IMPACT OF WARS ON ARCHITECTURE

The aim of this paper is to investigate the impact of the war on architecture in various countries as a literal and
figurative target of the warfare. It attempts to understand the change of countries attitudes towards architecture as
an outcome of the war aggressions. The paper illustrates that while the war had a physical impact on buildings and
structures, it also had a perceptual impact on their meaning as architecture and places.

Pragya Pancholi
Dissertation B. Arch. , GDGU
 INTRODUCTION Literature Review
The paper illustrates that while the war had a physical impact on buildings and THE IMAPCT OF WAR ON THE MEANING OF ARCHITECTURE IN KUWAIT
structures. It also had a perceptual impact on their meaning as architecture and -Yasser Mahgoub
places. Apart from just destruction the need for shelter also resulted in the 1973 Middle East War to finance its modernization and construction plans,
development of materials and use of structures such that it prevent life damage its architectural landmarks, governmental and private buildings were targets
as much as possible in the world which has bombs created for mass of destruction and vandalism during the Second Gulf War in 1991, the change
destruction. Architecture plays important role in strategizing and planning of Kuwaitis attitudes towards architecture as an outcome of the war
against the growing war in today's world. aggressions.The paper illustrates the impact of war on the physical as well as
History the symbolic aspects of architecture. Another significant impact of the war in
To avoid being attacked either by fellow humans or wild animals and without Kuwait is the interruption of urban development plans progress that Kuwait
the luxury of a stone castle the best defence for Iron Age people was to live enjoyed during the Seventies.
somewhere that was difficult for those attackers to get at. This is how primitive
people planned their defences.A common tactic was to live on top of a hill
which could be made steeper using banks of earth and surrounded by water
filled ditches. These fortifications are now known as hill-forts.
Wooden forts were built where stone was not available or where there was less
need for a strong defence. A ditch around the outside of the fort added an extra
level of security. Some early form of military architecture involves construction
of a double-wall of fortifications, siege warfare and building field fortifications,
temporary camps and roads etc.
Purpose of Study
This study seeks to provide additional knowledge on the issue of wars that are
still there and the advancement which has lead to no safety. What is being done
in this new world to help. How architecture is helping people to feel safe and
content by relief. The purpose of the study is to gauge the history of wars and
its impact on architecture. Its development through the time period as the
technology advanced the advancement of building and purpose of building
changed.
Aim Of Study To Answer These Questions
The study, while finding theoretical support to the research question stated
above, will also find possible answers to the following:
1.How is Historical war and construction still effect architecture of this era?
2.Does military construction have future?
3.How buildings can be developed by engineers and reserachers to protect and
give shelter even in state of war-zone?
 CASE STUDIES
Case studies under here shows the brief of historical architecture built for safety from war and How meaning of war has changed through time. As it's
impossible sometimes to avoid it through built structures. Answer to the question of how Structures are evolved in terms of safety ?, Future of military
architecture.
Case Study 1-
Jaisalmer Fort, Rajasthan, India
Triangular hill (locally called
trikuta) on which the fort stands
is 250 feet high and 1500 feet at
its widest point . This fort was
built for protection from invaders
to withstand a siege. It truly was
impregnable.
The fort was built in 1156, and is a proud chattel
of the Bhati clan. Rawal Jaiswal was the founder
of Jaisalmer city, and Jaisalmer fort was built in
his reign. It is a 250 foot tall fort, which is
protected by 30 feet long walls. The fort
constitutes 99 bastions, amongst these 92 were
built between 1633 and 1647. One can see the
fusion of Islamic and Rajput architecture. There
are 4 gateways to reach this fort i.e. Ganesh Pol,
Akshya Pol, Suraj Pol and Hawa Pol. Jaisalmer
Fort is situated on Trikuta Hill and had been the
scene of many battles.
Case Study 2-
Amer Fort Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
Amer is entirely surrounded by
hills and stands at the foot of a
rocky terrain. It was made the
capital of the state of the
Kachwaha Rajputs warriors and
rulers of the historical region of
Rajputana in the 12th century and
continued to be a political centre
for 600 years more.Amber (Amer)
is situated about 11 kilometers
from Jaipur. It was once the citadel
of the ruling Kachhawa clan of
Amber, before the capital was
shifted in the plains to present day
Jai p u r. T h e Amb er F o r t s e t i n
picturesque and rugged hills is a
fascinating blend of Hindu and
Mughal architecture
Case Study 3-
Ayyubid Palace Complex in the Citadel , Aleppo
Latest example of heritage being lost to Syria’s five-year long war. In civil War
going on in syria the citadel said that the fortress is being used by snipers and
as a defence point.that sand bags had been used to protect the historic bas-
reliefs around the citadel, which depict scenes from a millennia ago but they had
not been enough to protect them from damage.The luxury Carlton Hotel used to
stand directly opposite the citadel, and was a popular option for foreign tourists,
with opulent interiors and extensive facilities. But it was obliterated in an
explosion in 2014.The Citadel itself was also damaged last year, when part of the
fortress wall collapsed following an explosion in a nearby tunnel.The war in Syria
has not only lead to the death of more than 250,000 people,but has left heritage
sites all over the country damaged and destroyed.
About Fortification
Many military installations are called as forts,
though they're not always fortified. Larger forts
might be categorized as fortresses, A defensive
wall may be a fortification accustomed defend a
town or settlement from potential aggressors.
Fortification in Ancient times-
In ancient to new world, they were accustomed
to enclose settlements. Existing ancient walls
are nearly always masonry structures, though
brick and timber-built variants are also noted.
Looking on the topography of the place around
the town or the settlement the wall is meant to
safeguard, components of the terrain is also
incorporated so that it makes the walls much
more effective.
Modern Day Fortification-
In the last quarter of the 19th century, two
events changed the whole outlook on
permanent fortification. One, not fully
appreciated at the time, was the power of the
breech-loading rifle, in con junction with
improvised field works, of stopping an infantry
attack, the other the introduction of high
explosive shell.The Germans in about 1884 had
begun experiments with long shell containing
large charges of gun cotton. But it was the
experiments at Ft. Malmaison in France in 1886
that set the military world speculating on the
future of fortification.Within these zones the
fortifications won't take the shape of elaborate
forts, however can include spread and
conceal ed t an k p ro o f l o cal i t i es, w i t h t h e
intervals between them well coated by
obstacles and also the fire of all arms.

