EARTHQUAKE
ARCHITECTURE
Earthquake Consideration
in
Architectural Design
PRESENTED BY:
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/18/13760 HASSAM AHMED
RIZWAN KHAN
Page 01
Abou
t • Architectural strategies to make buildings safer
during earthquakes.
• It explains how architects can work with engineers
to design earthquake-resistant buildings using
specific materials, shapes, and technologies.
• The study presents real-world examples and a
checklist to help architects apply these ideas
practically
• It emphasizes the importance of architectural
planning in reducing damage and saving lives during
earthquakes.
• The paper promotes collaboration between
architects, engineers, and policymakers to create
safer, more resilient communities.
.
Page 02
INTRODUCTION:
• More people move into
earthquake-prone areas,
the need for earthquake-
resilient architecture is
more important than ever to
ensure safety and reduce
destruction.
Page 03
INTRODUCTION:
• Architects are responsible
not just for aesthetics but
also for considering how a
building will perform during
an earthquake, especially in
the design of non-structural
elements that could pose
risks.
Buildings must be designed on
the basis of how they are
expected to perform under
specific seismic loads, which
allows tailored safety solutions
rather than generic standards.
Page 03
INTRODUCTION:
• Key Categories in Seismic
Architectural Design
A. Building configuration:
shape, size, and layout.
B. Restrictive architectural
elements:
components that may hinder
structural safety.
C. Nonstructural components:
interior elements that must be
secured to avoid harm.
Page 03
INTRODUCTION:
• Architectural and structural elements
must be designed together to form a
harmonious, safe, and sustainable structure,
not handled as separate processes.
• Base isolation systems separate the
building from ground, a seismic protection
technique that uses flexible bearings or pads
to reduce earthquake damage to buildings.
Page 03
INTRODUCTION:
• Computer simulations help predict how
buildings behave during earthquakes,
allowing architects and engineers to model
performance and optimize designs before
construction.
Page 03
INTRODUCTION:
• Through simulations, designers can study nonlinear
material behaviours(Nonlinear material behaviour
refers to the departure from the linear relationship
between stress and strain in materials under load),
helping to create more efficient, flexible, and
damage-resistant structures.
Page 03
INTRODUCTION:
• The research includes techniques for
strengthening older buildings to meet
modern earthquake-resistance standards,
not just focusing on new construction.
• Even well-designed buildings may suffer
controlled damage during large quakes;
design aims to ensure the building can be
safely evacuated and repaired.
• Architecture schools often emphasize design
and aesthetics, but this paper stresses the
urgent need to teach earthquake-resilient
design in architectural education.
Page 03
LITERATURE
REVIEW:
EPICENTER VS.
UNDERSTANDING HYPOCENTER
EARTHQUAKES
• The hypocenter is the
Origin of Earthquakes
earthquake’s starting point
• Earthquakes occur when tectonic plates shift and
underground; the epicenter is
release energy from within the Earth’s crust, creating
directly above it on the surface.
seismic waves that shake the ground.
LITERATURE
REVIEW:
UNDERSTANDING
EARTHQUAKES
TYPES OF SEISMIC WAVES
P-WAVES (PRIMARY):
Fastest waves, travel through solids,
liquids, and gases.
S-WAVES (SECONDARY):
Slower, only pass through solids,
causing up-down or side-to-side
movement.
MEASURING
EARTHQUAKES
• Richter and Moment Magnitude (Mw) scales
are used to measure earthquake intensity
based on energy released.
Impact on Built Environment
• Destructive Effects
Earthquakes can cause ground shaking, surface
ruptures, soil liquefaction, and landslides, damaging
infrastructure.
• Soil Liquefaction
In water-saturated soils, shaking can make the ground
behave like a liquid, causing buildings to sink or tilt.
• Surface Rupture and Landslides
Direct breaks along fault lines and downhill slides can
collapse structures and block transport routes.
Building Codes & Regulations
• Purpose of Seismic Codes
Design regulations help architects ensure buildings
withstand seismic loads and ensure human safety.
• International and Local Codes
1.International Building Codes (IBCs) set global
standards.
2.Local codes customize these based on regional
seismic risks and soil conditions.
• Seismic Retrofitting
Updating old buildings with reinforcements and
dampers to meet modern earthquake safety standards.
Structural Systems for
Resistanc
e
REINFORCED CONCRETE STEEL STRUCTURES
STRUCTURES
Combine concrete’s strength Strong, light, and flexible.
and steel’s flexibility, ideal Used in moment-resisting
for resisting seismic forces. and braced frames to absorb
energy.
TIMBER STRUCTURES HYBRID STRUCTURES
Mix of concrete, steel, and
Modern timber like CLT and timber for optimized
glulam is lightweight, strength, stiffness, and
absorbs energy, and can be ductility during seismic
resilient if well-braced. activity.
Page 06
Design Considerations
AVOIDING MASS AND
STIFFNESS IRREGULARITIES
• Uneven shapes or mass distribution
BUILDING SHAPE AND MASS
DISTRIBUTION can lead to structural failure under
seismic forces.
• Simple, symmetrical layouts resist ROOFTOP STRUCTURES
seismic forces better.
• Roof tanks, gardens, and HVAC units
• Heavy elements should be placed
need proper anchorage to avoid
lower to improve stability.
collapse. Techniques like High-Damping
Rubber Bearings (HDRB) and inter-story
OPENINGS AND FACADES isolation (ISI) reduce vibration.
• Window and façade design ESCAPE ROUTES AND SAFE
must include proper ZONES
reinforcement and anchoring to • Emergency exits and stairwells must
prevent detachment during
be clear, well-designed, and located in
quakes.
structurally safe zones.
