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FACADES MADE OF G40 SYSTEM BEFORE AND AFTER THERMAL INSULATION

Anna Marie Cerna

Abstract

The Prague housing fund consists of houses built by heavy prefabrication system between the years 1950 and 1990. This method of construction was characterized by considerable heat losses which, in the context of current trends, appear to be unacceptable. Ageing houses are currently being renovated. The primary goal of the reconstruction is to reduce heat losses with minimal reconstruction costs. The aesthetic value of the facades and the exterior appearance of residential buildings are neglected. The article examines the effect of thermal insulation on the composition of the facade of apartment buildings - type G40. The G40 apartment buildings were built in Prague in two variants. The facade of older houses is more decorative with easily recognizable elements of socialist realism. Newer houses have simplified facades. The aim of the analysis is to prove or refute the hypothesis that objects of type G40 with more decorative elements that form the composition of the facade are less disturbed. Changes on the facades are evaluated in three categories by compositional elements. The first and the second category (Element value, frequency of occurrence and Element significance in facade composition) determine the importance of an element and can be evaluated on a three-point scale. The third criterion (Impact of reconstruction on the composition element) assesses the extent to which the effect of the element has been changed. The impact of the facade change can be evaluated on a seven-point scale. From the comparison of the state before and after the application of facade insulation, it is evident that the older objects with the decorative facades were less affected. The effect of most elements has been changed only slightly. Moderately, the windows were changed, the size on the facade has decreased due to the layer of insulation and the frames have been enlarged. Another moderately influenced element are the pilasters whose overall proportions on the facade have increased significantly. The structure and division of the panels have been completely erased. The facades of houses representing objects with less decorative elements were changed more significantly by adding insulation. In particular, cornice and pilasters have been greatly disturbed. The analysis of the reconstruction of the facades of the G40 apartment buildings shows that the buildings with more ornamented facades were less affected when insulated. The mentioned state can be caused both by easier identification of the compositional elements of the facade and by the appreciation of decorative elements on uniform houses built with the technology of heavy prefabrication system. The facades have been constantly simplified in the Czech Republic for over forty years.

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