1.2 Aims and Objectives of the thesis

first application of the brick masonry mix system combined with RC moment frames; and closing the application phase with the University of the Arts building, a 1939 complex combined between 3 buildings, accompanied by some interesting structural solutions that will be addressed in detail in chapter 6.3. Meanwhile, in the annexes of the study, the fourth case of the building of the National Theater, which is demolished in 2020 to make way for a new multifunctional building, is treated in a concise manner with some findings.

The cases were treated in the framework of the architectural and engineering study, initially mentioning the architectural surveys accompanied by archival or field investigations, organizations of scientific works through academic courses of restoration, student workshops, data collection, engineering context with BIM models, equivalent models, parametric models related to Heritage content, experimental analysis phases and simulations for each possible scenario and finally concluding with some graphic products and recommendations which tend to contribute to the field of restoration.

Research-related issues on restoration and conservation has recently gained a lot of attention in many countries, including the great progress and achievements of architecture, executing preservation, protection, retrofitting, maintenance and restoration of immovable cultural heritage in a standardized way.

1.2 Aims and Objectives of the thesis

The purpose of the study is to address a detailed methodology which can serve as a manual for the issue of restoration, survey & digitization of archival projects, theoretical interpretations of the structure accompanied by simulations and collapse scenarios, as well as addressing the structural issue of cultural heritage with principles or restoration charters, to limit them to a controlled space, to prevent damage to architectural assets. This will be realized through theoretical interpretations initially and then by treating 3 cases of previously undocumented study (in this context).

To achieve this, one of the objectives is to have a well-organized interaction between structural engineers, architects, archaeologists, “and so on to take their views into the” consideration “regarding the damage tolerance” “and prepare not to stick to a predefined level of seismic hazard risk for historical buildings” . We emphasize that so far, the spirit of cooperation in Albania is fragile. Much more damage has been done in terms of cultural heritage and the stated objectives tend to reduce this distance between experts.

• One of the objectives of this topic is to assess the performance of buildings with historical value, based on the current scientific knowledge of seismic field, summarized in literature, guides, codes and standards, without neglecting the charm of their architecture, and the historical aspect.

• Interpretations and debate on construction techniques and technologies used by designers in the period 1920-40.

• One of the objectives related to the time context in which we face today, is related to the necessary process of digitization and creation of parametric models by applying BIM, in such a way as to create accessible files for other researchers, with a database of materials. , architectural elements, equivalent structural models intertwined with the architectural one, documentation of interventions or additions, time timeline of the building through modeling (authentic modeling in the design period and current).

• Another objective is the investigation of the structural arguments that have been taken into account in the design, the design codes, the physical-mechanical parameters of the materials, the seismic parameters and certain coefficients. Not forgetting the analysis on calculation reports.

• The issue of rehabilitation of cultural heritage buildings in Albania is an objective to raise the awareness, practical guidance to achieve good conservation and restoration practice. It aims to assess the seismic performance of these buildings, and also to evaluate and compare their performance in their existing state even according to the requirements of Eurocodes. This should be done through literature review and taking into account the principles and theories of restoration, mainly proclaimed by international restoration charters.

The issue of treatment of cultural heritage is complex and must be treated with special care, regarding the aesthetic and historical value. So far, many consolidation interventions, additions, or restorations have been performed on these objects which have left traces. Rapid and routine treatment, lack of diagnostics or the need for consolidation without a proper project, lack of opposition or conservative review has done significant damage to the Albanian cultural heritage.

• This makes us aim to review any restoration, additionor consolidation project, regarding the sensitivity of the restoration & conservation principles and not to allow erroneous interventions in such buildings. This objective requires specific recommendations and a very detailed methodology, on the steps that must be followed to address it. Theoretically this is addressed in the methodology section, where it is shown and graphically how it can be applied.

• One of the long-term objectives that this study aims to create is the inclusion or linking of restoration techniques in programs that apply BIM. This is currently being applied in some countries, mainly in terms of documentation, digitalization and virtual reality. But the issue of interference is not included in these applications. The purpose of this method is to prevent erroneous interventions, by being reversibly parameterized in programs that apply BIM. Wrong interventions can be corrected or made effective based on parametric recommendations that satisfy the principles of restoration (or international charters).

This objective begins to be discussed and theoretically systematized in this study and remains open for later post study or collaborations between experts of the disciplines involved.