REHABILITATION OF A PARTIALLY COLLAPSED MASONRY TRADITIONAL TOBACCO WAREHOUSE OF THE LATE 19TH CENTURY

This study presents morphology, pathology, recording method, applied rehabilitation procedure and constructional problems of a four-storey masonry building in Alexandroupoli which today is partially collapsed. It was constructed before 1900 and enlarged in 1924 to be used as tobacco warehouse. From 1950s onwards, it has been neglected and because of the total lack of maintenance it has sustained structural and architectural deterioration; intervention works for its re-use as Municipal Library began in 2004. The first approved rehabilitation plan based on false strategy adopted the total removal of the interior structural members including wooden diaphragms, beams and columns and the construction of a new internal reinforced concrete frame structure. It proved to be catastrophic since in 2005 a sudden partial collapse of masonry and the roof was caused. The building has remained partially collapsed and difficult to approach due to the danger of a potential further collapsing. Recording of the present state has been based on photogrammetry. A proper intervention plan is applied. This work is a contribution in the field of structural rehabilitation of partially collapsed historic masonry buildings that constitute an extremely unsafe working environment.