Restoration and conversion to re-use of historic buildings incorporating increased energy efficiency A Case Study - the Haybarn Complex, Hilandar Monastery, Mount Athos

A proper approach to restoration of historic buildings is crucial for monumental heritage protection. The objective of the paper is to define a methodology for historic buildings restoration in order to increase energy efficiency and re-usability in accordance with modern standards. The main method used in the paper is the observation of historic buildings during their restoration and exploitation, analysis and evaluation of achieved results regarding energy efficiency and energy saving, through the examples of the buildings belonging to Hilandar Monastery, Mount Athos, in Greece. Mount Athos was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List for its cultural and natural values. This case study discusses the abandoned and dilapidated historic buildings of the Haybarn Complex (Stable, Mule keepers' House, and Haybarn), the achieved results regarding the restoration of these buildings, their energy efficiency and turning into the premises for occasional stays. The research results are recommendations for increasing energy efficiency while performing the restoration of historic buildings, so that these buildings could be re-used in a new way. The most significant contribution of the paper is the practical test of energy refurbishment of these historic buildings conducted using the principles and methods of energy efficiency, in compliance with conservation requirements and authenticity of historic buildings

Glass and Media Facades - Energy Refurbishment

Modern cities and their architectural structures undergo significant functional and physical changes. In recent years, the interventions on building envelopes have increased. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze potential remodeling of glass facades, along with applying the concept of smart technologies, in order to increase energy efficiency of the existing buildings. This paper analyzes the modernization process of devastated glass façade of the tall Slavija hotel, built in 1960s in Belgrade, Serbia, taking into consideration some positive examples of transformation and reskinning of buildings, where the aspect of medialization is an active part of urban renewal. The subject of this paper is the analysis of research findings about the improved thermal comfort of this building, after performing the replacement of its glass façade and converting the hotel building into a office building. Special attention was paid to the implementation of media facades technologies and final effects on energy balance of the newly designed facade. The proposed solution is supposed to evaluate the improved thermal comfort that was achieved by a radical renovation of the facade and by replacing the existing facade with a new single façade (double and triple glazed units), with media elements as well as without them. The research results are presented as proposals for improving EE public buildings by implementing the latest system of curtain walls in order to increase the value of the buildings. One of the most important criteria included in the process of energy refurbishment is technological improvement of the existing buildings, along with the presentation of media facades. The case study is based on Energy Plus simulations

Comparison of wooden and conventional houses sustainability - Increasing Application of Modified Wood in Republic of North Macedonia

The residential sector in Republic of North Macedonia, situated in south-east Europe, is responsible for the consumption of significant amounts of resources and for the production of large amount of emissions and waste. The increased application of wood products can substantially improve these conditions and contribute towards increasing the sustainability in the construction industry and the creation of sustainable homes. The contribution of this paper is the simulation of four different alternatives of residential buildings in the Republic of North Macedonia, evaluated in terms of energy performance and life -cycle assessment for the "cradle to gate" phase. The results of this study revealed that by replacing conventional concrete and masonry constructions with wooden constructions in low-rise family houses, the carbon emissions can be reduced up to 145%. The contribution of this paper is the simulation and analysis of the energy performance by using building performance simulation tools and life -cycle assessment of a residential building and its optimization through several models. The results give significant insight on the influence that the different construction materials have on the environment and buildings performance. Also, the research enables stimulation of the construction industry in utilizing wooden structures and delivering legislation that could increase their use. These actions would provide means for the development of sustainable buildings, neighborhoods and sustainable development of the Republic of North Macedonia

Media architecture and sustainable environment

Being the integral part of a building, street or infrastructure, media contents shape the appearance of modern cities and affect the way their inhabitants act. The objective of this paper is to analyze the forms of communication that make the media contents useful. The communication between mediafacades and their environment is achieved by applying various sources of artificial light and mechanical systems. There are numerous advantages regarding media facades and their impact on certain buildings, city areas and regions. However, these façades are regarded to be the result of great technological achievements in the field of architecture and other spheres; therefore, certain problems are inevitably come across. This paper deals with the challenges in the media architecture and its interaction with cities and people as well as the users of media objects. Sustainability, visual and light comfort, visual and light pollution in cities, exaggerated importance ascribed to the perception of information technologies and architectural marketing focused on ’healthy life in cities’ are some of the topics included in this paper. One of the significant aspects that is to be considered carefully is appropriate ’positioning’ of media contents within a city, since there is a potential problem of excessive application of media contents in urban environment. This paper explores the ways in which everyday functioning in a city (noise, street lights, etc.) can affect the audio-visual qualities of media facades. Also, this work presents the methods of integrating the principles of sustainable architecture in the field of media architecture. Whenever it is possible, the principle of energy efficiency should be included in media-architecture design of new structures and remodeling of some old structures. Environmentally-aware development and reductions in energy consumption are the most important goals to be achieved in the field of media façade designs, regarding the phases of construction and media structures

Possibilities of energy efficient refurbishment of a family villa in Belgrade: a case study

A systematic approach to the restoration of an architectural structure is considered to be of crucial importance for its preservation. The objective of the research is to identify adequate methodologies for structural restoration in terms of energy efficiency, in accordance with modern requirements. The main method of this study is the observation of an architectural structure during its restoration and exploitation, and analysis and evaluation criteria for the findings regarding energy efficiency increase and energy saving. The subject of the research is a 1930s family villa in Belgrade, the analysis of the results achieved during the restoration of the villa in terms of energy efficiency and meeting modern living and comfort requirements. The study findings are recommendations for increasing energy efficiency during the restoration of a family villa in accordance with all modern living requirements. The key strategies to energy efficient refurbishment of the existing building are understanding and defining the already existing energy efficiency aspects of previous construction styles, in order to keep applying them efficiently, along with the latest construction methods. The study findings present the recommendations for increasing energy efficiency during restoration of the existing structures, while at the same time preserving the authenticity of those structures. The main contribution of the study is a practical evaluation of energy refurbishment of the restored structure, which is realized through various principles and measures of energy efficiency along with the use of renewable energy sources, in accordance with the conservation requirements and protection and preservance of authentic appearance of the building itself

