This paper analyses the presence of sustainable elements in one of the most representative surviving examples of vernacular residential architecture from the Ottoman period, located in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The focus is on the significance of vernacular architectural elements, which can serve as an inspiration for contemporary building design in the context of sustainability. Two main aspects need to be considered: respecting the inter-relationship between humans, nature, climate, and local surroundings, and adaptation of design to the time in which it was created. Svrzo’s house complex, as National Monument, is chosen as a case study, and detailed survey was conducted regarding the presence of sustainable design principles i.e., building form, use of local materials, orientation, adaptation to local climate and topography, passive cooling and natural-induced ventilation, water, and vegetation. A traditional architectural treasure – a functional, simple, and aesthetically valuable concept, shows that ambient requirements were met with minimal energy consumption and material waste from construction to consumption, achieving a responsible ethical attitude towards the environment. The analysis also includes an evaluation of energy efficiency aspects, by comparing the actual heat transmission values of the building elements with the allowable heat transmission values, prescribed by regulation. The actual average heat transmission values are higher which indicates that although the positive impacts of using natural local materials are wide, in terms of enhancing thermal properties, these sustainability features alone are not sufficient to prevent heat losses without proper thermal insulation.

This paper explores the possibility of using recycled seashells from marine coasts of the Mali Ston Bay in Dubrovnik-Neretva County, Croatia, to create a novel bio material derived from waste seashells. In this research, two types of waste seashells, mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis) and oyster...

This paper presents the most common traditional dovetail joints used in furniture making in past centuries, which are among the almost forgotten skills, practiced today by only a relatively small number of restoration workshops. The paper deals with the basic joints used in the restoration of furniture and traditional woodworking (houses, churches, temples, etc.) for the purpose of protecting rich cultural heritage. The history of furniture making is also the history of the art of making joints. In restoration, knowledge of these joints facilitates and accelerates the dating of furniture pieces to be restored. For this reason, the aim of this paper is to present an overview of the use of dovetail joints. The decorative effect of these joints and their constructive ingenuity certainly deserve more attention and research. A historical review of the development of traditional dovetail corner joints demonstrates the importance of the skill of crafting joints that stand the test of time and survive to this day. With the development of art, the joints became more and more decorative, but also of higher quality to withstand the various stresses that occur when furniture is used. Practical examples of making traditional dovetail corner joints are used to show how important it is to preserve the craftsmanship of these traditional joints from being forgotten, which is necessary when restoring furniture and other historical structural components made of wood such as ceilings, floors and altars.

1. Climate change has substantially altered forest disturbance regimes worldwide by increasing the frequency and intensity of wildfires, floods and other extreme hydrological events, resulting in i...

This study examines the physical and mechanical properties of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) wood samples taken from historical trabaccolo ship Carmen during restoration. The research is based on a methodological approach typical of conservation–restoration practice, in which only a limited number of samples can be taken to preserve the authenticity and integrity of the original material. Two groups of samples were analyzed visually: preserved (bright) wood and wood showing cross-sectional discoloration (dark). Physical properties (color, moisture content, density, porosity and swelling) and mechanical properties (compressive strength, bending strength and modulus of elasticity) were determined according to relevant ISO standards and chemical changes in the wood structure (FT-IR). FT-IR analysis revealed progressive degradation of hemicelluloses and oxidative modification of lignin, which was particularly significant in dark wood samples. The results of tests of physical properties indicate that dark samples exhibit higher moisture content (13%), lower density (about 7%) and greater porosity compared to preserved samples (bright wood). The compressive strength of the bright specimens was 38.3% higher than that of the dark specimens, suggesting reduced mechanical performance of the altered wood. The bending strength and modulus of elasticity of the preserved samples (bright wood) corresponded to literature data for recent oak wood.