Provisional seismic assessment and improvement of Napier's Art Deco buildings

Abstract

Following the 1931 Hawke’s Bay earthquake, buildings in Napier and surrounding areas were rebuilt in a comparatively homogenous structural and architectural style comprising the region’s famous Art Deco stock. These ‘interwar buildings’ are most often composed of reinforced concrete frames and, while detailed in a fairly ductile fashion for the time, often register as earthquake-prone in preliminary seismic assessments, causing concern to owners, tenants, city officials, and all of those who value the heritage and future use of these iconic structures. The study reported here will address aspects of the seismic hazard, assessment, and potential retrofit solutions for Napier’s Art Deco buildings. The study concluded with provisional recommendations developed in collaboration with the Napier Art Deco Trust and other interested parties regarding a pathway to alleviate the hazard posed by Napier’s Art Deco buildings.