Decisions on Building Stock Survival and Conservation in a Multi-Hazard Environment: Cultural and Functional Identity vs. Safety and Environment Values in Protected Areas

Romania’s capital city, Bucharest, was struck by multi-hazards in its historybut has also suffered a huge trauma by demolition of 450 hectares, to build publicinstitutions in the 1980s, during the past regime. This zone is now a protectedarea, under the threats of climate and social changes. This research projectfinanced by the Romanian Ministry of National Education aimed to identifythe patterns of building blocks, in a balanced relationship between cultural,functional values, as an identity dimension, and the nature of safety, stabilityas state values (vulnerability), under earthquakes and other hazards. Functionalvalues were evaluated with respect to the Code significance categories, functionalzoning of the General Urban Plan and Law of quality in construction. Analysis ofcultural value observed the Law of Monuments, associated to 13 criteria suggestedby authors, resulting in six evaluation stages. The intervention works includedcurrent maintenance; conservative maintenance, using also strengthening;conservative works; restoration and strengthening; partial or global restricting,with possible demolition and reconstruction works; demolition; new building.New knowledge is represented by a methodology of evaluation and decisionmakingfor multi-levelinterventioncategories, to preserveurban memoryandpresentsa case study of Bucharest,Romania(Europe). Keywords: Environmental Science, multi-hazard environment, urban heritage,conservation and intervention approaches, evaluation of cultural identity andvulnerability value, disaster risk reduction, Romania