination
Communication skills
 Spatio-perceptive and spatio-functional issues
Potential for comparative studies

19. Thank you!
The project described in this paper is funded under the
Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowships research
mobility scheme of the European Commission, contract
nr. MEIF-CT-2005-009765 with a 2 years individual
fellowship in 2005-2007.