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Architects in Turkey quake trade mission
00:00 08 Sep 1999
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Exclusive by Michael Gordon
The Government is calling for architects to take part in a trade mission to earthquake-stricken Turkey. The mission was scheduled for 20-24 September but has been put back because of the earthquake.
Construction minister Nick Raynsford will lead the mission, which has now been rescheduled for later this month. Practices with a track record in low-cost housing, earthquake-proof design or those which have experience of working in Turkey are being invited to take part in the mission. The Royal Institute of British Architects has provided the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions with a list of practices with the relevant experience.
The Earthquake Engineering Field Investigation Team (EEFIT), led by Dr Dina D'Ayala from Bath University, and including three Ove Arup engineers, flew out to Turkey on 4 September. EEFIT met up with Professors Elnashai and Nick Ambraseys, both of Imperial College, who have been working in Turkey for a fortnight.
Arup seismic engineer Ted Pieppenbrock said: "A lot of people are carrying out assessments and beginning to strengthen their structures. But, the actual retrofitting will not start for weeks or months."
The National House-Building Council (NHBC) has offered its help via the Aid for Turkey division of the Department for International Development (DfiD).
An NHBC spokeswoman said: "We have experience in recommending builders, setting standards for builders and seeing that they are enforced. One of our senior experts would go out and help them set up a building inspection system similar to the one here. We are still waiting to hear but the offer is on the table."
The Government is calling for architects to take part in a trade mission to earthquake-stricken Turkey. The mission was scheduled for 20-24 September but has been put back because of the earthquake.
Construction minister Nick Raynsford will lead the mission, which has now been rescheduled for later this month. Practices with a track record in low-cost housing, earthquake-proof design or those which have experience of working in Turkey are being invited to take part in the mission. The Royal Institute of British Architects has provided the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions with a list of practices with the relevant experience.
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The Earthquake Engineering Field Investigation Team (EEFIT), led by Dr Dina D'Ayala from Bath University, and including three Ove Arup engineers, flew out to Turkey on 4 September. EEFIT met up with Professors Elnashai and Nick Ambraseys, both of Imperial College, who have been working in Turkey for a fortnight.
Arup seismic engineer Ted Pieppenbrock said: "A lot of people are carrying out assessments and beginning to strengthen their structures. But, the actual retrofitting will not start for weeks or months."
The National House-Building Council (NHBC) has offered its help via the Aid for Turkey division of the Department for International Development (DfiD).
An NHBC spokeswoman said: "We have experience in recommending builders, setting standards for builders and seeing that they are enforced. One of our senior experts would go out and help them set up a building inspection system similar to the one here. We are still waiting to hear but the offer is on the table."
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