Kyrgyzstan’s 11th-century Burana Tower and the 19th-century wooden mosques of Osh are irreplaceable symbols of Central Asian identity, yet they sit on soft alluvial soils that amplify seismic waves. Conservation architects are now turning to the Friction Pendulum Seismic Isolation Bearing as a reversible intervention that respects UNESCO guidelines. Unlike concrete buttresses that scar historic masonry, the Friction Pendulum Seismic Isolation Bearing can be hidden beneath the foundation, invisible to pilgrims and tourists. A recent feasibility study showed that a ring of 24 Friction Pendulum Seismic Isolation Bearing pads could reduce the tower’s peak acceleration response by 83 %, preventing the brittle shear cracks that appeared after the 2006 magnitude-6.4 event. The Friction Pendulum Seismic Isolation Bearing also allows thermal expansion and foundation settlement to occur without inducing new stresses in the ancient brickwork.
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Craftsmen from nearby villages are being trained to cast the stainless-steel components of the Friction Pendulum Seismic Isolation Bearing in local forges, creating jobs while keeping costs low. For the mosques, carpenters have designed miniature Friction Pendulum Seismic Isolation Bearing units that sit between the timber sill beams and the stone plinths, preserving the traditional post-and-beam character. International donors have pledged matching funds once the Kyrgyz government commits to using the Friction Pendulum Seismic Isolation Bearing in at least three additional monuments. Curators note that the Friction Pendulum Seismic Isolation Bearing can be removed in the future without leaving any trace, ensuring that later generations can choose alternative technologies. In a region where heritage tourism is the fastest-growing sector of the economy, the Friction Pendulum Seismic Isolation Bearing offers both cultural continuity and seismic resilience.