OTHER
CONSIDERATION
SADVANCED STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS
AND SIMULATION
RESPONSE
SPECTRUM
ANALYSIS
Helps forecast structural responses across
various frequencies to optimize seismic
resilience strategies like damping and base
isolation.
SIMULATION TOOLS (FEA &
NONLINEAR ANALYSIS)
Enable accurate prediction of seismic behavior,
identifying weak points and failure modes in
structures.
COLLABORATIONS
ARCHITECT–ENGINEER DESIGN–BUILD STAKEHOLDER
COLLABORATION COLLABORATION ENGAGEMENT
• Joint efforts ensure that • Input from construction • Engaging building owners
architectural aesthetics teams during design and public authorities
align with structural improves constructability ensures the design meets
integrity and seismic and anticipates potential user needs and complies
safety standards. site challenges. with seismic codes.
• Early collaboration • Continuous communication • Promoting transparency
enables integrated during construction ensures with stakeholders builds
design solutions seismic requirements are trust and supports
balancing visual, spatial, met without compromising community resilience
and structural needs. design intent. goals.
Technological
Innovations
Base Isolation:
Base isolation systems use seismic bearings
to decouple the structure from ground
motion, reducing energy transfer to the
superstructure.
Page 09
Technological
Innovations
Damping devices:
Absorb and dissipate
seismic energy to control
structural vibrations and
damage.
Page 09
Technological
Innovations
Geotechnical Seismic Isolation
(GSI):
• GSI uses rubber–soil mixtures to
mitigate acceleration and inter-story
drift in low to medium-rise buildings.
• Flexible boundary conditions affect
structural stiffness, showing that
higher axial loads require greater
end rotations for stability.
Page 09
Technological
Innovations
Variable Friction Pendulum System
(VFPS):
• VFPS effectively controls seismic
response under near-fault ground
motions, protecting multi-story
buildings.
• Caution is required: underestimating
bi-directional frictional forces can
lead to inaccurate acceleration and
displacement predictions.
Page 09
Technological
Innovations
Resilient Infrastructure Systems:
• Smart infrastructure systems (e.g.,
microgrids, energy storage) ensure
power and communication continuity
during and after earthquakes.
• Integrating resilience into design
aids recovery and strengthens
community-level earthquake
preparedness and response.
Page 09
Studio
Shodwe
Methodology
• Conducted a systematic literature review of scholarly and grey literature using keywords
such as “earthquake,” “architectural design,” and “resilience.”
• Applied inductive reasoning to extract insights and identify architectural strategies for
seismic resilience.
• Focused on the architect’s role in contributing to earthquake-resistant built environments.
• Analyzed eight global case studies from both seismic and non-seismic regions to explore
diverse design approaches.
• Developed a practical checklist for architects based on documented techniques, materials,
and structural strategies.
Examples:
Taipei 101, Taiwan
• Utilizes a Tuned Mass Damper
(TMD) near the top to reduce
swaying from earthquakes and
typhoons.
• Structural system includes
perimeter columns and
outriggers for enhanced lateral
resistance.
• Demonstrates successful
integration of advanced
seismic solutions into a high-
rise architectural form.
Examples:
The Shard, London
• Designed to meet seismic
design norms despite being in
a low-seismic zone.
• Dampers installed in upper
levels to reduce sway and
eliminate the need for a TMD.
• Used GEOBIM technologies
(e.g., Laser Scanning, BIM) for
design optimization and
collaboration.
Examples:
Torre Reforma, Mexico
City
• Underwent seismic retrofitting
to comply with stricter post-
1985 earthquake codes.
• Retrofit included dampers,
enhanced connections, and
structural reinforcement.
• Preserved functionality and
safety through modernization
of an older structure.
Examples:
O-14 Tower, Dubai
• Features a concrete
exoskeleton that provides both
lateral strength and design
identity.
• Exoskeleton reduces internal
structural demand, allowing
flexible interior planning.
• Demonstrates seismic
resilience through innovative
architectural expression.
Examples:
San Francisco Museum of
Modern Art (SFMOMA),
USA
• Incorporates a base isolation
system with lead-rubber
bearings and sliding isolators.
• Isolation system protects the
building and artwork during
seismic events.
• Example of seismic strategy
embedded in cultural
architecture.
Examples:
Akashi Kaikyo Bridge,
Japan
• Engineered with deep
foundations and reinforced
piers to withstand major
quakes.
• Equipped with seismic isolation
bearings and advanced
damping mechanisms.
• Demonstrates how
infrastructure can be
earthquake-resilient at a
massive scale.
Examples:
Guangzhou Opera House,
China
• Dual structural system:
concrete inner core + steel
exterior frame.
• Steel frame adds lateral
stability, while concrete core
ensures vertical strength.
• Merges aesthetic design with
seismic performance in a
moderately active region.
Examples:
Christchurch Town Hall, New Zealand
• Retrofitted with base isolators
and structural reinforcements
after 2010–11 earthquakes.
• Upgraded to meet modern
seismic safety standards while
preserving heritage.
• Key example of restoration and
resilience in post-disaster
architecture.
CON CLUSIONS
• The study shows that using proper design rules, strong building systems, and
modern technologies can greatly reduce the damage earthquakes cause to buildings
and people.
• By reviewing many studies and real buildings, the researchers found important ways
architects can make buildings safer during earthquakes.
• Architects must work closely with engineers and other experts from the beginning to
design buildings that stay strong during earthquakes.
• The design ideas in this study can be used for all kinds of buildings big or small, in
earthquake zones or not making them very flexible.
• The study provides a simple checklist with tips on how to place building weight,
design windows, secure rooftop elements, and more to help architects build safer
structures.
Thank You.
