Seismic Response of Three-Lobed Shape

Research reveals that the seismic resilience of three-lobed churches, a defining architectural feature of Moldavia and Wallachia, hinges on the strategic reshaping of their pronaos (forecourt). Historically, these stone or brick structures, prone to earthquake damage due to their construction materials, were often severely affected. However, the Church of Arges Monastery—designed by the Manole Master—experienced no further seismic damage after its pronaos was expanded, a change that reversed the relative positions of the weight and stiffness centers. This modification, rooted in an old myth involving a tragic sacrifice, proved effective over 503 years. Subsequent three-lobed churches adopted this design, replicating its seismic resistance. The study underscores how architectural innovation, influenced by legend, can mitigate structural vulnerabilities in earthquake-prone regions.

Irimia, M. (2021). Seismic Response of Three-Lobed Shape. Bulletin of the Polytechnic Institute of Iași. Construction. Architecture Section, 67(1), 31–46. https://doi.org/10.2478/bipca-2021-0003