Modernization of existing glass facades to increase energy efficiency and implement media content

Modern cities and their architectural structures are exposed to functional and physical changes. During the past few years the interventions on the claddings of existing buildings have become more frequent. Therefore, there is a need to analyze potential remodelling of glass facades in order to increase energy efficiency of existing buildings, along with applying the concept of smart technologies. This paper deals with modernizing glass façade of the tall Slavija hotel, built in 1960s in Belgrade, Serbia, taking into consideration some positive examples of transformation and reskinning of buildings, where the aspect of medialization is an active part of urban refurbishment. The subject of this paper is the analysis of the enhanced winter thermal comfort of this building that was accomplished by glass facade replacement. Special attention was paid to the implementation of media technologies and final effects on energy balance of the newly designed facade. The proposed solution is supposed to evaluate the improved thermal comfort that was achieved by performing a radical modernization of the facade and replacing the existing facade with a new one, with and without media elements. The research results are proposals for improving EE public buildings by implementing the latest system of curtain walls in order to increase the value of those buildings. One of the most important criteria used in the process of energy refurbishment is technological enhancement of existing buildings, along with the presentation of media contents and messages, as the elements of new infrastructure systems in modern cities

Reconstruction and revitalization of the complex Senara, within The Monastery Hilandar, in order to adapt to modern trends and social changes

The Holy Mount Athos is the cultural heritage of mankind. Until the mid-20th century the Holy Mount Athos had been visited only by rare pilgrims. Strict rules of monastic communities limited the number of potential followers. The monastery complex provided the accommodation for all visiting pilgrims. Modern life and significant social changes have increased the number of the people interested in visiting this monastic land. The endless flow of visitors and their frequent visits eventually began to disturb the lives of monks. That was one of the reasons that led to creating new accommodation capacities outside the monastery complex in order to provide the neccesary peace for the monks. The Monastery Hilandar, the fourth monastery in the hierarchy of the Holy Mount Athos monasteries and one of the most significant spiritual and cultural center of the Serbian people, was founded in 1198. In the immediate vicinity of the monastery of Hilandar walls there are abandoned and demolished facilities: stable, mulekeepers’ house and heybarn. These facilities were built in the beginning of the 19th century. Ten years ago, the reconstruction of the facilities started in order to restore the buildings and provide them with additional accommodation space for potential visitors. This paper presents the methods of reconstruction through a multidisciplinary approach based on architectural solutions and the aspects of comfort as well as the aspects of psychological and sociological mutual influence between two groups – the monks and the visitors. In this way, the carried out reconstruction revived the old facilities and gave them a new function that is adaptable to modern trends and social changes

Application of wood as an element of facade cladding in contemporary architecture of Belgrade

Wood is a natural – environmentally friendly (eco-friendly) material. Wood can be recycled and contemporary architecture buildings use numerous wood-based products obtained by adding certain chemical compounds. The use of wood, as both old and new material, in modern architecture has affected the elements of traditional architecture, as an attempt to change aesthetic, constructive and stimulating effects on the overall concept of architecture. Global trends in wood re-application and woodbased products, as construction and architectural coating material, are present not only because of aesthetic, artistic and design requirements or tradition and naturebased inspiration, but also because wood is known to be eco-friendly and energyefficient and it adapts to modern trends in sustainable development and applied technology solutions to the production of materials, with the aim of maintaining connection with Nature, environment and tradition. The spirit of regionalism, the application of autochthonous materials and traditional building techniques, as well as methods of particular design situation (on-site construction) are the key to creating original works of authorship. Striving to preserve the regional spirit of architecture is a vital, strategically important element of national expression in architecture, from the perspective of: proper and rational land use, identity and uniqueness protection, formation of quality environment within the natural or built surroundings, energy efficiency and natural resources protection and development of living conditions. This paper presents the examples of wood application and wood-based products as the elements of façade cladding in contemporary architecture of Belgrade

The use of natural stone as an authentic building material for the restoration of historic buildings in order to test sustainable refurbishment: Case study

This study deals with the integrated process of conservation and restoration of architectural heritage and sustainability. The objective of the research was to define adequate methodologies for the structural restoration of historic buildings, their re-use, and sustainable refurbishment in accordance with modern requirements and conservation standards while maintaining the original visual character by using natural stone as an authentic building material. The main research method was the in-situ observation of the historic structures during the restoration and adaptive re-use, the analysis, and evaluation of the research findings regarding energy efficiency improvements and energy saving in the Haybarn complex within the monastery Hilandar, Mount Athos, Greece. Due to its cultural and natural values, Mount Athos has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The research included the damaged and abandoned agricultural structures that belong to the Haybarn complex and the analysis of the obtained results after the restoration had finished and the abandoned premises had been turned into guest rooms for the visitors of Hilandar monastery. The result section states the findings of the research arranged as recommendations for historic building restoration and re-use, emphasizing their new function in accordance with modern comfort requirements and environmental protection standards. The main contribution of this study is the analysis of the research findings and the possibilities of energy refurbishment of the restored historic buildings, through the use of natural stone as authentic local construction material, in accordance with energy efficiency measures and principles, conservation requirements and cultural heritage conservation standards