Post-1979 Montenegro Earthquake Retrofitting of Rector's Palace in Dubrovnik’s Old City: Preserving Architectural and Sculptural Heritage

Retrofitting efforts for the Rector’s Palace in Dubrovnik’s Old City, a 13th-century UNESCO World Heritage Site, have demonstrated effective preservation of its architectural and sculptural heritage against modern earthquake design-level shaking. The study highlights that two retrofitting phases—1982-1984 and 2015-2018—significantly mitigated seismic risk while maintaining the building's structural integrity, particularly in vulnerable areas like the atrium and arcades. This research builds on lessons from past earthquakes, including the 1979 Montenegro earthquake (ML7.2), which prompted the development of seismic regulations in Croatia. The findings offer practical recommendations for balancing heritage conservation with cost-effective earthquake protection, ensuring sustainable preservation without irretrievable damage.

Penava, D., Valičnić, M., Vrban, A., Abrahamczyk, L., & Sarhosis, V. (2025). POST-1979 MONTENEGRO EARTHQUAKE RETROFITTING OF RECTOR’S PALACE IN DUBROVNIK’S OLD CITY: PRESERVING ARCHITECTURAL AND SCULPTURAL HERITAGE. 3rd Croatian Conference on Earthquake Engineering - 3CroCEE, 3, 282–293. https://doi.org/10.5592/co/3crocee.2025.5