Analysis of retaining wall stability in areas specified in register of objects of cultural heritage

Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geodesy, Military University of Technology, Warsaw, Poland

^* Corresponding author: ryszard.chmielewski@wat.edu.pl

Abstract

The case study of the assurance of retaining wall stability in densely urbanized conservation and cultural heritage areas are described in this paper. During The Second World War many of these historic buildings in Warsaw were completely or partially destroyed and until these days their remains constitute elements of the existing building development of the capital of Poland. This may be connected with a change in the nature of applied loads as well as current functions of these buildings. The results of expert opinions and investigations are presented, regarding the operational and technical state of two retaining walls submitted to an expert before the repair works. When designing the design concept, both the historic character of structures, the technical feasibility of performing construction works in the densely urbanized area, as well as determined water and ground conditions were considered. The first of the analysed cases concerns the retaining wall localised in the vicinity of the Ordynacka Street and the Tamka street. After analysing the historical aerial photographs, it was found that the retaining wall constitutes an underground part of the apartment house destroyed during the warfare. The second case study refers to Warsaw Old Town - the retaining wall ensuring the stability of the Vistula escarpment along Brzozowa Street in Warsaw.