Strategies for Structural and Energy Improvement in Mid-Rise Unreinforced Masonry Apartment Buildings. A Case Study in Mestre (Northeast Italy)

Luca Sbrogiò, Carlotta Bevilacqua, Gabriele De Sordi, Ivano Michelotto, Marco Sbrogiò, Antonio Toniolo and Christian Tosato
Additional contact information
Luca Sbrogiò: Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Padua, P.za Capitaniato 7, 35139 Padova, Italy
Carlotta Bevilacqua: Freelance Professional, Piazza Ferretto 55, 30174 Venezia, Italy
Gabriele De Sordi: Freelance Professional, Via T. Tasso 21, 30172 Venezia, Italy
Ivano Michelotto: Freelance Professional, Via D. Alighieri 4, 30034 Mira, Italy
Marco Sbrogiò: Freelance Professional, Via Bissuola 79, 30173 Venezia, Italy
Antonio Toniolo: Freelance Professional, Via Mediterraneo 28, 30034 Mira, Italy
Christian Tosato: Freelance Professional, Via Teatro Vecchio 15, 30172 Venezia, Italy

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 16, 1-24

Abstract: Two-thirds of the Italian building stock was already built by the 1970s, largely according to gravity load design and using economical materials and poor workmanship. Currently, the structures, fixtures, and fittings of these buildings have reached the end of their service life, and they require both an assessment and an update to meet new standards and new needs. As an example of a common type, this article deals with the assessment of the present state and the proposal of an integrated structural and architectural intervention on an existing brick masonry mid-rise apartment building in the suburbs of Venice, Northern Italy. The structural analysis highlights a moderate vulnerability, despite the low seismic hazard, and the energy analysis indicates that the highest management costs are due to heating and sanitary uses. Low-impact strategies are preferred for each aspect of the required interventions. Their costs are counterbalanced by (a) the reduction to a fifth of the present management costs; (b) a 20% average increase in the economic value of the flats; and (c) a favorable tax regime at the national level. Transformed into parametric values, also useful for large scale analyses, these costs resulted in a sustainable monthly instalment from the owners, who may also benefit from the increased quality of the place where they live.

Keywords: unreinforced masonry buildings; modern masonry buildings; fragility curves; seismic vulnerability assessment; energy needs assessment; energy retrofit; seismic retrofit; Northeast Italy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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