Course Details

1. Identify, by on site measurement, an existing traditional building structural system. Analyze its basic principles of design from the constructural point of view.
2. Review traditional building practices. Record the pathology and vulnerability of historical buildings and their ability to undertake dynamic loads.
3. Relate the various effects on the constructural system through ages with its behavior during dynamic load. Identify the role of proper planning.
4. Manage information from multiple sources. Analyze monuments by interpretation of findings. Identify primary and secondary structural members, connections and components. Distinguish additions, repairs and modifications. Analyze the loading bearing system.
5. Identify causes of deterioration and damages. Distinguish construction phases. Develop immediate measures for protection and restoration proposals.

Identification and measurement of an existing traditional building structural system: Basic principles of design from the constructural point of view. Structure and properties of wood and stone. Traditional building practices. Pathology and vulnerability of historical buildings and their ability to undertake dynamic loads. Study of the various effects on the constructural system through ages (lack of maintenance, decaying, aging, earthquake effects etc). Behavior of the traditional systems and their components during dynamic load. . The role of proper planning. Methods of recording the existing condition of a historical building. Interaction of natural and built environment and the effects on form and structure of the building.

Constructural analysis: Management of information from multiple sources. Historical analysis of monuments. Interpretation of findings. Primary and secondary structural members. Connections and components. Weaknesses and vulnerability. Additions, repairs and modifications. Analysis of the loading bearing system (geometrical, static and dynamic).

• Prof. P.Touliatos, Research on the antiseismic behavior of traditional structures in Greece, National Technical University Athens, Antiseismic Protection Organisation Greece, 2001.
• European Timber Constructions, EU Raphael Programme (Management of the European Wooden Building Heritage), A. Soikkeli, P, Touliatos, C.B. Cestari, University of Oulu, University Press 2000

• Prof. P. Touliatos, Architecture and Earthquakes, National Technical University Athens, 2004.
• Venice Chart (1964), ICOMOS, 1994.
• Prof. P. Touliatos, Identification and Analysis of Local Historical Constructural Systems, Ministry of Culture, Technical Chamber of Greece.
• Prof. P. Touliatos, The Holy Monastery of Doheiarios, Mount Athos, Greece, National Technical University Athens, 2008.

The taught part of the course is delivered to the students by means of lectures and computer-aided presentations. Lecture notes and presentations are available through the web for students to use in combination with the relevant textbooks.

Lectures are supplemented with project work carried out on a team basis. Students, in teams of 10-12 persons, are requested to measure and produce plans of an existing historical monument, analyze its constructural system and propose methods of restoration. During the semester, course instructors are making comments and corrections on the students’ work, at every stage of the process.