The vaults in "Sistani's House" in Bam Citadel (Iran): Construction principles, shape geometry and design for reconstruction

The aim of the reconstruction of the vaults is to achieve a maximum of fidelity to the original, which must not be limited to the appearance, but has to regard also the structural character, the "microstructure", and especially the traditional building procedure. The Persian art of vault construction is unique and deserves to be preserved and recorded as cultural heritage, apart from the structures themselves. On the other hand, security and serviceability of the building have to be guaranteed through a design process at the state of the art, including especially the prediction of structural behaviour and seismic response, by means of numerical modelling. Both features, i.e. traditional construction and modern planning, are crucial for a successful reconstruction, hence, their integration is the principal objective of the design of the vaults and the research illustrated in the following.