Architectural Study and Preliminary Seismic Assessment of a Typical Unreinforced Brick Masonry Building in Zagreb, Croatia

This paper presents a case study of an unreinforced masonry building in central Zagreb, which sustained moderate damage during the 2020 earthquakes. Situated within the Lenuci Horseshoe—a planned urban and landscaped space integral to Zagreb’s historic Lower Town—the building is part of a significant urban achievement, reflecting the city’s development from the late 19th to the early 20th century. The study explores the architectural and historical context of the building, its design features, and its role within Zagreb’s broader urban and cultural heritage, highlighting its value as a case study in balancing preservation and functional reuse. A multidisciplinary approach, including architectural documentation, archival research, laser scanning, damage analysis, and nonlinear modeling using 3Muri software, was employed to comprehensively assess its seismic behavior. Furthermore, the study examines retrofitting strategies that harmonize structural safety with cultural heritage preservation within the Croatian context.