Which building would you save first?

Deciding which building we should rescue first

Deciding which building, with serious pathology issues, we should “save” first is not an easy task. It requires the involvement of many different people like building experts, scientists, citizens and governmental bodies. They should also consider the architectural and cultural importance of a building and if it is of high risk for the town’s citizens, e.g. fear of collapse or demolition of exterior parts, like balconies and framed overhangs.

How should the decision be taken?

Activity

1. Speak with your teammates about how you could approach the decision-making process. For example, is it easy to gather all these people together and discuss which “sick” building of the city we should save first?

2. Below, several clues about which of the two presented buildings, with a high degree of pathology, could be rescued first. Here, we have Building A and Building B.

Building A is the Galanxhi house. This building is characterized by the degree of:

• • pathology E: (60%-100%)
  • architectural importance B: it has kept most of the original form, materials, etc.

To have a better view of where this building is located, for example, if it is near a school or isolated, and to identify the risks of its pathology, such as a dangerous roof with the risk of collapse, we can take a look around via the mapillary app:

Furthermore, what is the history of this building? Could some historical evidence and the importance of a building alter our primary decision?

Old drawing of the Galanxhi house, Rruga Kapo Back, NR, Varrosh.

Building B is the Hatif Zeko house. This building is characterized by the degree of:

• • pathology D: (30%-60%)
  • architectural importance A: it has kept the original form, materials, etc.

To have a better view of where this building is located, for example, if it is near many other buildings or isolated, and to identify the risks of its pathology, like dangerous timber elements with the risk of collapse, we can take a look around via the mapillary app:

3. Answer the question below by using this link. Try to give an answer based on the provided above information.

Yours and your teammates’ results and other people’s results will be displayed on the screen. This way, you can view many different people’s opinion about which building, between the presented two, they would rescue first.

4. Discuss the results in your classroom.

5. If you wish, you can engage more people to do this activity, such as your parents and grandparents or friends and relatives.