Austria treads new ground in the area of monument protection with a modern protective structure over Terrace House 2, a structure which aims to combine conservation requirements with optical aesthetics and which, through the use of the most up-to-date materials, is clearly distinguished from the ancient ruins.

In 1995 - after all previous attempts had failed - planning was begun of a protective structure over Terrace House 2 in Ephesos, on the basis of the complex problems concerning the care of the monument and the climatological conditions.
For this purpose, the so-called Hanghauskommission (Terrace House Commission) was established, consisting of three representatives respectively of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, the Austrian Federal Ministry for Science and Traffic, the Sponsors, and of the Turkish Republic, supported by international experts.
The protective structure, an important element of the necessary conservation work, must keep at bay from the ruins all adverse environmental and climactic influences. Due to the establishment of environmental conditions which are as favourable as possible, the preservation and ultimately the presentation of this unique building complex, with its wall paintings, mosaic floors, decorative stone work and other architectural elements, is consistently successful. For the planning of such a protective structure, the ruins themselves - the building materials once used here, the situation in the landscape, and the influence of the environment - were decisive. It was necessary for structural physicists, structural chemists, climate technicians and structural geologists to investigate the ancient building complex with regard to the causes of its decay.
In 1996 the so-called Hanghauskommission selected one project from among five proposed, a project which was also chosen as the most suitable by the competent Turkish authorities in February 1997, and thereby the building permission was obtained.

The project proposed by the planner Prof. Dr. DI Wolfdietrich Ziesel (Vienna) and the architect DI Otto Häuselmayr (Vienna) is based on a lightweight supporting structure of high-grade steel with a roofing of textile membrane and a transparent polycarbonate façade. Above all, the protective function was fulfilled: wind, sun, rain, and all other external influences which might damage the ancient remains, should be effectively and permanently warded off. Furthermore, the protective structure fits in to the environmental landscape of Ephesos through its simplified form, and presents a desired optical contrast to the excavations.

The transparent closures at the sides together with the translucent roofing material provide comfortable natural light in every area of the ancient enclosure. A room temperature which would be acceptable to the visitor and above all to the ancient remains was a condition of the project, a project which represents Austrian architecture and engineering.

The construction costs were supplied by budgetary funds from the Republic of Austria and, representing about a third of the costs, from private sponsors.
Amongst the largest sponsors were (in alphabetical order): Bank Austria, Creditanstalt, Donau Allgemeine Versicherungs AG, EA Generali AG, EVN Energieversorgung Niederösterreich AG, Kallingerbau, Metallbau Treiber KG, Österreichische Bundesbahnen, Oesterreichische Nationalbank, Österreichische Lotterien GmbH, Raiffeisen Zentralbank Österreich AG, Siemens AG Österreich, STRABAG Österreich GmbH, VATech, Verbundplan GmbH.

Picture Captions
Fig. 1: Terrace Houses 1 and 2 (© OEAI)
Fig. 2: Residential Unit 4, peristyle courtyard with the rear of the apse of the Basilica (© OEAI)
Fig. 3: The shelter seen from the north-east (© OEAI)

Bibliography:
F. Krinzinger (ed.), Ein Dach für Ephesos, SoSchrÖAI 34 (2000).

Contact:
ephesos@oeai.at