What construction principles made the Chayeb building survive?

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The Chayeb family's apartment block survived deadly earthquakes due to its relatively low height, robust construction, and foundations engineered for unstable terrain.

The three-storey apartment building, constructed by the Chayeb family two decades ago, remained standing amidst widespread devastation caused by powerful earthquakes along Venezuela's Caribbean coast. Its survival is attributed to specific design and construction choices made by the builders, Elias Eduardo Chayeb and his father, Elias Chayeb.
Building Height and Material Strength

The building's relatively low height is considered a significant factor in its resilience. Unlike taller, more luxurious apartment blocks that collapsed, this three-storey structure, housing six apartments, sustained minimal damage. While some walls developed cracks, the core structural elements, including foundations, columns, staircases, and windows, remained intact, ensuring the safety of its residents.
Foundation Design for Unstable Terrain

A crucial element of the building's survival lies in its foundations, which were specifically designed to withstand La Guaira's notoriously unstable terrain. The elder Elias Chayeb, a builder with over six decades of experience, consistently advocated against constructing high-rise buildings in the region. His cautious approach, informed by past seismic events like the 1999 landslide and the 1967 earthquake, led to the implementation of robust foundational engineering for this particular structure.
Principles of Earthquake-Resistant Construction

Elias Eduardo Chayeb explained that buildings designed to be earthquake-resistant are engineered to absorb seismic energy. While such structures may exhibit cracking during a severe seismic event, their primary design objective is to prevent catastrophic collapse. This principle was evident in the Chayeb building, where the integrity of the main structural components was maintained despite the intense ground motion.

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What construction principles made the Chayeb building survive?

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