EARTHQUAKE AND BUILDING NONSTRUCTURAL COMPONENTS RISKS AT PEDESTRIANIZED STREETS IN HISTORIC CITY CENTERS: ISTANBUL BEYOGLU CEZAYIR STREET CASE

In most of historical cities, some streets have been pedestrianised in order to facilitate pedestriancirculation. This situation affects functions of historical buildings and increases also pedestrian densityof streets. Many historical cities in the world are threatened by earthquake. It is important to considerearthquake related disasters for the pedestrianization practices in historical cities. The historical urbancenters, most of have masonry buildings, may not perform well enough to overcome the risks.Building structural system, construction date, number of storey, maintenance and repair conditions andphysical changes due to functional changes are similar factors affecting the performance of thebuilding earthquakes. Although buildings have performed sufficiently structurally against earthquakes,nonstructural components damages may occur. In case of earthquake, poor performance ofnonstructural components may cause loss of function, economic losses and especially loss of life andinjury. The nonstructural components of building such as parapet, roof, chimney, eave, canopy andwindows are considered as risk factors that may cause injuries during earthquake. In this study,nonstructural building components that may occur possibility of injury are discussed and broughtforward proposals for pedestrianised streets safety located in Cezayir Street, Istanbul. The main factorsaffecting the choice of Cezayir Street are; its close location to the most important cultural center ofIstanbul; Istiklal Avenue, being a renovated area and the intensive street usage. The nonstructuralbuilding components of historical building in the Cezayir Street were evaluated using data obtainedon-site observation of building façade as parapets, ornaments, eaves, chimneys, windows andcanopies. According to the research result, it can be said that the façade glazing which is located atmostly additional flats on the buildings may lead to risk during earthquake.