Structural Versus Aesthetical Concerns in Reconstruction of Historical Masonry Buildings

Assessment of historical buildings presents specific engineering task, considering the ways they were built and the materials, which were used. Many of them belong to cultural heritage and merit special care and protection. This concerns also the historical buildings in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The country is situated in seismic active region of South-East Europe and the majority of the historical buildings were made of stone-masonry. In the case of stronger earthquake motion such buildings could suffer heavy damages. The damages are sometimes cumulated through many years and many causes. Substantial damages were caused by recent war disaster, as well. The aim is to preserve and reveal their aesthetic and historical values and to use original materials and original way of construction, if possible. In most cases seismic assessment procedures result in the requirements for the strengthening or retrofit of the old masonry building structures. Design and construction procedures of repair and strengthening of two medieval stone masonry buildings are presented. Equilibrium between aesthetical and structural demands is discussed.