MULTIDISCIPLINARY VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT OF FABRIC HISTORICAL DISTRICT IN TIMISOARA, EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF CULTURE 2023 SUMMER SCHOOL
Location: Timisoara city, Timis county, Romania
Dates: 05.07.2023-20.07.2023 (+2 days for arrival and departure)
Organizer: Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Polytechnic University of Timisoara and The German Academic Exchange Service DAAD
How to apply: please send your motivation letter in English to iasmina.onescu@upt.ro
Deadline for application: 20.04.2023
Website: https://sites.google.com/view/timisoara-daadsummerschool
Heritage buildings represent a valuable part of the historic city and need to be protected through comprehensive preservation strategies, in order to ensure the authenticity and the spirit of the place. The base of any preservation policy is the knowledge that it can be improved following vulnerability assessment methodologies.
The proposal for this summer school is in accordance with ICOMOS concerns, encouraging a multidisciplinary assessment of historic buildings, aiming to reduce the multi-hazard risk and, in conseqence, to protect the cultural heritage and local communities. The multidisciplinary character of the activity is also confered by intertwining the field of architecture with urban planning, civil engineering and socio-economic studies, focusing also on some cultural and artistic features. Considering that many historical urban centres are in areas with very high level of exposure to earthquakes, which are difficult to predict, highlights the fact that this hazard is a real danger for the communities in seismic areas.
The school will be organized for 12 days, in which the participating students will have part of teaching activities, on-site investigating activities, workshops and expositions, as well as cultural field trips and social events.
The summer school proposal is a multi-, inter- and transdisciplinary work which highlights that besides understanding the structural behaviour of heritage buildings, the aesthetic features and the relation with the surrounding urban area has to also be taken into consideration. Noteworthy is that the procedure also considers environmental factors which can affect the state of preservation. Only after such a comprehensive analysis, the possible intervention preventing strategies can be evaluated and decisions and strengthening measures taken, if necessary.
In conclusion, during the proposed summer school, students will learn modern methodologies for assessing the multi-risk vulnerability of historic buildings and urban areas, and they will also gain better collaborating, presenting and organising abilities. Furthermore, it will offer a multicultural experience to participating students!
We are looking forward to begin this experience!