Case Study 4-
W o r l d Tr a d e C e n t e r ' s S t r u c t u r e F a l i u r e
On 9/11, 2001, nineteen militants related to the Islamic
extremist troop Al-Qaeda hijacked 4 airplanes and
committed suicide attacks against targets within the
US. 2 of the planes were flown into the Twin towers of
the World Trade Center in New York city, a 3rd plane
hit the Pentagon right outside Washington, D.C., and
therefore the fourth plane crashed into a field in
Pennsylvania.
What resulted in failure?-
S o l el y so me co l u mn s f ai l i n g cau sed b y t h e
explosion, however as they folded, the columns
which were left were attempting to carry up the
building on their own. Once exposed to the high
temperatures created by burning air craft fuel,
steel columns in each towers lost strength, putting
an excessive amount o f l o ad o n al t ern at i ve
structural supports.The steel columns within the
WTC towers lost strength quickly once the fire
reached four hundred degrees Fahrenheit.
Improvements Done - Until those attacks, most
buildings had been designed with defenses against
total collapse, however progressive collapse was
poorly understood, and infrequently seen. Research
has found ways to keep columns and beams strong
even when they are stressed and bent. This property
is called ductility, and higher ductility could reduce
t h e ch an ce o f p ro g ressi ve co l l ap se. st ru ct u ra l
engineers must consider is redundancy: how to
design and build multiple reinforcements for key
beams and columns so the loss of, ex-an exterior
column due to an explosion won’t lead to total
collapse of the entire structure.
Making concrete stronger
What additionally matters is the materials that buildings are made of. The
steel columns within the World Trade Center towers lost strength quickly
once the fire reached four hundred degrees Fahrenheit. Concrete heated to
that temperature, though, doesn’t undergo significant physical or chemical
changes; it maintains most of its mechanical properties.
An explosion generates very high pressure – how much depends on how big
the blast itself is, and how close it is to the structure. That results in intense
stress within the concrete, which might be crushed if it's not robust enough.
Whereas traditionally the concrete
which is reinforced involved
embedding a framework of steel bars
within a concrete structural part,
recent years have brought further
additional advancement. To enhance
c o n c r e t e ’s t o u g h n e s s a n d b l a s t
resistance, high-strength needle-like
steel microfibers are mixed into the
concrete. Millions of these bond with
the concrete and prevention of the
occurance cracks that comes because
of explosions or some other extreme
forces
This mixture of steel and concrete is
superstrong and extremely ductile.
Analysts has shown that this material,
referred to as ultra-high-performance
fiber-reinforced concrete, is very
immune to blast damages. As a result,
we can expect future engineers and
builders to use this material to further
toughen their buildings against attack.
It’s just one way we are contributing
to the efforts to prevent these sorts of
t rag ed i e s f r o m h a p p e n i n g i n t h e
future.
Act of Arsons
Notre Dame Cathedral
Arson, crime commonly defined by
statute as the willful or malicious
damage or destruction of property by
means of fire or explosion. In English
common law, arson referred to the
burning of another person’s dwellings
under circumstances that endangered
human life. Modern statutes have
expanded this definition so that arson
now includes the wrongful burning of
a n y p u b l i c o r p r i v a t e
property.Conspiracy Theory
Right-wing personalities are pushing
conspiracy theories about Monday’s
fire at Notre Dame Cathedral, even
after French investigators said the
case is not being investigated as
arson or terrorism
The war going on between religion is
being pointed out in this case when
some blame the technicians who
failed some are blaming the muslims
because of dispute that has been
developed over the time.
Based on the initial research and design outcome, there
emerges a scope of discussion and some conclusions can be
reached.
Discussions –
The parameters were formed after literature review and case studies. It
focuses on aspects such as Journey of military architecture from earlier
period to now. It is a matter of time how technologies has developed and
the limit is nowhere to be seen, when earlier the attacks could be stopped
by just walls and moats, now its harder to stop the wars from happening.
Are treaties enough to stop the damage because its still being done
somehow and discussion over the tables aren't enough
In such circumstances how architecture has helped the built environment
to protect and boost the energy of freedom in one's mind.
After learning from what's needed to be done and with help of technology
the Bombarding can be stopped in future and after analyzing it the future
don't seems that far away.
Conclusions –
In conclusion after analyzing the architecture helping in historic times
wars’ and how it is helping now, it has been come to my notice that after
the discovery of atomic energy and nuclear weapons its hard to save the
world because the world leaders access to it is scary. But at the same time
only treaties and political relations maintained by ministers is all that is
keeping countries safe. While engineers and architects are coming up with
solutions to make materials stronger day by day to prevent buildings from
failing the answer still seems far. Its believable that the historical
architecture has survived many natural disaster and stood till now gives us
the clue how far we can see in past as well the architectural knowledge has
been travelling from and it will keep going as the challenges keep coming
towards it.
THANK YOU