Prefabricated concrete facades and their existing condition: Case study of New Belgrade's residential buildings

Abstract

Prefabricated construction systems were omnipresent in the period of large reconstruction of Serbia after the World War II. During the period from late 1950s until the 1980s, concrete was a prevailing material for bearing structures and facade envelopes. Being a newly built residential settlement of the Serbian capital - Belgrade, New Belgrade is selected as a fine example of the use of prefabricated construction. As a manner and reflection of that time diverse design solutions were applied to residential buildings in which concrete was the main facade material. This paper is aimed at presenting an overview of the current facade condition. Through the process of recording and mapping of damages, it would be possible to classify them by the types of causes. In the light of preservation of authenticity, i.e. original appearance of the analyzed buildings, these results would be essential for planning any further intervention of their facade envelopes.