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Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore how comprehensive the management of common repairs in the nineteenth-century urban housing in Edinburgh is in the European context. The city experienced a variety of approaches since the 1970s to repairs of exposed decorative elements and the envelope, whose condition is exacerbated by inappropriate interventions and climate change. Design/methodology/approach The debate is framed in practice in Western Europe where economy, administration and conservation cultures have been similar since the 1970s: property manager (Glasgow), role of housing agency (Venice), Monumentenwacht’s periodical inspections for subscribers (Flanders), tax incentives (France, Italy, Spain), linking management and procurement (Libretto Casa, Rome) and the emerging concept of preventive conservation. Findings Edinburgh has a holistic and technically rich management experience, with a strong educational focus, which shows the immense volume of work required, hampered by the fragmentation of ownership and the small size of the repair industry. Practice can improve in Edinburgh and Europe through increased awareness, tax incentives, regular inspections, legal recognition of the need for maintenance and stepping-up the debate at national, European and political level, towards preventive conservation approaches. Research limitations/implications The study profited from direct knowledge of the approach in Edinburgh and other areas, but little has been published on each area outside the local level, so appraisal depended on language knowledge. Originality/value This first reading of practice at the European level may be of value to the national agencies referred to, for policy development or European initiatives.
Dimitris Theodossopoulos. Nineteenth-century housing preventive conservation in Edinburgh and its Western European context. Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development 2018, 8, 95 -110.
AMA StyleDimitris Theodossopoulos. Nineteenth-century housing preventive conservation in Edinburgh and its Western European context. Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development. 2018; 8 (2):95-110.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDimitris Theodossopoulos. 2018. "Nineteenth-century housing preventive conservation in Edinburgh and its Western European context." Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development 8, no. 2: 95-110.
Barrel vaults provide effective fire-proof roofing in historic churches, castles, cloisters or halls that look for simple and utilitarian aesthetics, as long as they are strongly connected to sturdy lateral walls and transverse gables, conditions that limit their possibilities for spatial expression. A study of the effect of these conditions was carried out on the pointed vaults of a characteristic group of 15th century Scottish churches. Following earlier measured surveys that showed remarkable geometric integrity, 1/15-scale models of a representative form were made in reinforced plaster that could delay the cracks propagation enough to be monitored. Only the shell was considered, leaving the effect of ribs or diaphragms that hold the heavy flagstone roof for further study. The model was subject to symmetric and asymmetric horizontal spread, which simulated the insufficient containment of not very stiff walls, but included the effect of gable end walls. Cracks formed invariably at an early stage (3% of the span spread), propagating more rapidly and causing early failure at a symmetrical spread (15% of span), while the asymmetrical spread produced diagonal crack patterns across the vault at 33% of the span. Gables provided more stiff areas but eventually caused local detachment at the spread point, at only 5% of the span, with cracks propagating to the back wall and at a higher rate when a less stiff gable was included(13% of span). The results validated an FE model that provided further insight to the performance of the type at displacement and settlement, as exemplified in the case of Bothwell church in Scotland.
D. Theodossopoulos; N. Makoond; L. Akl; A. Lily. The Effect of Boundary Conditions on the Behaviour of Pointed Masonry Barrel Vaults: Late Gothic Cases in Scotland. The Open Construction and Building Technology Journal 2016, 10, 274 -292.
AMA StyleD. Theodossopoulos, N. Makoond, L. Akl, A. Lily. The Effect of Boundary Conditions on the Behaviour of Pointed Masonry Barrel Vaults: Late Gothic Cases in Scotland. The Open Construction and Building Technology Journal. 2016; 10 (1):274-292.
Chicago/Turabian StyleD. Theodossopoulos; N. Makoond; L. Akl; A. Lily. 2016. "The Effect of Boundary Conditions on the Behaviour of Pointed Masonry Barrel Vaults: Late Gothic Cases in Scotland." The Open Construction and Building Technology Journal 10, no. 1: 274-292.
This study compared building-related symptoms in personal and open plan offices, where high and low levels of control over the thermal environment were provided, respectively. The individualized approach in Norway provided every user with a personal office, where they had control over an openable window, door, blinds, and thermostat. In contrast, the open plan case studies in the United Kingdom provided control over openable windows and blinds only for limited occupants seated around the perimeter of the building, with users seated away from the windows having no means of environmental control. Air conditioning was deployed in the Norwegian case study buildings, while displacement ventilation and natural ventilation were utilized in the British examples. Field studies of thermal comfort were applied with questionnaires, environmental measurements, and interviews. Users’ health was better in the Norwegian model (28%), while the British model was much more energy efficient (up to 10 times). The follow-up interviews confirmed the effect of lack of thermal control on users’ health. A balanced appraisal was made of energy performance and users’ health between the two buildings.
Sally S. Shahzad; John Brennan; Dimitris Theodossopoulos; Ben Hughes; John Kaiser Calautit. Building-Related Symptoms, Energy, and Thermal Control in the Workplace: Personal and Open Plan Offices. Sustainability 2016, 8, 331 .
AMA StyleSally S. Shahzad, John Brennan, Dimitris Theodossopoulos, Ben Hughes, John Kaiser Calautit. Building-Related Symptoms, Energy, and Thermal Control in the Workplace: Personal and Open Plan Offices. Sustainability. 2016; 8 (4):331.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSally S. Shahzad; John Brennan; Dimitris Theodossopoulos; Ben Hughes; John Kaiser Calautit. 2016. "Building-Related Symptoms, Energy, and Thermal Control in the Workplace: Personal and Open Plan Offices." Sustainability 8, no. 4: 331.
The introduction of rib systems in High Gothic vaults in England initiated a period of greater ambition in the design of churches, while subsequent experimentation increased the confidence of the masons in working with more complex forms. This development is discussed through the study of the structural behavior and efficiency of vaults at the cathedrals of Durham, Canterbury, Wells, and Lincoln that represent significant technical innovations. The collapse mode and safety margin of the original designs is examined, focusing on the dominant action that results from failure of the buttressing system. The study highlights how the integrity of the fabric provided by the rib had to be enhanced by refinements of the form and lateral support. Although the discussion shows a consistent development, each of the innovations brought individual solutions that this study attempts to treat as options available to the masons.
Dimitris Theodossopoulos. Structural Design of High Gothic Vaulting Systems in England. International Journal of Architectural Heritage 2008, 2, 1 -24.
AMA StyleDimitris Theodossopoulos. Structural Design of High Gothic Vaulting Systems in England. International Journal of Architectural Heritage. 2008; 2 (1):1-24.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDimitris Theodossopoulos. 2008. "Structural Design of High Gothic Vaulting Systems in England." International Journal of Architectural Heritage 2, no. 1: 1-24.